Page 131 of Don't Let Me Fall (Don't Let Me 1)

“Don’t be,” Becca replies. “How’d the interviews go?”

“Good. Surprised everyone’s making such a big deal about me being back on the ice.”

“Surprised?” Blake quips. “Really? They’ve been knocking down your door for years, and after a game like today? They’ve gotta be chomping at the bit to welcome the Prodigal Son back to the ice.”

I pinch his side, and he squirms away a few inches and looks down at me. “Hey. What was that for?”

“Nothing. You’re cute when you blush.”

He rolls his eyes but pulls me tighter against him, probably still reeling from the whirlwind his hockey career has already become.

“Good game, Colt,” my dad interjects, offering his hand to Colt.

Colt shakes it with his hand not pinning me to his side, unable to remove his boyish grin even if he wanted to. “Thanks. And thanks for coming. It means a lot.”

“Wouldn't have missed it,” my mom returns. “Are all the games usually this high-scoring? Nine points. It’s a lot, isn’t it?”

“Nah,” Blakely chimes in, her hands in the pockets of her jacket. “I mean, yeah, I guess it’s pretty high for a normal hockey team, but with Colt playing with Theo again? LAU’s gonna be unstoppable.”

Still shy, Colt squeezes the back of his neck and looks down at me again. “Only if I have my Sunshine in the arena.”

“And your mom and sister,” I add.

“And your dad who’s watching from heaven,” Becca adds. “He’d be proud of you, Colt.”

Colt’s gaze flicks up toward the dark sky as he pulls his mom into a hug and my parents flank my sides, wrapping me in one of their own.

“Love you, Ashlyn,” my dad murmurs.

“Love you too.”

“Colt’s a good egg,” my mom adds. “We’re really happy for you.”

With a smile, I peek through their bodies huddled around me and meet Colt’s gaze with my own. “I’m really happy too.”

And I really, truly am.

The End

---