Page 88 of Find Me in the Rain
“But if you think for one second that I wouldn’t give it all up to be right here with you and Jack, you, my woman, are batshit crazy.”
He laughs, and I can’t help the one that slips past my smile.
He continues, “Clumsy, I love you. I’ve always loved you. That night when I ran into you at Fireflies, I was in shock that you were there, that out of every place in the entire world, you were in the same room as me. You’ve always been gorgeous, for as long as I’ve known you. But you are fucking beautiful and sexy, and I wouldn’t change a single thing about you. You’re the sweetest woman I’ve ever known, completely selfless. And you’re the most amazing mother. You are funny, and kind to everyone you meet. You would sacrifice your own heart in an attempt to save mine. But there was a fatal flaw with your plan. My heart won’t survive if it can’t love you.”
My eyes burn, and tears cloud my vision. But for the first time in days, they’re not tears of loss or pain.
He moves closer to me, his lips mere inches from mine. “I know you still have two months of school left, and I know you and Jack have built a life here. And I couldn’t be prouder of you.”
A flame flickers through his eyes seconds before he leans in and kisses me, his hand sliding around the back of my neck and squeezing. Our kiss is not gentle and clean; it’s messy with teeth clashing and tongues dancing, and passion flares.
His cheeks are pink when he pulls back. “Sorry. I just … you were way too close, and it’s been way too long.”
He smirks and hesitates before he says, “Duluth is a hell of a ways from New York. And I was hoping that when you finish school, I could convince you two to move in with me. I don’t want to spend a second more apart from you guys than I already have. Jack will be able to be around the team and continue to pursue hockey if he wants. He’ll have the best of the best of everything. And I get the both of you.” He bites his lip in anticipation. “What do you say?”
I don’t have time to answer before the bedroom door flies open, and Jack tackles us both. “Oh my God! We’re moving to New York!”
Alec laughs, and I scowl at Jack for eavesdropping. The tears that roll down my cheeks fall onto my dress, a mixture of the sadness from saying an eternal good-bye and the promise of a happy forever.
Epilogue
Six Months Later
“Go, Jack!” I shout, throwing my arms in the air.
Number 28 passes it to Jack as he skates into the right wing, and two seconds later, he scores the winning goal against the Wolves.
“Woo!” Alec shouts with his arms wrapped around my waist.
The rest of the New York Nighthawks erupt in cheers and hoots for Jack and the Warriors, Jack’s hockey team.
Char and Josh couldn’t make it; they had to deal with some plumbing issues at their apartment. They don’t live in Duluth anymore. They decided to brave the long move to New York. They still live together, and they have a gorgeous apartment in the city. Char found a new club to work at even though Reed insists on paying for everything. Char lets him occasionally but only when she feels the need to be spoiled.
Josh was excited to get out of Duluth. He lit up when Alec and I told him about the move. I think he might have stayed all that time in Duluth just for Charlotte and me.
Jack’s team barrels into him, and the coach claps proudly from the bench.
Jack started playing for the Warriors once we moved in with Alec in New York. Jack has never seemed happier. He even has a boyfriend, and his name is Ethan. It must be something about those E named boys. I laugh to myself.
Ethan is sitting next to Alec, asking all the questions about hockey and how it works. Alec is lapping it up, and I’m so thankful that he has never once made Jack or Ethan feel anything less than acceptance and pride. I turn to look behind me and smile at Ethan’s parents, who are lost, watching the game.
Jack introduced us to Ethan at his last parent-teacher conference. Thankfully, Ethan’s parents are as supportive of their relationship as we are.
Jack never really came out per say, but he didn’t exactly need to. I have always told him that it is okay to love who you love shamelessly. So, when he came home from school and told us all about Ethan, we were thrilled he felt comfortable to share with us fearlessly.
Of course, after the game—and occasionally during—Alec and his teammates get ambushed for autographs and pictures. But that has just become our new normal. After the wave of press, we say our good-bye to Ethan and his parents.
The Nighthawks have been Jack’s biggest fans at his games. The new coach has even made it to one. When the owner, Jameson Havemeyer, found out what the old coach had pulled—threatening Alec’s professional career over his personal affairs—he was let go. I was impressed.
And now, I get to call Mr. Havemeyer my boss. After I graduated with my bachelor’s, Mr. Havemeyer gave me a call, offering me the position of marketing director for the Nighthawks. He said he saw my marketing campaign with The Crooked Spine and was very impressed with my innovation and creativity.
I get to work from my laptop, which is the greatest thing. I have an official office at the arena, but I’m hardly ever in it. Between Alec’s schedule, Jack’s schedule, and my own, I normally get most of my work done next to the ice.
My flexible schedule also allows us to travel back to Duluth to visit my mom. We are catching a flight today, headed to see her. After his game, we quickly load up and before I know it, we are pulling into the airport.
The driver slows to a stop, and we hurry out, already late for our flight. We grab our luggage and take off running to get through security as fast as possible.
Luckily, the line moves very fast, and before we know it, we are handing our carry-ons to the flight attendants and boarding the plane.
