Page 177 of Say Yes to the Nemesis

“You okay?” Ryan asks as we sit in the car.

“Yeah,” I say, and I mean it. “I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

“Good,” he says, bringing my hand up to kiss my knuckles. “Because I like you here.”

“Just here?”

“Here, there, everywhere. As long as you’re with me.”

“You’re a total sap.”

“Yes, but I’myoursap.”

“Yeah,” I agree, leaning over to kiss him. “My sap.”

He smiles against my lips. I sigh into his mouth, knowing that what we have is forever. He’s a book with endless chapters and all I have to do is keep turning the pages.

forty-eight

RYAN

I walkinto the arena wearing a warm-up jersey that says “WREN’S #1 FAN” in bold letters across the back and immediately regret every life choice that led to this moment.

“Really?” Jay says, not even looking up from the clipboard he’s studying. “That’s what you went with?”

“Wren made it for me.” I shrug. “What was I supposed to do, say no?”

“Yes. You were supposed to say no.”

Calla appears next to him carrying what looks like a hundred gift bags stuffed with Hope Pantry merchandise. “I think it’s sweet,” she says, giving me an approving nod. “Very supportive-boyfriend energy.”

“Don’t encourage him,” Jay mutters, but there’s no real heat in it.

The arena is buzzing with activity. Crew members are setting up cameras and adjusting lights. Volunteers are arranging tables full of food donation boxes. In the middle of it all, Wren moves like she was born to do this. She’s wearing her headset and carrying her clipboard, directing traffic with the kind of quiet confidence that still floors me every time I see it.

When I told her I wanted to do a charity hockey game for Hope Pantry, she didn’t hesitate. Didn’t ask why it mattered to me or whether it would be good for the show. She just said yes and then made it happen with the kind of efficiency that makes producers weep with joy.

She catches my eye from across the ice and grins, pointing at my jersey. I give her a thumbs-up, and she laughs before turning back to whatever crisis she’s managing.

“You’re so whipped,” Ellie says, skating up to me while Jake trails behind, looking slightly terrified.

“I’m supportive,” I correct.

“You’re wearing a jersey with her name on it.”

“And?”

“And she organized an entire charity event because you asked her to.”

“Your point?”

Ellie just shakes her head and skates away, but she’s smiling. Jake gives me a sympathetic look as he hands her a helmet.

“She’s not wrong,” he says quietly. “But for what it’s worth, I think it’s nice. Ellie talks about you and Wren all the time. Says you two are disgustingly happy.”

“We are disgustingly happy. Just like you and my sister.”

He cracks a smile. “Good for you, man.”