Page 20 of A Match Made In Fall

“Austin, don’t go overboard,” he warns.

“Me go overboard. Never.”

Okay, so I tend to go overboard. But I like being generous, and if you have the means, then what’s wrong with spoiling your family.

“Yes, you,” he exclaims. “You should save more.”

I roll my eyes. “Where is the fun in that? And this is the only time you’re going to get engaged. Well…most likely.”

“It is.”

“Exactly, so you don’t need to worry about what I do with my money.”

He lets out a heavy sigh, which is his way of admitting defeat.

“Anyway, it’s pretty early there—I’ll let you go.”

He laughs. “Thanks.”

“Give Ivy a hug for me.”

After hanging up, I quickly finish my shake and get ready to go to practice. After our performance this past week, I’m not looking forward to it at all.

CHAPTER SEVEN

ISABELLA

“Ithought you were going to North Carolina to recover from your injury,” Elise says, her voice full of disbelief. “Now you’re out making friends and going on a date with a hockey player? Things sure took an interesting turn.”

I laugh. “I am recovering. Everything else just sort of…happened.”

And it’s true. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect that coming home to my parents would lead to me going out with a professional athlete.

A few weeks ago, I was spending my days stretched across my parents’ couch, half-watching TV and feeling sorry for myself while my foot throbbed. Not to mention trying to use the crutches I never seemed to master. I was convinced my entire life had stalled. And without dancing that’s how it feels.

Now things feel completely different.

“How exactly does something like that just happen?” Elise asks.

I think back over how fast everything shifted.

“Well, my sister-in-law kind of started it. She introduced me to a few people, and one of them is engaged to the Bears’ goalie.” I pause. “Then Dane got tickets to a Carolina Bears game, and after that everything sort of fell into place.”

“Things like this don’t just happen,” she says with a laugh.

“I know,” I agree. “Austin asked about my injury while we were talking after the game. Then we just…kept talking.”

“And.”

“And that’s it. We chatted, then I saw him at the Community Fall Fest and we talked again.”

“And…”

I grin. “Fine. He was nice and very easy to talk to. He’s funny and seems very down-to-earth.

There’s a dramatic pause on the other end of the line.

“Any other questions?” I ask.