“There are fourteen tiles that say how much I love your videos, because that’s how many times you’ve posted since we broke up. Seventeen of them say,I’m sorry. One says,I’m sory, but that’s because the guys helped and Chase got distracted.
Turning my palm over, like a cup, he places a tile in my hand. “This one saysPlease Forgive Me for Being a Complete Asshole.We may need to keep this one. I’m taking a vow of non-douchery, but it’s always good to have a safety net.”
I smile as he pulls me close. I’m shaking, but he’s steady. “And the other thirty-seven sayI love you.Because I do. I always have. Since the day I poured freezing cold water on you and every day since I broke your heart and mine. I love you so much and I’m so fucking sor—”
I lean up, glad for the platform wedges I chose to wear, and kiss him. Effortlessly, he lifts me in his arms, and I wrap my legs around him, needing every part of my body to be in contact with his. He sets me down on the table, but when I reach out to steady myself, I end up knocking over the ginormous tower. Bricks fall to the floor in a cacophony, but we don’t care. All that matters is that we’re in each other’s arms, back where we were always meant to be.
Before we can have our moment, though, our friends rush in.
“You really taking this guy back, Paige?” Chase asks me.
“Absolutely.” I smile up at my boyfriend.
In that case, grab the tequila, Doyle. We’re doing celebratory shots!” Out of nowhere, a bunch of shot glasses appear, and Chase takes over as bartender and starts filling them up.
“Celebratory shots? No way,” I tell them. “And Zac, you stay the hell away from me!” I laugh.
Spencer
The guys and Emma are downstairs celebrating my reunion with Paige. We snuck up here when they weren’t looking, and no one’s noticed yet.
We’re lying in my bed, like we have so many times before, but I’m content to just hold her. “I’ve missed this so much.”
“Me, too,” she says. “And I’ve missed other things, as well.” She runs her hand over my chest, down my torso, and lets her fingers play at my waistband.
“We should probably talk first,” I say, though I know my body disagrees.
“Probably,” she agrees. “But I hate it when you’re logical.”
“Noted. I’ll try to curb that in the future. And speaking of the future…”
“Yeah?”
“It looks like I might be headed to Toronto next year, if all goes as planned.”
“Spence! That’s amazing!”
“Yeah, it’s what I’ve always wanted, and honestly, I’m really looking forward to it. But I want you to know that no matter when I go, or how far apart we are, you’re my priority.”
“Spence, I know that. It was a bad day. And you had all this pressure from your dad and—”
“Yeah, we’re not exactly on speaking terms right now. I don’t know if he’ll ever come around, but I know you’re the most important person in my life. I always felt like I had to choose between you and hockey, like my life was some Jenga tower and if I made one wrong move, it would all come crumbling down. But when it all did go to shit? The biggest piece missing was you. Nothing else mattered if I couldn’t share it with you. I love you, Paige.”
“And I love you,” she says as I roll her to her back and cover her body with mine. We take our time, touching, and teasing, and removing our clothes. Soon, we’re naked and nothing in the world feels better than Paige’s skin on mine. And I’m going to enjoy every second of it.
T H E
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