Page 84 of The Riley Effect

“I don’t think you’ll regret going with a more timeless pattern.”

“Well, I do have a little surprise.”

He opens up his jacket, and the inside is lined with pictures. There are some from all the different hockey teams he played on, some with his family and the biggest one in the center of the right side of his jacket is of him, me and Riley on campus during one of our walks.

“I love this.”

I run my hand down the picture and push up on my toes to kiss him, but before I can find his lips, adingcomes from my phone.

I freeze.

Jalen freezes.

“Do you think that’s it?”

There is no need to specify. I’m only waiting to hear from one more school.

“Do you want me to check?” he asks.

I nod.

“It’s the email you’ve been waiting for.”

I grab my phone and then back away, deciding I need to put my heels on before I can read an email. Then I have to wash my hands, no need to have smudged fingertips on my screen.

“Ivy, do you want me to open it for you?”

I run my hands down my olive green ankle-length dress before I shake my head.

“No, this is something I need to do for myself.”

Jalen hands me the phone, and I hold it to my face to unlock the screen.

I read it out loud.

“Ivy Rhodes. It is with great enthusiasm that we write to congratulate you on your acceptance to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.”

I throw my phone on the couch and jump into Jalen’s arms. He catches me with ease before he wraps my legs around his waist and kisses me.

“I’m going to be in New York!” I say as my lips hover over his.

There is a loud knock at the door that breaks up our little moment.

Jalen’s Dad’s voice cuts through the locked hotel door.

“It’s time to go! Our car is downstairs.”

Jalen places me back on the ground and I grab my phone and purse off the couch. Before he unlocks the door to meet his parents, he places a kiss on my cheek and then tells me, “I’m so proud of you, Angel.”

I place my hand in his. One future down. One to go.

Madison Square Garden is all glitzed out. I walk the red carpet with Jalen and smile for far more pictures than I ever have. When we make it to the table, Jalen’s parents are already seated with Matt, Ruby and Byron. There was an extra seat at our table. Marcus and Aaron pushed Byron to take it since they had been friends for so long. The other guys are with Indy and Lola watching the draft at some sports bar. They’ll meet us at the club later.

The arena goes quiet when the commissioner comes on stage and introduces the draft class. Jalen keeps his hand in mine for the first five picks.

When the commissioner comes back out with the gold envelope, the sixth pick tucked inside, Jalen squeezes my hand.

The New York Rangers have the sixth pick in this year’s NHL draft.

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