Page 32

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

JONAS

Evan: Dude, where were you last night?

Jonas: At the gym.

Evan: I thought you went in the morning?

Jonas: Just making sure I stay in shape this summer.

Evan: You’re a beast, man.

“Did you know about this?” Hadley rushes into the living room as Caleb and I sit in our camp chairs and sip our protein shakes.

We finished our workout and my muscles are loose, used up in the best way.

Today is one of my off days from clinicals, and I’m going to make the most of the time I have.

Extra work outs and serious study time. The HESI exam is five months away…

and since I haven’t made any decisions about the future, I need to ace it.

I haven’t seen Hadley since she left my bed for class this morning. I hope she wasn’t too late, after I tugged her back into my arms and distracted her. But her eyes are alight with excitement as she shakes a pink flier in front of my face.

“Hads, I can’t read it when the words are moving.” I grab it from her and scan. “What’s the big deal?”

“What’s the big deal? What’s the big deal?” she echoes, her voice rising in pitch with every word, making me regret my question. “The big deal is, it’s a Taylor Swift party!”

“Um…” I refuse to again ask why this is important, so I pause and raise my brows.

“You guys.” She huffs. “I missed her concert in Boston because of my stupid classes here and the one in Chicago sold out too fast. I have major FOMO. So obviously it’s not the same, not like a live concert or something. But they’re gonna play all her songs and have food and dancing.”

She clasps her hands in front of her heart, and I already know what’s coming. Worse, I’m a goner.

Blinking her baby blues, she looks like the cutest puppy at the shelter angling for snuggles. “Please, please, please, can we go?”

To my surprise, Caleb shrugs. “I bet there will be a lot of hot girls there. I’m in.”

Hadley turns to me, and I sigh. “Of course. It’s tonight?”

She nods like a bobble head. “Ohmigosh, I’m so excited. I’ll tell Evan and see if anyone else wants to come. Thank you!”

Though it was Caleb who said yes first, she throws her arms around me and presses her chest against mine.

He doesn’t seem to notice, and I’ll take all the credit in the world if it means I get hugs like this.

I inhale, surrounded by her scent. It makes my knees weak, and I can’t help the flashback to this morning in my bed. I wanted to devour her, to never stop.

She pulls away from our hug, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, and her cheeks turn pink. “Well, thanks, guys. I’m gonna treat myself to a little self-care and shopping. Ooh, I need to call Natalie and get her advice about what to wear. It will take hours to get ready!”

We nod, and she grabs her purse and takes off.

“Jonas, how in the world could it take hours to get ready for some outdoor music?”

I shake my head. “I have four sisters, man, and I’ll never understand it.”

Hadley breezes back in later, lugging shopping bags and waving her newly painted hot-pink fingernails. Pretty sure she got her nails done a few days ago, but there’s something about that color—an image flashes in my mind of her scraping them along my chest, and I get all hot and bothered.

She declares she’s barely started her preparations and disappears to her room, Taylor Swift music blaring. I throw on shorts, a polo, and a Harrison hockey cap and call it a day. Sometimes being a dude has its advantages.

Evan finally appears and we talk him into joining us, plus he recruits Mateo and Luke from down the hall.

When Hadley walks out of her bedroom, my breath catches in my throat. Maybe all that primp time was worth it. Not like she needs it, but damn. She looks amazing.

Her pink strappy dress hits mid-thigh and calls to mind tropical beaches.

Something about the light and airy fabric or the way it flows out from her waist, I think.

She does a little spin, showcasing her fancy pink cowgirl boots.

The dress must be magic because it’s just a bunch of straps criss crossing around the back.

How does it stay up? I want to dismantle it and discover all her secrets.

There’s no way she could wear a bra with it. I shake my head a little, trying to dislodge that thought.

“Well?” she asks, raising a brow.

Evan clears his throat. “Did you get all dressed up for us?”

“No, silly.” She pats his chest, and a pang of jealousy cramps my stomach. I want her to only touch me, not him. “I got all dressed up for the other girls to admire my outfit. I don’t care what you think.”

“For the record, we think it’s nice,” Caleb says, giving her an admiring nod.

I straighten my shoulders. Is he flirting with her? She rests her hand on his arm—his arm!—and I inhale. Is she always this touchy?

“Thanks.” She links her other arm through mine and every tense muscle in my body relaxes. “Ready to go?”

“Yeah.” My voice is husky as I stare into her blue eyes. “Can’t wait.”

The Swiftie festival is in an outdoor amphitheater. I drive, park, and we walk a few blocks to get there. The stage is on the top of a hill, like if the Roman Coliseum and Stonehenge had a baby. Columns ring the space, and everyone sits on the lawn below, spread out on blankets on the grass.

The minute Hadley sees the throng of Taylor fans dancing in front of the stage, she bolts. Her hair streams out behind her like a banner, glowing gold in the light of the setting sun.

Evan shrugs, handing me the blanket he carried. “Here ya go, Dad.”

“Dad? What do you mean?”

Caleb laughs and sets the blue cooler we brought at my feet. “You’re totally the dad of the group.”

“I’m not the dad! If anything, I’m the cool uncle,” I say to their retreating backs. But they’re already going off in other directions.

I don’t tell bad jokes or wear tall black socks with sandals. Yet. But I guess there are worse things. My dad is corny and embarrassing, and one of the best people I know. I love family gatherings when I’m surrounded by my nieces. I’m gonna make an awesome dad someday.

Not like I’m rushing it or anything, but I plan on marrying young.

A lot of aspiring hockey players decide to wait to settle down and have kids after their career is over, but I don’t picture that for myself.

I’ve been ready to fall in love and start my family since I was in high school.

Backyard barbecues full of kids running around, adults chatting over a beer and the grill—it’s a simple dream, but it’s mine.

Does hockey fit into that? Is a pro career what makes it possible? I don’t know.

I spot Hadley in the crowd, thanks to her bright pink dress.

She is the opposite of staid and simple.

And there’s nothing wrong with that. I want her to have the world.

She deserves to live a big life full of adventure and fun.

She couldn’t stop chattering about London as we watched Love Island last night, and I want that for her.

Do I want to travel? Absolutely. But I want to have a home base to come back to. And once she has her wings, Hadley will never stop flying.

Putting out our blanket, I anchor it with the cooler, then sit and watch the sunset.

Being outside fills me and relaxes me like nothing else.

I flop on my back and stare at the sky, losing track of the time.

It’s the most perfect shade of deep purple.

There’re probably a few hours until the stars are visible, so for now I enjoy the dusk.

Any of my questions about my future turn insignificant in the face of the heavens.

I’m in the middle of a crowd, yet still peaceful.

“Hey!” Startling me, Hadley lays beside me, breathless. I roll to face her. “Blank Space” plays in the background. Her cheeks are flushed and her eyes sparkle. “You okay?”

Like it has a mind of its own, my hand reaches out and brushes a strand of hair out of her face. “I’m great.”

“Wanna come dance with me?”

Before I can stop myself, I snake my hand around to the back of her neck and pull her close. My lips brush hers. Like she’s mine, my girlfriend, someone I can kiss whenever I want.

She pulls back, blinking, and darts a glance around us. But no one is paying any attention.

“Sorry,” I say. “I got carried away. I’d love to dance.”

“Nothing to be sorry about.” Standing, she grabs my hand and pulls me through the crush of people. “But yeah, maybe try to keep it in your pants.”

I scoff. “Are you thinking about my pants, Hads?”

She gives me a teasing smile, and the song changes to “Cruel Summer.” Hadley turns to face me and loops her arms around my neck. Thanks to her cowgirl boots, we’re almost the same height and I can stare right into her fathomless eyes.

God, this woman. The future is a yawning abyss of questions, but the present is awesome. I shift my hands on her waist, pressing her tighter to me.

“Hadley,” I whisper. “Thanks for this. For this summer.”

“Same to you, Joe.” She lays her head on my shoulder, nestled in the crook of my neck.

The sunset is complete, stars faintly visible in the sky above us. No matter what’s to come, I’ll carry this perfect moment in my heart forever.