Page 96 of Unraveling Rain
“I guess I’ll have to make it more often,” he says.
I open my eyes and take a sip of wine. “Where did you get lobster around here?”
“I didn’t.” He grins. “I had Dad ship it to me.”
My eyes widen. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. I told him I wanted to treat my girlfriend to a special dinner, and he didn’t hesitate. It was caught this morning in theCape.”
“Today? You said your parents live in western Massachusetts.”
“They do. But during the summer, Dad runs a small eatery out on the Cape. They spend the season there.”
I smile, trying to picture it—Xander’s dad in an apron, cooking for vacationers. “That sounds like fun.”
He grins. “It is. You’ll see one day.” He shifts his weight, gaze flicking toward the horizon. “So… over the next few days, I’ll be in Raleigh getting ready for preseason. Team meetings, workouts, drills—you name it.”
I nod, listening.
“You could come with me, check out my apartment. We could go out at night, get a feel for the area.”
I immediately shake my head, and he just smiles, like he knew I would.
“I thought so,” he says softly.
“Yeah, I need that time to figure things out at the diner.”
He nods, no frustration in sight.
“But I was hoping you’d come visit my family over the weekend? I haven’t seen them in a while, and I’d like to spend some time with them before the season starts.”
My heart skips. “Do you really want me to meet your family?”
“Of course I do. I already met your family. It’s only logical you meet mine.” He’s practically beaming.
“Okay,” I say, a huge smile spreading across my face.
He raises hisglass toward mine.
“To us,” he says.
“To us,” I echo, the words tasting sweeter than wine.
I can’t wait to start the next chapter of our lives.
“Together,” I whisper to myself, holding onto the one thing I know for sure—
I’ve found my forever.
Chapter 26
Xander
The place I once considered home feels strange, empty, and cold—even though it’s sunny and hot outside. I glance around my apartment. Nothing about it screams home. A few pieces of art hang on the walls. Everything else is white, sleek, and modern. Sterile. There’s no warmth here. No sign of the man I’ve become since meeting Rain.
After things ended with Tiffany, I focused all my energy on my career. Breathing hockey, living for the game. It wasall I had.
But now? I need balance if I want Rain in my life. And I do. She’s the reason I wake up with a grin from ear to ear every morning. The reason I want to be better. Stronger.
