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My parents hug me, telling me they’re proud of me and that they can’t wait to see us together at the wedding. Zeke doesn’t let go as we watch the car turn the corner. Once the car is out of sight, the weight of their presence lifts, leaving me lightheaded and overtired. Without a word, he folds me into a tight hug. His one arm wraps around my back while his other hand cups the back of my head, pressing my cheek into his chest.
I wait for him to laugh. For him to say “You’re welcome!” or “Man, we sure got them!” What he says throws me more than anything that’s just happened.
“You’re so beautiful, Faye,” he says into the top of my head. My heart does a flip and a squeeze.
I try to lean back, but he holds me tight. I look up and he’s looking down at me, his face so close. The flecks of gold in his blue eyes catch in the fading sunlight.
“I mean it,” he says as he strokes my cheek.
I swallow hard as I understand. “How much did you hear?”
“Enough.” His jaw is clenched and he presses his forehead to mine. “They’re wrong. So wrong.”
His thumb strokes my cheek gently, catching a tear I fail to hold back.But he doesn’t stop. He holds me where he wants me and continues.
“You’re funny and brave and smart as hell. My niece adores you and you know how discerning that little bey-otch is. You always stand up for what you believe in, your friends and neighbors and coworkers adore you, and you are so. Fucking. Beautiful.”
I swallow hard as he strokes my cheeks with his thumbs. His gaze dips to my lips, and he starts to close the distance between us—just as the screen door slams against the house. I quickly take a step back from him, but he stops me, holding me by the shoulders.
“Alyliterallymopped,” Caro says, holding a candle.
Aly tiptoes onto the porch carrying a pitcher of lemonade.
“It’s not that big of a deal. I made muffins and lemonade too,” Aly says, but then her eyes narrow on me. Caro’s too.
“Well, I don’t know how anyone can say no to that,” Zeke says softly, waiting for something from me. He doesn’t seem to find it, and with a soft sigh, he coils his arm around my shoulder and presses a kiss to my forehead, walking me up the steps to the house.
I don’t know what just happened between us, but that line I’ve been trying so hard to keep in place? That line that’s kept my heart safe from being shattered to pieces? I’m pretty sure I just catapulted so far across that line that I’ll never make it back unscathed.
33
faye
“She’s here!”Ivan yells as soon as I pull up in front of the black modern Tudor on Overlook Avenue. He’s wearing a new pair of bright red glasses and they look adorable on him as he holds up a piece of pasteboard that says ‘Bye Uncle Zeke’ in plain black marker. On the ground next to him is a far more embellished poster that contains more glitter than it does an actual message. This ‘send off’ is something Sarah insists on when the guys go off to training camp. She started doing it when Zeke went away to college, and the tradition sort of stuck. I came last year too and it was when Rachel and I first bonded.
Freddy ambles down the driveway alongside Zeke’s truck, hands in his pockets. He tilts his head as a greeting in that way guys do.
“Hey there, golden girl,” Freddy says with a grin.
“Is that a thing we’re doing?” I say as I shut my car door with my hip.
“It is now.” He leans in and kisses my cheek. Apparently that’s also something we’re doing now. The funny thing is it suits him and doesn’t feel awkward at all.
“You’re moving around pretty good on that leg,” I say, nodding to the way his leg extends and bears weight as if he’d never been injured.
“It gets stiff, but PT is going well.”
“Are you starting classes soon?”
“Yeah, I just had my first week. And I’ve been working with the men’s hockey coach—I’ve met a few of the players too. I think it’ll be good.”
“That sounds… great, actually.”
“I think so too.” His grin is wide and I can’t wait to hear about all of his adventures finishing his degree. I can’t imagine he’ll go unnoticed on campus.
“Auntie Faye! Auntie Faye!” Rachel comes barreling down the front walk toward me and I turn just in time to catch her. She wraps her arms around my neck.
“How’s my favorite princess-in-training?” Freddy says, leaning in to nuzzle her cheek. She squeals, her little red curls brushing against my cheeks as I laugh.
