Page 126 of Broken Hearts
“Surprise!”
“I don’t understand. I thought this was a party for you?”
“It is. Kind of. They wanted to throw me a party and I figured out a way to celebrate both of us. I know things are still hard, but you have a lot to celebrate too. You won a national championship and you have a great job lined up. Plus, you got me.”
She pulls a wad of blue material from her purse and holds it up. It’s my hockey jersey, or a really good replica.
“How’d you pull this off?” I ask, pulling my jersey down over my head. Man, I never thought I’d get to wear it again. I swear I’ve got goose bumps.
A mischievous grin pulls at her lips. “I can’t say, but if they aren’t returned by noon tomorrow, I might not graduate.”
“You’re incredible. Thank you.”
“You haven’t seen the best part.” She steps back and picks up a confetti cannon.
A deep chuckle rumbles from my chest. Swiping it from her, I fire it into the air above us. It rains down as I kiss her. Nowthisfeels like something worth celebrating.
Epilogue
Sienna
The girl sitting in front of me shoots me a glare and plugs her right ear. I keep right on screaming, though, as Rhett walks across the stage with his diploma. He catches my eye and holds it up. I do the same.
We did it!
He comes down the side aisle, and I abandon my seat to meet him at the back of the gymnasium. I leap into his arms, tassels dangling between us. “We graduated!”
“Thank fuck.” He picks me up and twirls. “Ready to party, angel?”
We have an early dinner with our parents. Our fathers have become best buds overnight. They both love their time on the lake, football, and their families. And I think our mothers have planned a vacation together this summer.
“Good thing I don’t plan on getting rid of you anytime soon,” Rhett whispers in my ear. “Because our families would be devastated.”
“Get rid of me?” I rest my hand high up on his thigh, dangerously close to his balls, and squeeze.
“I said Idon’tplan on getting rid of you anytime soon.”
“Maybe I plan on getting rid of you.”
“Oh no, you’re stuck with me for at least the next year.”
I smile at the mention of our lease agreement. I still can’t believe it. We found the cutest condo not too far from his family’s rink and it has a lake view that is going to be amazing for recording yoga videos until I get a studio of my own.
I can’t believe this is my life.
“Can we steal Allison for the night?” I ask as we’re hugging our families goodbye. “I promise to return her before you need to leave for the airport in the morning.”
“No drinking,” my father says immediately, like my master plan was to take my fifteen-year-old sister out and get her plastered. Cleaning up puke is not on the agenda tonight.
We head straight to the arena.
“What are we doing here?” Allison asks as I hold open the door for her.
Our friends are waiting in the tunnel.
Allison goes a little starry-eyed when she sees all the guys in their skates with sticks.
“We’re going to play a little hockey,” I tell her and loop my arm through hers. “You’re on my team.”
