Page 85 of The Fine Line
Rhett steps forward. I move in too, slow and a little uneasy. And then suddenly his arms are around me.
It’s… jarring.
This is the first time I’ve ever hugged him. Not a shoulder bump. Not a drunken, forced half-hug after a party. An actual, full hug.
His chest is solid and warm against mine. His hand presses lightly between my shoulder blades. I’m suddenly hit with a strange wave of emotion I can’t quite name—something tight and breathless. Maybe a little terrifying.
I let myself hold on for one extra second before pulling away.
We both take a step back. I can feel Rhett’s eyes on me, but now it’s my turn to avoid his gaze.
The officiant claps his hands again. “And that’s a wrap! Congratulations to the happy couple! Let’s go sign some paperwork.”
We do.
And that evening, when the Storm game goes live, I make sure I’m holding my mic with my left hand. Rings—and the last shreds of my pride—on full display.
Linda posts the pictures to both our social accounts.
And just like that—there’s no going back.
twenty-one
CAROLINE
Austin, TX, USA
“Can we go back to before the game started?”
At the reporter’s question, Dad, Rhett, Luke Buckner (our goalie, better known as Buck), and Ragnar Lindt (our star left-winger, who everyone calls Rags) all nod from their seats at the press table. We only landed back in Texas a few hours ago, still riding the high of last night’s win. Honestly, the whole day in Sin City was a blur—and a success.
“Rhett, you got married,” the reporter states.
And here it comes. The crash back to reality.
Rhett leans forward, folding his hands on the table—his wedding band fully on display for every person and camera in the room to see.
“I did,” he says, smirking.
“Think that had anything to do with your performance?”
Rhett’s eyes flick to me in the back of the room.
“Maybe. I’m sure the adrenaline helped.”
“I mean—a wife, a goal, two assists, and a win,” the reporter chuckles. “That’s a hell of a night.”
“It was,” he agrees. “But it was a great night for the whole team. Buck was a brick wall in net, and Rags was a machine out there scoring those back-to-back goals in the second period. We’re pumped to get our first win of the season—and one with that much energy.”
“Rags?” a journalist in the second row speaks up.
He straightens, all charm. “Yeah?”
“What was the team’s reaction to the wedding?”
His smile falters. “Uh… well, Sutty told us in the locker room before the game. Definitely an interesting surprise.”
“Surprise? So you didn’t know beforehand?”
