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"Hey," he mumbles into my hair.

"Hey," I whisper back, giving him a tentative smile.

"I don't want to scare you off, but do you want to meet my parents?" He grabs my hand, squeezing it, and I feel that familiar comfort he gives me when he knows I feel uneasy. Telling me he is here with me.

"That was the exact reason I was coming over." I squeeze his hand back to let him know I'm okay.

"Really?" He looks at me in surprise, but it turns into a smile quickly.

"No, you are directly in line with the exit." I deadpan nod behind him at the doors. "I planned to hug you and manoeuvre you out of the way so I could escape."

"Sneaky, I like it." He smirks before placing a hand on my lower back, moving toward his parents. "Come on."

"Mom, Dad?"

They both turn from the conversation they were having together and smile at us.

"This is Brooke." He holds a hand out to gesture to me. "Brooke, these are my parents."

"It's so nice to meet you finally, Brooke," his mom says, pulling me into a hug.

"I- It's nice to meet you both, too," I stutter as she releases me, and his dad shakes my hand.

"We've heard all about the clothing drop, seriously impressive numbers you've raised," Grant's dad compliments me.

"Thank you. It's been a lot of the team's effort to promote it, so I'm grateful to them," I say, trying to give credit where it is due.

"No way, you worked so hard. That's all you." Grant smiles down at me, and I blush.

"You know, if you were ever interested in launching it as an official business, I know some people who could help," Grant's dad says.

"Thanks so much, I'll keep it in mind." I smile. Mrs McDonald comes over and squeezes Grant's cheeks, and she starts a conversation with his parents. Grant’s hand skims my lower back again and guides me towards the bar.

He orders us drinks while I lean against the bar, admiring his side profile as he speaks to the bartender. I nervously fiddle with the paper napkins laid out in preparation for our drinks, overthinking all the ways our conversation could unfold.

"I spoke with Grace," Grant says, turning toward me and pulling me out of my mental spiral. "I told her I was sorry for not being more honest, but it's been over for me for a long time."

Letting out a sigh of relief, I nod. "I believe you."

He smiles at me, and I smile back as he leans in, cups my cheek with his hand, and presses his lips to mine. Pulling back slightly, he says, "I'm in love with you, Brooke."

My heart skips a beat upon hearing the "L" word, and I finally feel all the butterflies that should accompany it. "Okay." I bite my lip, trying to hold back my joy as I nod at him.

"Okay?" His brow furrows, clearly expecting a different response.

I laugh, cupping his cheeks and kissing him again. "I'm in love with you, too."

I've been in love with Grant longer than I realised.

"The playboy hockey player," Grant Anders, whom I met in September, is nothing like the Grant Anders I know now, who is caring and careful with my heart. He makes me feel safe and secure, and, most importantly, he loves me for who I am, not for what I could be.

He kisses me softly, and I can feel him smiling against my lips just as much as I am. "Just so we are clear, you're my only girlfriend."

“Yes, Captain”, I giggle against his lips as he kisses me.

Our friends find us at the bar, smiling stupidly at each other.

"You two are insufferable." Cami gags, stealing Grant's drink and knocking it against mine before drinking it.