Page 59

Brooke

The team bursts out of the locker room singing and carrying Gunnar on their shoulders, and he's grinning ear to ear. Cami and I are standing next to the wall. Adam bounces over and picks us both up. His parents aren't here, so while the other boys hug their families first, we are his.

"We are so proud of you," I say as he lets us go.

"So proud," Cami confirms, ruffling his hair. "When you hit that guy into the boards, I was extra proud."

"I called him a shithead, too." He laughs, and we high-five him.

Gunnar comes over next, and I hug him before he engulfs Cami, and I pivot away to give them a minute.

As I turn around, I catch Grant hugging his mom, and his dad claps him on the back while his sister says something, and he laughs.

Grace stands with them but hangs back, just smiling at him, and I'm waiting, holding my breath for him to acknowledge her.

His hair is wet, and he looks like chill fun Grant instead of the super-hot, scary Captain Grant he's been all week. He looks up and catches my eye before he says something to his mom and runs over to me, picking me up and kissing me.

Well, that settles that; he's stolen all the air out of my lungs, and I kiss him back, grabbing his face and wrapping my legs around him.

We pull back, and I smile at him as he still holds me up like I weigh nothing, and he's not just played a full hockey game. "You're going to the Frozen Four," I exclaim like he's unaware, but he laughs.

"We're going to the Frozen Four." He nods, and Adam shouts behind us.

"Fuck yeah, we are." The entire team erupts as the boys crowd us, and we are all laughing and jumping.

As the team heads to the exit to get the coach back to the hotel, I look at Cami, who's standing with Adam, waiting for me. A dinner is being held for the team and their families who came to watch them.

"I've got to get back to my parents, but I'll see you at the dinner," he whispers. I nod at him, and I can't help it.

He turns to walk away. "I met Grace, by the way." He stops and turns back to me, eyes wide, and that is all I need.

"I'll see you at dinner." I nod again and turn around, tears pricking my eyes.

It's happening all over again.

Miraculously, Cami keeps me from spiralling and crying my eyes out as I get ready for dinner, as she reconfirms, over and over, that she still thinks Grace is crazy. I'm just trying to do my hair when there's a knock at our door; Cami answers it. And I know instantly it's Grant.

"You better not have screwed this up, you idiot," I hear her hiss at him. "I've been fighting your corner since we got back here, so you better not let me down."

"Got it; thanks, Cami," he mumbles. "Can we get a minute?"

"Sure." She comes over and hugs me. "I'll meet you down there, okay?"

"Okay." I smile slightly, leaning my head on her shoulder.

"Remember, you can kick him in the balls now. He won't be wearing a cup." I can't help but laugh.

"Real nice," Grant says, narrowing his eyes at her as she walks past, giving him the finger.

"Want to sit down?" I ask with a sigh, nodding to the beds.

"Sure,"

"I guess I feel kind of embarrassed," I admit as we sit on opposite beds to face one another. "She said you were her boyfriend?"

"That's not true. We used to date, but I ended it before I left for college." He put his elbows on his knees, looking at me.

"Why would she say that, then?" I ask, confused, fiddling with my fingers.

"She's never really believed we are officially over, and that's on me because I should have set her straight, but believe me, I am not with her." He gets up to sit next to me, taking my hands in his, and looking at me intensely.

"I think you should talk to her," I blurt out, and he looks at me like I've grown two heads.

"What? No! I want to celebrate with you." He brushes my hair away from my face, and I lean into his hand.

"I know, but you've not been clear enough with her." Sighing, I continue. "I was so hurt when I found out about Josh, and I wish he could have just been honest with me."

"I haven't spoken to her since September. I thought I was clear when I didn't return any of her texts." He stands up to pace, and I can tell he's frustrated and doesn't want to speak with her.

"That's my point. Grace thought she was waiting for you." I stand, joining him and taking his hand again.

"You can't be serious right now." He pulls me by my hand towards him, wrapping his arms around my waist, and I let him because I need to be near him as much as I need him to go and be honest with Grace.

I can't be with him if he’s going to do the same thing Josh did. How will I trust him if he can do that to someone else? He could easily do it to me, too.

I can't go through that again, especially not with Grant. It would destroy me this time.

"I'm going to go join Cami and the guys." I brush his hair back off his forehead, and he drops it to mine, sighing.

"Brooke,"

"Please, just talk to her. I'll be there after." I run my hands through his hair and kiss his cheek.

"Brooke, please, I just want to celebrate with you."

"We will, just after." I walk out of the room and, luckily, get in the elevator right after I call it. I'm surprised Grant hadn't caught up to me, but I know he would have taken a minute to think about what he needed to do and respect what I asked him to do.

Grace is standing in the lobby with Grant's parents and sister when I walk out. Luckily, they don't see me, but I hear his mom say, "Grant, honey! Where have you been?"

I turn around as he emerges from the stairwell, and I can tell he wasn't coming down to see them but running down the stairs after me, so I haul ass out of there before he spots me.

I need a drink.