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Curiosity at an all-time high, I ask, “What happened?”
“Mother invited her over to spend the weekend with us. She’d been on her own for a year, and all of the families had done their best to include her.”
“And it didn’t go well?”
“Not at all. Matthias disappeared for over two weeks. No one could get a hold of him. He didn’t talk to us for a month when he finally showed back up. That’s the last time I’ve tried to interfere. Some things are better left alone.”
I’m wrapped in warm arms and pulled off my feet the second I walk into the small diner, the smell of grease and fries instantly filling my nose.
“I freaking missed you.” Sidney gives me a tight squeeze before letting me go. We’d all gone to the same university, but she’d been more Piper’s friend than mine. Over the years though, Piper, Mia, Sidney, and I had formed a close friendship, even with the distance between us.
“When did you get in?” I ask and pull out a chair, taking a seat at the table with the other girls.
“Just a few hours ago. We went to Mia’s place to drop off our stuff first. Then, you know, the boys had to bond for a bit.”
Mia hums. “They are freaking adorable when they get like that.”
“Whatever, I’m pretty sure it was just the four of them giving each other crap on who had better stats this season,” Piper chimes in between sips of a large strawberry milkshake.
I eye it appreciatively. I’m definitely getting one of those. Somehow, all three of these girls landed professional hockey players who, as it turns out, are absolutely obsessed with them.
We order and chat, catching up on everyone’s day to day. Even though Mia, Piper, and I live in the same city, I don’t see them nearly enough.
Once the food arrives, I take a bite of my burger, the juicy taste filling my mouth.
Piper sets down her cup with a loud clack and looks right at me. “Did you know you’re practically glowing? Looks like everything’s going well with that husband of yours.”
I choke on my burger, taking large gulps of water to try to wash it down. “I took your advice and learned to enjoy the time.”
Mia claps her hands together. “Hallelujah. It’s about time.” She looks me over. “There’s something more, isn’t there? Piper’s right—you’ve got this lightness to you I’ve never seen before.”
It’s not like I can explain Damon helping me kill my rapist ex really helped alleviate my past trauma. I take another bite, running through anything I can to explain the change in me. There’s a truth that I’d rather keep to myself, but I know there’s no chance I’m hiding it. I’d been privileged to see the ups and downs of their relationships. It’s only fair they see some of mine.
I shrug. “I like him.”
Sidney gives me a warm smile. “Honey, you more than like him.”
I can feel my cheeks heat and take a deep breath. “I love him.”
The girls all make pleased sounds, but they cut off when they see my face. I blink back the burn in my eyes. It’s not like I didn’t know this is how it would all go down.
I swallow hard, and my voice cracks when I say, “Remember, it’s only for a year.”
Sidney’s grin grows impossibly wider. “Tell me you learned from my mistake.”
She’s definitely referring to her leaving Jax because she had to. Thank God that man was head over heels and didn’t let her go.
I shrug, doing my best to appear unaffected. “A deal’s a deal.”
“Wait.” Piper leans towards me. “Wasn’t it your rule?”
My brows scrunch together as I process that. “What?”
“You both had rules, right? Wasn’t that yours?” Piper says, her smile growing wider.
Some of the tension releases in my chest, and the tempting feeling of hope replaces it.
Mia places her hand over mine. “He never mentioned a timeline, did he?”
