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Taylor: Six months later

Six months later…

Bex and Preston are in San Jose for the night. I’ve missed my bestie so much that my chest hurts at the thought of her leaving tomorrow. With the best seats in the house, we cheer for our men, each of us wearing different jerseys this time.

Preston thought he’d lost his shot at playing professional hockey after they kicked him out of the college league. But he lucked out and got a phone call from a Pittsburgh Penguins’ scout. Now, he’s here in Cali playing against Drake and his new team.

“It feels weird to watch them on opposing sides,” Bex says.

All of Drake’s former teammates except for Jamie are now in the NHL. Jamie opted to skip the Draft and work on his video game at his father’s new company.

“Yeah, I know. It sucks with all of us being in different cities. It’s so hard to get together. And the three-hour time difference between us doesn’t help.”

Bex shrugs. “It’s only three hours. Coach has me working every night. I’m up so late now that I work at DMG, I’m lucky if I get a few hours of sleep.”

“And instead of sleeping, you’re up talking to me.” I laugh. “Which makes me late for class.”

She slaps me on the arm and chuckles. “Hey, don’t blame me. I have no problem getting up for work after staying on the phone with you all night.”

I smirk at her comment and pull my jacket closed. No matter how many times I sit rink-side, my body can’t adapt to the temperature. But at least once I’m outside, I have the warmth of the California sun.

Everything worked out for Drake and me. We both get to pursue our dreams and still have each other for support. I know he’s overwhelmed by his first year in the league. He’s not the starting goalie, at least not yet. But we both have faith he will some day.

We watch the game for a few minutes in silence, the score so close I hold my breath.

Bex leans over, her elbow invading my space. “How’s school going? Did you pass that exam you were freaking out about the other day?”

I nod. “Piece of cake.”

She chuckles. “Didn’t sound like one when you were sweating it the other night.”

“This program is hard,” I admit. “But I knew it would be before I applied.”

“In less than five years, I’ll be calling you Dr. Donovan,” she quips.

“Drake hasn’t proposed,” I shoot back. “He’s not allowed to ask me until after I graduate and his career is situated.”

Bex covers her mouth with her hand, intentionally flashing the giant rock Preston gave her last month. Talk about bling. That thing could pay for a brand new car.

“Drake wants to marry you. You already know that. If you would let him propose, he would probably marry you right here on the ice.”

I cock my head at her. “Like Preston’s parents?”

She leans back in the chair and smiles. “Don’t tell me you wouldn’t love to get married somewhere like the Wells Fargo Center. That’s sweet.”

“Didn’t Tucker and Trent’s mom have Ava at Coach’s wedding?”

Bex nods. “Her water broke on Jamie’s parents’ feet. Regan thought Kennedy peed on her shoes.”

We both tilt our heads back and laugh.

It’s so nice to have Bex with me. I don’t want her to go back to Pittsburgh with Preston.

Living with each other for four years became so natural to me I could have attended Strick U until they threw me out on my ass.

I’m one of those weird people who enjoys school.

I’d be a professional student if it were a job.

The graduate psychology program at UC Berkeley is five years. I’m six months into my classes, and another four and a half years feels like an eternity. Drake was okay with waiting to get married. I’m only twenty-two and not even close to being ready to settle down and have a family.

My mom said she lost herself when she married my dad.

Her dream to become a nurse fell by the wayside once she realized she would have to move every few years to accommodate my father’s career.

Drake doesn’t want that for me. Even if he gets traded to another team, he doesn’t want me to follow him like a lost puppy.

He doesn’t want me to wake up one day and hate him for sacrificing my goals for his.

And I would never want him to do the same for me.

San Jose wins the game, the arena erupting into a fit of cheers, which is a welcome relief. Bex’s nose scrunches in irritation, though she claps and gives her congratulations.

Drake and Preston didn’t play much. They both knew their rookie year would be rough. Less money and a little playing time are part of the game when you’re fresh meat.

A few hours later, I’m sitting on the back patio of our new house, curled up next to Drake on the oversized chair. Bex and Preston are opposite us in a similar cushy chair. They’re busy cuddling and whispering into each other’s ears. I never thought we would end up here.

When I first met Drake, I never thought I would let him kiss me, let alone become my world. I never expected him to impress me. And he shocked the hell out of me when he stole my heart and held on so tight I knew I was a goner.

Drake takes a sip from his beer, the cold bottle sending a shiver down my spine when it grazes my cheek.

Drake notices and hugs me close. “You cold?” I nod, and he cloaks me with his big body, his thick arms and muscular chest crushing me. “How about now?”

I chuckle, my lips brushing against his arm. “You always warm me up.”

“Preston asked me to be in his wedding,” he says in a hushed tone. “Looks like I’ll need your help to pick out a tux.”

Fisting his shirt in my hands, I gaze up at him. The heat sizzling between us sends a ripple of warmth down my arms. “The thought of you in a tux does things to me…”

He laughs and then dips down to give me a peck on the lips, but it becomes more. I can taste the beer on his tongue when he slips it into my mouth.

Once our lips separate, I whisper, still out of breath from the passion behind his kiss. “Well, you already know I’m the maid of honor. Too bad you won’t be the one to walk me down the aisle.”

“Nope. Jamie gets to do that since he’s the best man.”

“I love weddings. We can drink tons of champagne, eat lots of food, and dance until our feet hurt.”

“I hear the women at weddings are easy prey,” he jokes. “Especially the maid of honor.”

I nudge him in the side and laugh. “Watch your mouth, buddy. Or you won’t be getting the maid of honor’s panties off.”

“I’ll just rip them off,” he growls against the shell of my ear. The heat from his breath sends a ripple of pleasure down my spine.

I squirm in his arms, tempted to drag him into the house. He’s torn my panties off so many times since we’ve been together. Drake is insatiable. Sometimes, he acts like such a caveman in the bedroom. But I love it, and I can’t get enough of him.

“No dirty talk in front of guests,” I whisper.

He kisses me once more, his lips soft against mine. We stay wrapped up in each other, our bodies twisted together until Preston clears his throat to get our attention.

“I want to have the bachelor party in Vegas,” Preston says to Drake. “You down?”

Drake looks to me for confirmation, and I urge him with a slight tip of my head. It’s not like he would ever cheat on me. I have nothing to worry about with Drake. He’s mine.

“Vegas, baby,” he says, his voice so deep and loud it rumbles in my ear. Drake raises his beer in the air, and Preston does the same.

“We’re going, too,” Bex chimes. “Girl’s weekend. You in, Tay?”

“Hell, yeah,” I say, beer in hand. “Count me in.”

Drake kisses my cheek, his arms so tight around me I can’t move. And I don’t want to… because I’m right where I belong.