Page 157 of The Rule Breaker
“I’m not trying to be Connor,” I tell him. “I respect everything he’s done, but I want to build something that’s mine. Not a copy of his career. My own path.”
My dad clenches his jaw, but he gives a short nod. “I get that. And I’ll try to be better at seeing it.”
I turn at the sound of footsteps, and there she is.
Isabella.
Her cheeks are pink from the cold, her curls wild around her face, and her smile—God, that smile—hits me harder than any goal ever has. It’s the kind of smile that makes everything else fade into the background.
She makes her way toward me, weaving past the guys and parents and chaos of postgame noise, like she’s moving through her own little tunnel straight to me. When she reaches me, she doesn’t say anything at first. Just wraps her arms around my neck and presses her face against my chest.
“You were incredible,” she murmurs.
I rest my chin on the top of her head, breathing her in. She smells like vanilla and candy and something I can never quite name but always know is her.
“Thanks, baby,” I say, my voice low, a little rough. “I needed that.”
When she pulls back, she tucks one of her curls behind her ear—something she does when she’s nervous—and glances over my shoulder.
I already know who she’s looking at.
My parents.
“Want to meet them?” I ask her.
She nods, a smile lifting her lips. “Yeah. If you want me to.”
“I do.” I’ve never introduced a girl to them before, never had a girlfriend before Isabella and I’m excited about showing her off to them.
I take her hand and turn toward my parents. My mom straightens slightly, and my dad’s eyes flick down to our joined hands.
“This is Isabella,” I tell them with a smile. “My girlfriend.”
Isabella offers them a warm smile. “It’s really nice to meet you both.”
My mom nods, glancing between the both of us. “You too.”
“You’ve got a pretty amazing son,” she says, glancing up at me with those big brown eyes that sucked me in from day one. “On and off the ice.”
My mom smiles, her gaze flicking to me. “Yeah. We know.”
“Reed!” I turn my head, spotting Nathan standing beside Austin and Logan and he arches his brow. “We’re heading to Morley’s to celebrate. You coming?”
“Go on,” my dad replies. “We’ll leave you to it. Go celebrate.”
I nod, giving them a smile. “Thank you for coming. Seriously. You have no idea how much it means to me.”
I tighten my hand in Isabella’s and turn, walking toward the exit. I steal one last glance at my parents. They’re standing there like strangers beside each other.
They’ve barely spoken in years. Their marriage was a silent unraveling; one I witnessed in slow motion growing up.
And for a long time, I figured that’s what love always turned into. Something temporary. Conditional. Disappointing.
I didn’t let myself believe in forever, not really. Didn’t let anyone get close enough to want it.
Until her.
With Isabella, it’s never felt like something that might fade or fall apart. It’s the opposite. Every day with her, it just gets deeper. Stronger. Like she’s not just part of my life—sheismy life.
