Page 59

Byron

About Two Years Later

“Hmmm, it smells good in here.”

I reach over the lasagna Lola is assembling to pick a tomato off the salad she has set to the side.

Lola swats my hand and flashes me a look that would have any other man running.

After living with Lola for a year, it doesn’t phase me.

I pop the golden cherry tomato in my mouth and slowly start walking back to the den with my eyes locked on Lola.

“You really just love pissing her off don’t you?” Jalen asks as he turns on this Sunday’s NFL game.

“You can’t tell me that you don’t get some kind of satisfaction from pushing Ivy’s button’s. Plus if I’m lucky maybe she’ll remind me who’s the boss later.”

“Ew gross.” Oliver groans from the otherside of the living room.

I shrug my shoulders, Oliver has subjected us to enough of his public shenanigans over the last three years that he should be able to take these jabs.

“Byron, can you please set the table?” Lola’s voice carries from the kitchen to the living room of our small two-bedroom apartment.

We moved into this apartment in Brooklyn after I got drafted to the Rangers and Lola started her classes at the Culinary Institute Of America.

Lola was actually the one that suggested we look for a place close to my mom instead of staying in Manhattan.

The commute into the city seemed a little daunting at first, but now I love living only a few blocks from my mom.

She has also recently started dating again and I love being able to stop by and interrogate the men she brings around.

“When will your mom be getting here?” Lola asks as she sets the salad on our small kitchen table.

Mia has been staying with her while I’ve been busy with training camp and Lola has been preparing for her first season as personal chef.

After hosting team dinners last year there was a lot of interest from my teammates to have her come and work for them.

“She should be here any second. Are you ready for your competition tomorrow?” Oh and even with starting her own business she has found time to compete again. That’s why Oliver is staying with us. The rest of her family is going to meet us at the arena tomorrow.

Suddenly the door swings open and Mia comes darting in, getting all her zoomies out as she bolts around the room.

I take a quick glance around taking in some of the most important people in my life sitting around my dinner table. I’m blessed beyond my wildest dreams.

Lola

I run my finger over the locket that I haven’t taken off in nearly two years.

It’s a consistent reminder that no matter what happens today, I’ll be going home to the man I love.

Over the last couple of years Byron has been there for me whenever I needed him.

If it was having dinner ready for me when I got home late from class or staying on the phone with me when he was on the road and I just needed someone to talk to.

Orange and red leaf trees line the arena as I go and take my spot at the start of the course.

I take a deep breath and signal to Cookie that it’s time to start the course.

There is no place I feel more free than running through a jumping course at competition speed.

Cookie’s in rare form running and hitting each jump with a type of precision that has me thinking we might actually be able to place.

We finish to roaring cheers coming from the bleachers.

My friends and family take up the first two rows.

Both my parents are here along with my sister and brother.

Nonno and Nonna are now rushing out the stands to get to the car so they can set up the tailgate they insisted we have.

Byron offered to take us all out to dinner after, but Nonna insisted we have a few light bites to hold us over.

Once Cookie is situated back into her stable I’m met by my family.

“You did you great Lowy,” Mom gushes as she pulled me into a hug,

“I’m so happy we were able to get down here and watch you compete,” my dad adds.

Over the last two years my relationship with my parents has gotten a lot better.

We still disagree on most things and I still come home with new tattoos, but my parents have gotten better about biting their tongues.

We also agreed to focus more on the positives in our lives.

Aerie’s death was an eye opener for all of us.

Life is too short and we actually have a lot more in common than we think we do.

“Thank you so much for coming,” I say at the same time an announcement comes over the speaker that we need to head to the podium.

My finger strums over my locket as the third place and second place finishers are announced. This is it. Either I placed first or I’m not on the podium at all.

“And your first place finisher is Lola Adams.”

My hands fly to my face. I’m in complete shock that in just my third competition since I graduated from Westvale that I’m taking the top step.

Before I know what’s happening Byron is lifting me off the podium and spinning me around as I grab onto his shoulders for dear life.

“You did it, Pips, I’m so proud of you.”

I tilt my head down and being the one to bend down into the kiss is new, but kissing Byron isn’t.

“I love you, Byron,” I say as I brush his shaggy blonde hair out of his eyes. “We make a good team don’t we?”

“The best one I’ve ever been a part of.”