Page 207 of While You Were Trending

“Maybe I have a new dream.”

“Then you can have both of your dreams.”

“Ginny—”

“Shh.” She puts a finger to my lips. “A month ago, I knew in my heart that my family here—Mabel and Pip and Olivia and Samantha and Heath and Cricket and Dori and Lav and Fluffy and the chickens—that they were all I needed to be happy. That I didn’t need a man to love me. That I wasn’t capable of healthy love. That I wasn’t worthy. But then there was you. And I—I love you, Declan. I love you so much it hurts.”

I grip her hips and pull her closer. “I’ve always loved you. You matter more than anything—more than hockey, more than friends, more than my family?—”

“I used to think love was something you had to earn. But it’s not. It’s something you freely give. It’s a gift. It’s work. It’s an honor and a privilege. It’s a responsibility. And my duty, as someone who loves you so much it hurts, is to support you in your search for what makes you happy.”

“You make me happy.”

“I can’t be youronlyhappiness.”

I swallow hard, my own eyes burning. “I’ve played hockey, Ginny. I have my memories. I have friends. I have the best family. I haveyou. I don’t need a comeback too.”

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The one thing you told me you wanted for yourself when you got here.”

I suck in a hard breath and drop my head to her breasts.

“If I weren’t in the picture, would you do it?”

“Unfair question. Youarethe picture.”

“Declan. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll still be here. And I’ll come see you.”

I hug her tighter. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”

“No.” A soft whimper slips out of her lips, but she takes a deep breath and repeats herself. “No. Never. Idon’twant you to go. But I can’t tell you I love you and then not do everything in my power to help see your dreams come true.”

“I love you so much.”

“We were never supposed to work,” she says. “You were a dick. I was a mess. Then a bigger mess. You’re still best friends with my ex. On paper, we’re a terrible match. But you—you make me feel seen and adored and valued. Understood. Forgiven. Worthy. No matter where you are in the world, you’ll be my heart. Go, Declan. Go do this. For you. And for us. BecauseI’llhave regrets if you don’t.”

I can’t hold her tight enough. Show her big enough how much I love her.

But I try.

I kiss her and touch her and pull us both down, desperate to be as close to her as I can while we’re still together.

She’s not wrong.

Playing hockey again—it’s everything I’ve wanted since retirement.

I don’t know if I deserve both—both Ginny and hockey—but she believes in me.

She believes in me and loves me and she wants me to live my life to the fullest.

“I love you,” I pant as I help her pull her dress off.

“I love you,” she pants back as she strips me down to my boxer briefs and out of them.

She’s done it.

She’s bent time and space itself, both of them becoming meaningless as I make love to her here in her bedroom, this place that’s soGinny, so comfortable, so right.

Sohome.