Page 24

Chapter twenty-four

Riley: Bold Move

T he family lounge outside the locker rooms was louder than I expected—half-empty soda cans on the tables, someone’s toddler bouncing on a couch, and a woman in a jersey already retelling a play-by-play to anyone who’d listen.

I stood near the back wall, nervously twisting the cap on a water bottle I hadn’t opened.

Colton’s dad was across the room, chatting with a couple who looked like they belonged—seasoned family members who knew this dance. Me? I felt like I’d walked into a party where I didn’t know the rules.

Then the locker room doors opened.

He came through, hair damp, jacket slung over one shoulder. When his eyes landed on me, there was nothing subtle about it. The grin that took over his face was pure sunshine.

Before I could even say hi, he crossed the room in three strides and pulled me into a hug.

All the noise in my head—the flights, the planning, the what-ifs—just went quiet.

He really does give the best hugs. Something about the way his arms wrapped all the way around me made it feel like the rest of the world could wait.

Plus—he always smelled like clean soap and just a hint of whatever cologne he pretended not to wear.

“Are you kidding me?” he said into my hair. “You actually came.”

I smiled into his shoulder. “Tessa booked the flight. Your dad gave me a ticket.”

He pulled back just enough to look at me. “Wait—my dad?”

He tilted his head slightly, the way he does when something doesn’t quite track.

I turned my head, tilting it towards his father behind me. “Yeah. He’s right here.”

Colton blinked. “You’ve been talking to my dad?”

“And yes,” his dad added with a smile, “I’ve already met your girlfriend. I have the bruises to prove it—she about crushed my forearm during that last breakaway.”

Colton laughed.

Of course, I blush. "Yeah, sorry about that."

“Great game, son,” his dad said. “Really proud of you.”

His dad offered a hand. Colton took it without a word. Both of them were smiling, just slightly.

It was short, just a few words. "I'll leave you two to catch up."

"Thanks for coming, Dad. And for getting Riley a ticket."

Colton gave his dad a quick nod, then turned back to me.

“I’m starving. “Didn’t eat before the game. Too nervous.”

I raised an eyebrow, smiling. “You get nervous? I was starting to think you were biologically immune.”

“There’s this spot near the arena,” he said, ignoring my teasing.

“Maddens. Total dive. But they’ve got booths in the back.

Quiet. The bartender usually saves a few booths for the guys who want to unwind after home games.

You up for the best burgers in the city and the greasiest fries you've ever seen?”

I grinned. “Absolutely.”

He reached for my hand. “Let’s go.”

***

The place was exactly as advertised—dim lighting, vinyl booths that had seen better decades, and a jukebox in the corner, playing something twangy and low.

Colton slid into a booth in the back, and I followed, settling into the cracked cushion across from him.

A server dropped off two menus without a word.

He didn’t open his. “I still can’t believe you came.”

I shrugged, glancing down at my water. “I wanted to be here for your first game back. And thanks to Tessa and your dad. Well it all came together."

He tilted his head. “So, my dad, huh? How did that happen?"

“Tessa and I were talking, and everything just sort of… spilled out. How much I wanted to be here, how I couldn’t keep flying back and forth, how I’d been sitting on these old dreams for years and pretending they could happen.”

"Ok. What does that have to do with my dad?"

"I'm getting to that," I said, narrowing my eyes just enough to make him smirk

Colton puts his hands up. "Sorry, please continue."

"I was really just talking out loud. Fortunately, Tessa was listening.

I was saying I had no idea where to start.

How would I even think about rekindling those ideas?

I don't know anyone here. She was the one who suggested your dad.

She said he probably had a lot of connections and could at least point me in the right direction. "

Colton sat back slightly, brows raised. “You really called him?”

I nodded. “I had to start somewhere. And honestly... it made me realize something. I’ve been playing it safe for a long time. The rescue—it means the world to me. But I think I’ve been using it as an excuse to stay small. To not ask for more.”

“You’d really leave it?” he asked quietly.

“I’d hand it off to the right people. Carefully. But yeah—I would.”

He leaned in. "But you love that place."

I met his eyes across the table. “I do love that place. "

I really do love the rescue. I am proud of what we have accomplished there. I love the people there. And a part of my heart is there. But a much bigger part of my heart is sitting across the table from me. With those seriously ridiculous blue eyes.

"But I love you, too.”

He reached for my hand again, threading his fingers through mine. “Now I wish there wasn’t a table between us.”

I laughed, but it caught in my throat.

His smile softened. "Well, it's time I confess."

I raised an eyebrow.

“I already talked to the dogs about this."

Ok, where is this going?

"So, I am sorry you aren't the first one to know."

He is gently rubbing his thumb over my knuckles. Spill already. My heart can't take this dramatic pause.

He looked right at me. "I have been in love with you since the gala. I think part of me was in love with you even before that."

He slid out of his side of the booth, came around, and dropped onto the bench beside me.

Then he leaned in and kissed me. My hand found his cheek, thumb brushing the stubble there.

Our lips were still touching. "So, what did the dogs think? Did they approve?" I could see his lips turn up a bit.

"Brutus was wagging his tail so hard, I thought he might take off like a helicopter," he said, his mouth still close to mine.

The server dropped off our food, breaking the moment.

Colton pointed at a photo above our booth. It was a picture of a beautiful park, right under the bridge, and said, “That’s stop number three,” like we were already on the Colton’s favorite spots tour.

I was still chewing when he kissed me—just a quick one, then stole a fry off my plate like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"I hope the little brindle got adopted,” he said out of nowhere, reaching for another fry. “The one who licked my shoe and walked off like I was beneath her.”

I laughed into my soda, nodding. “Yeah, she’s got standards. She went home yesterday.”

I narrowed my eyes as he reached for another fry. “And no more stealing my fries without a kiss.”

He grinned, “Gladly” and reached in for one more quick kiss.

Time slid by—too fast.

Eventually, I could see he was getting tired. I guess I would be, too, if I had just scored the game-winning goal in my first game back and eaten half my fries. “Colton, you look beat. You should head home—I’m only two blocks from here.”

He got out of the booth and reached for my hand, "Let me walk you there.”

The air was crisp, cool enough to make me glad I’d brought my jacket. We walked in comfortable silence, fingers laced between us, letting the quiet hum of the city fill in the blanks.

A block from my hotel, we passed a small park tucked between two buildings. There was a fountain in the middle—one of those old stone ones with lion heads and a plaque too weathered to read. A warm light glowed over it, softening the edges.

Colton tugged me gently to a stop.

“You okay?” I asked, looking up.

He smiled, not answering right away. Just looking at me like he couldn’t quite believe I was real.

I squeezed his hand. “I’m excited to wake up tomorrow in your city.”

He leaned closer, voice low. “You mean our city.”

I paused, heart thudding once. Then I smiled. “Our city.”

He dipped his head, and we kissed. All I could think was we earned this.

Suddenly, two dogs came barreling down the sidewalk, their leashes zigzagging like live wires. One circled me, the other Colton. We were instantly tangled.

“Sorry!” the woman at the other end of the leashes gasped, jogging to catch up.

Colton and I laughed, trying to unravel ourselves as the dogs sniffed everything in reach.

“No worries,” I said, grinning. “We are used to dog chaos.”

She waved and hustled her dogs away.

Colton pulled me into one of his signature hugs—tight and warm, like a full-body exhale. Then he pulled back, kissed me gently one more time.

“Goodnight, Riley.”

“Goodnight, Colton.”

Maybe this is what starting over looks like. Messy. Unexpected. Perfect anyway.