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“Certain.” She lifts a brow. “You?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” I say. And for the first time she smiles.
I take her hand and we walk back to the table. Her dad is looking at us but saying nothing. I’ll talk to him later, we both will. But now I’m taking Mac’s lead.
“You and Mackenzie?” Goran asks, glancing down at our hands. She’s holding on so tight her knuckles have gone white, but you wouldn’t know it from her face.
She looks serene.
“Yep.” I nod. “Can I explain later?”
He shrugs. “Sure. Hey, can I still bring her coffee in the mornings?”
“If you like.”
We take the center two seats. Mackenzie taps the mic and laughs when a loud bang fills the air. She clears her throat and somehow her hold on my hand gets even tighter.
I squeeze back.
“Well, I think you’ve all had the chance to watch my highlight reel,” she says. And damn if they don’t all laugh the way they laughed for Greg. “I’d like to tell you a little story. About a girl who made a mistake and embarrassed herself all because she fell for the wrong guy. Then who hid away because she was embarrassed.” She smiles, and though I can tell it’s fake, nobody else can. Lifting her arm, she glances at her watch then looks at the journalists again. “Buckle up and get comfortable, because this could take some time.”
* * *
ELI
“I’m mortified,” Isabella says, running toward us as we leave the press conference. I’m still holding Mac’s hand. She’s still trembling, but it’s getting softer.
I don’t think I’m ever going to let her go.
“I’m so sorry,” her sister continues. “I didn’t know about you two.” She looks at Mac, her eyes wide. “If I did, I never would have touched him. Not after everything.”
“It’s okay,” Mac says. “I know you wouldn’t have.”
Isabella’s lip wobbles. “But I should have known. I should have guessed.” She shakes her head. “If I’d been the sister to you I was supposed to be, you would’ve confided in me ages ago. Instead I was so busy plotting revenge I didn’t think…” she trails off and looks at me. “I’m sorry I kissed you. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“No, you shouldn’t.” I’m not quite as forgiving. She’s hurt Mac before and I’m wary that she’ll do it again. But she’s also Mac’s sister and I intend to be around this woman for the rest of our lives. “But I’ll get over it.” Just not today. Maybe not even this month.
Her parents join the three of us and Mac apologizes for not telling them before. Wayne is leaning on his walker and it’s my turn to apologize for falling in love with his granddaughter when I was supposed to be working for him.
He waves me off. “Don’t sweat it. My wife was my coach’s daughter. He beat me up enough for the two of us.”
“She was?” Mac asks. “I didn’t know that.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” Wayne says. “Maybe we can change that.”
“I’d like that,” Mac says softly. “Very much.” She leans down to kiss his cheek and the nurse leads him back to the van he arrived in. I’ll go see him at the nursing home tomorrow to apologize for my conduct on the ice.
But now I just want to go home with Mac.
Her lips curl up and I realize she’s looking at somebody over my shoulder. I glance in the direction of her gaze and realize it’s more than just one person.
It’s my entire family.
Myles and Ava are at the front, with Liam and Sophie behind them. Then there’s Holden, Brooks, and Linc, along with my mom, my step-mom, and Dad with his wife.
I try not to groan. “Shall we run?” I ask Mac. Because two huge families are about to meet.
I don’t think either of us are ready for it.
