Page 30

Next Summer

Mom: Good luck today! I’m so proud of you.

Quentin: Thanks, Mom. I’ll call you if I have some time.

Mom: Just send me the highlights. Enjoy the visit with your sister.

“Damn, didn’t expect to get this many butterflies.” I wiped my damp hands on my jeans. The nervous sweat was giving me gross clammy hands.

“I can blow on them for you.” Logan took my hand with a devilish smirk as she lightly blew air on my palm. “I’m sure the other blow would be more distracting, but we’re in public.”

“Like that’ll stop you,” I teased.

Logan giggled and leaned into me, her long blonde hair in waves again. She still wore her braids often, but I was obsessed with the curls. I ran my fingers through them, admiring how soft they were.

“You and my hair.”

“Obsessed, I know.” I bent down to smell her. “You always smell so fucking good. How is that possible?”

“We all have our gifts.” She pushed up and faced me, her expression set in determination. “Listen to me right now, Quentin Hawthorne.”

“I love when you get all bossy on me.” I never realized how love could deepen and change when you were with someone. Sure, the sex was still insane, and we were always finding ways to rile each other up, but there was a comfort in this version of us too. She was my best friend in the entire universe, who knew every part of me. The good and the bad and everything in-between. She held me while I cried when we lost the championship game but kicked my ass into leading the team the next week. She made me a better human, and I loved her more now than I had back in the fall.

She was the best part of my life.

“You worked your ass off. You lead your team in ways that are hard to measure but still noticeable. You’re a great teammate and leader and are so wicked and sexy on the ice.”

“I don’t think being sexy will help me today.”

“Stop it.” She pointed her finger at me, her eyebrows getting all scrunchy. “You’re going to go in there and talk about an entry-level contract with Steven.”

My stomach dipped at my reality. A scout from the Acorns wanted to speak with me about a potential contract for after senior year. It was my wildest dream come true. I’d get to live here with Audrey and play with Theo. With the NCAA rules, I couldn’t sign anything until my final season was completed, but we could discuss terms and bonuses and expectations.

“What if I fuck it up?”

“How? How would you fuck it up? Explain that to me, dear, sweet lover of mine.”

“Lover?” I snorted. “I’d prefer future husband if I’m being honest.”

“Not this again.” She rolled her eyes and playfully swatted at my chest. “Focus on this meeting, then we can talk wifely things.”

“Logan,” I laughed, closing my eyes and leaning back. “How do you have a talent for saying the most ridiculous things that reassure me and amuse me?”

“I’m talented.” She gently grabbed my chin and waited for me to look at her. “Regardless of what happens, you should be so proud of yourself. I’m proud of you, and I’m with you despite you playing hockey.”

Her response eased my nerves. “Despite?”

“Yeah, dude. My life would be easier without all this hockey nonsense.”

“Fuck, I love you.” I pulled her into a huge bear hug, kissing the top of her head. “What are you gonna do while I head inside?”

“Audrey told me about their public library renovations. I already have a brain boner over it. Told Jordan I’d FaceTime her once I got there.”

“You are ridiculous, but I fucking love you.”

“I love you too, Hawthorne.” She patted my ass. “Now, go get that contract, baby.”

She waved as I left her by the bench, heading up the stairs to the rink where Steve told me to meet him. I knew we couldn’t sign anything, but this conversation could determine my future, and I wanted it so badly I could hardly breathe.

I wanted to play in the NHL, play hockey with Theo, be near Audrey, get married to Logan, and have kids who were as close as Audrey and I were. I wanted to see Logan’s parents and even Theo’s and grow our blended family. That was the thing I’d learned this year through therapy. Death had ruined my vision for what I thought a family was. I held onto that instead of adapting to what it was now—filled with people who cared for me, supported me, and loved me.

Jordan… that wild crazy woman was family. Em, Theo’s sister, was part of the family. Preston and Liam and J.D…. those were the family I wanted. I promised Logan I’d stay in therapy for a while, but I just cut down on going from once a week to once a month. That felt more manageable.

My mom was also going and had made small progress. She was engaged to Gage’s father now but admitted she didn’t like herself. We hadn’t met up in person yet, but we spoke on the phone once every two weeks. It felt right. I hadn’t forgiven her, but I also couldn’t cut her out of my life. This was the balance I needed until she healed more. And if she didn’t, then I’d walk away. With the support system now, I wasn’t afraid of picking a happier future.

I glanced back at Logan, and she waved at me with a huge smile from the bench, and that gave me the boost I needed before opening the rink doors. Steven stood right there, his hand outstretched like he was about to push it.

“Hey there,” he said, smiling. “Is that the librarian?”

“What?”

He jutted his chin toward the bench. “Sanders said your future wife was going to be a librarian. My sister is one and has connections at the public library. When you make the move here, we help your family, not just you, kid. Now, you want a tour of the place to see where you’ll be playing?”

I blinked, my eyes filling with moisture as everything I’d dreamed about but never thought would happen was right there. I glanced back at Logan, and she did a goofy wiggle, solidifying that I did deserve happiness. “I’d love to, sir.”

“Tell us everything!” Audrey yelled, then cringed. “Sorry, that was aggressive.”

Theo rubbed her back with a small smile but nodded.

“Yeah, I want to know the details.”

“He refused to say anything until we were all here, but he’s been wearing this smug little smile on his face the entire time. It’s driving me crazy!” Logan leaned into me as we sat around Audrey and Theo’s kitchen table. They wanted to cook us dinner tonight since we were staying the weekend with them.

I wanted to tell them everything, but one part stuck out to me the most.

“You talked to Steve about Logan?” I stared at Theo, my gratitude for the guy growing every day. “You told him my future wife was a librarian.”

Theo winked at Logan before answering. “Yup. I wanted him to present a full package to you, like he did for me. It’s not just the player, it’s their family too. Steve helped Audrey find a spot here at the hospital. I wanted to make sure Logan had a spot too so there was no reason you could turn down the offer.”

“You assume there was an offer.”

“I’ve been nagging Steve since I’ve been here about you. Even annoyed my coach about it.”

Logan slid her hand into mine under the table, squeezing, like she knew how much this moment meant to me.

“Why?”

“Because, Q, I want you playing here with me.” He scoffed, like the question was stupid. “I barely got time with you on the ice at Central State, and you’re good. I think this team would be a great fit for you, and selfishly, I want family here.”

The damn stinging in my eyes returned, and I swallowed down a ball of emotion to the point it hurt. “I don’t deserve that.”

“Yes, you do.” Theo set his glass of water down and leveled his gaze at me. “Do you really think I have any influence? I’m on my second year. I can nag and bring it up, but they wouldn’t look twice at you if you weren’t any good. This is the fucking NHL, Quentin. This isn’t a favor. This isn’t nepotism. You have talent, and the team needs it. Simple as that.”

Logan squeezed my hand so hard I glanced at her. “He’s right, you know. If you’re looking for a group of people to tell you you’re average, you might need to find a new future wife and sister and brother-in-law. It’s three against one, Hawthorne.”

“New future wife?”

“Yup. I said what I said. Oh hey, guess what time it is?” Logan winked at Audrey, and the two of them shared a smile. I fucking loved that the two most important people in my life loved each other. There was never a chance they wouldn’t, but their relationship made me so proud.

“Logan, what are you up to?”

“Answer the question.”

“Uh, six?”

“It’s next summer.”

“What?” Logan was clever and sneaky, but I was lost. “What do you mean?”

“I told you we could revisit us living together next summer, and it’s time. So hey, in case it wasn’t clear, I’m totally moving here with you after we graduate! Pretty sure I found an apartment complex I’m obsessed with, and it’s a block from the library. And they will need help next year when they reopen the part they renovated, and the main lady and I hit it off. Not saying I got the job, but she told me to apply once I move here.”

I blinked.

She grinned. “You remember this conversation, right? We were on the roof at the party, and you know…”

“Theo, help me in the kitchen.”

“Why? I want to watch this.”

“No, you maniac. Give them privacy.” Audrey pulled Theo into the other room, leaving me and Logan alone.

“Are you okay?” She immediately slid onto my lap and cupped my face. “I could tell you were a papercut away from freaking out. I had to get rid of them.”

“God, you’re perfect.” I laughed as I rested my forehead against hers. “Thank you.”

“I did want to get them to leave, but I meant what I said. I love you. I’m with you. We’re moving to Minnesota next year.”

“Are you sure?”

“What do you mean are you sure? Of course I’m sure.” She laughed and kissed me hard on the mouth. “You can’t go throwing around future wife and then backtrack. I already made a Mrs. Hawthorne playlist.”

My grip on her tightened. “I want to see it.”

“Oh, so you react to that but not that I want this life with you? I told you we’d revisit this next summer, buddy pal, and I am in love with you. The silly, goofy, daydreaming about our future babies kind of love with you. I already told my parents I’d be following you, and they agreed. They also love you to pieces. Do you need me to write a book about it? I can. Or make a spreadsheet of reasons?”

“Every time I got nervous today, I thought of you.” I pushed a piece of hair behind her ear. “It calmed me down. You are…let’s just say I’m not doing this without you.”

“And I’m saying you’ll never have to.” God, the relief that comment gave me…my heart thudded twice as hard. She kissed me again, staring at me with her large brown eyes. “I love you, Hawthorne. Through the ice, over the ice, on the ice, and under the ice. Hockey or not, we’re it.”

I kissed her back, not getting carried away since Audrey and Theo were probably listening from the other room. I never thought a happiness like this would happen to me, but it had, and I would do everything I could to protect it. I might have made mistakes in the past, but they didn’t define me. I got to choose my family now, and I had the best one in the world. And even though Steve’s offer was one in a million, that wasn’t why I felt rich.

It was the three people at the table. I was a lucky son of a bitch and would never forget it. Life had always been about hockey and achieving that goal, but now it was so much more. It was these dinners, visiting Logan’s family, visiting Theo’s… I might’ve lost my dad and who my mom used to be, but I gained so much more in my life.

And for the first time ever, there wasn’t that voice in my mind telling me I didn’t deserve this. I’d never take these relationships for granted but I did deserve a chance at the joy I’d been feeling. Logan changed my life forever, and I’d spend the rest of it loving her for all that she was: beautiful, kind, and my best friend.