Page 151 of Collide
“You’re okay with that?”
“He’s not so bad.” Finding out he helped with the break-in had pissed me off for all of three seconds. Eli told me about that night, and I couldn't blame them. They all had Summer’s back when I couldn’t, and that alone is reason enough to take the blame.
“That’s not what you were saying a few weeks ago.”
“People change.”
“Not all people,” she mutters, and I raise a brow. “I slapped Donny. But he deserved it,” she admits.
The reveal isn’t nearly as shocking as it should be. The guy had it coming, he’s just lucky it wasn't my fist. “I don’t doubt that.”
Her head tilts, assessing me. “What happened to never losing?”
“I’m fine with it if you’re the one winning.”
She sinks her hands into my hair and kisses me so deeply, I melt into her embrace. “I’m sorry, too. I should have told you about the plan,” she says sheepishly.
I rub my nose against hers. “It’s fine, my little criminal.”
She rolls her eyes. “So, you forgive me?”
“Do you even have to ask?”
“And you still mean all that stuff about the future?” she asks, toying with the strings of my hoodie.
“I fully intend to spend the rest of my life with you, Summer.”
“I love you.” She scrunches her nose. “Like, a lot.”
“I love you, too, Preston. Like, a lot.”
51 | SUMMER
INEVER THOUGHT I’d watch a game where Aiden wasn’t on the ice, but last night Dalton versus Michigan happened. Aiden was able to witness how passionate I get during a game. Instead of telling me to calm down like most people would, he only sat back and watched proudly. We won by one, which isn’t anything to be proud of because we’re headed to finals, and playing like that won’t win us a national championship. Aiden’s words, not mine.
“Why are you sitting all the way over there?”
I glance at Aiden, who sits on the opposite end of the couch. If there were a picture for the word sluggish, it would show Aiden and me watching movies with our spread of junk food. “Why? Do you usually cuddle with Kian while watching TV?”
He gives me a blank stare. “Come here, Summer.” He grabs my ankle and drags me to him. Our days usually started and ended like this, and although I’m upset he isn’t playing, I wouldn't trade this time for the world.
He’s not allowed to get on the ice for practice either, so we’ve been spending every free second together. Most of the time we’re planning our schedules for after graduation, but we spend plenty of time watching Turkish shows and tangled together in his bed. I’ve basically moved into the hockey house, and the guys don’t seem to mind because I cook them dinner, mostly Indian food that my mom taught me—though, Eli’s still got the title of the best cook in this house.
Occasionally, Aiden and I sneak into the pool or head to the community rink because he still needs to stay in shape. I’m sure all the cardio we do is helping with that. Between my dorm and his place, Aiden and I have fallen into a comfortable routine. One that I know I’ll miss when he leaves.
Amara and Cassie have been coming over too, so we spend most of our time with the guys. They’re all finished with classes, and I wrote my last exam this morning, which means the semester is over.
“Have I told you how proud I am of you?”
My blush must run down my neck because Aiden chuckles. Reapplying to the master’s program had my hands shaking, but yesterday, we were eating dinner when I got the acceptance email. The leftover cupcakes with graduation caps that Eli made still sit on the coffee table. Aiden disappeared for a little, and when he came back, I found out he drove the hour to Boston because my mom wanted to congratulate me with her homemade gulab jamun. I was a little hysterical after that, but I felt less crazy when Kian shed a tear too, though that might’ve been because he ate ten of the syrupy sweets.
“Thank you. I don’t think I’ve even processed that I got in. I spent years pouring my blood, sweat, and tears into this one thing for so long, and now that it’s reality everything feels unsteady.”
He nods. “I get that. But you deserve it, don’t let the voices in your head tell you any different.”
Bliss. That’s what I feel with him. “I’m proud of you, too, even if I don’t agree with what you did. I know you’ll never admit it, but not playing is killing you. I just wish I could do more to help.”
“You’re doing plenty,” he says, kissing my shoulder. Aiden trails a path up my neck to my lips, and I sift my hand through his soft hair. In seconds the unsteady thoughts are forgotten, and his kiss pulls at my heartstrings that only strum for him.
