Page 56 of You’re The One (Saints Hockey #2)
THE REUNION
“Stick around.” Bodhi pivots to the nearest camera with a practiced grin. “Dominic and Mia are up right after the break.”
I could’ve gone the rest of my life without hearing his voice, but alas, here we are. Makeup on my face, tie too tight, sweat pricking the back of my neck. But Mia’s hand is in mine, and that makes up for everything else.
“How weird is it that Bodhi’s the host now?” I murmur against her ear. Guess the season worked out for him if it earned him a promotion.
“It kind of suits him,” she whispers back, just as a production assistant waves us toward a loveseat on stage. The hot seat.
At least we’re almost done. The women already had their turn, reliving the experience and reconnecting. The headline, though: Victoria was announced as the next bachelorette. Our You’re The One fan club will be cheering her on from the couch.
I thought I’d get away with one viewing party. Yeah, no. It’s turned into a weekly thing. They’re all at Logan’s tonight, watching the live recording.
Any grudges I had against the show? Gone… mostly. Questionable tactics or not, I can’t hate something that brought me Mia.
“Rolling in three, two…” the PA calls, hand slicing the air.
“I hear congratulations are in order.” Bodhi jumps right in.
I glance at Mia before answering, her lips tipping up. My daily fix. I could live off that smile.
I raise her hand like it’s the Cup after a Game 7 victory. “She said yes.”
The crowd erupts, clapping and cheering. But it’s Mia’s laugh that cuts through the noise, her head shaking. She’s used to my theatrics now, even said she finds them endearing. I’ll take endearing over attention hog any day.
Bodhi rolls a montage of bloopers and behind-the-scenes clips. Mia and I on the paddleboards; of course the cameras catch me checking her out. Helm shamelessly flirting with all the women at the hockey date. A zoomed-in shot of our morning walks. Guess we weren’t as inconspicuous as we thought.
Bodhi runs through a handful of questions for Mia and me—favorite date, biggest surprise, how we handled watching it all back. Nothing too painful. Easier than half the post-game interviews I’ve done. For once, it feels like production actually meant it when they promised “nice and tame.”
“Okay, okay.” Bodhi raises his hands to settle everyone. “One more question for our bachelor?—”
“No longer that,” I cut in, giving Mia’s hand a squeeze.
“Fair enough.” Bodhi doesn’t miss a beat. “What would you say your biggest lesson was from the whole experience?”
I pause, thinking it over. There are plenty of options?—
That sometimes what you’re looking for is right in front of you.
That stepping outside your comfort zone, at the very least, leads to growth, and at best, leads to love.
That the things worth having are always worth the fight.
But statistically speaking?
“It takes dating twenty-four women on national television to find the one . And I’d do it all over again if it meant calling Mia Matthews mine.”
The crowd lets out a collective “aww.”
And when Bodhi asks Mia the same question, she just smiles and says, “What he said. I’d do it all over again.”
“Well, I don’t think we’re gonna get a happier ending than that, folks. Any last parting words?” Bodhi looks to us, then sweeps his gaze toward the women.
I’m not surprised when Summer speaks up.
“Oh, I do.” Her smile says she’s been waiting all night for this moment. “This morning, I got the call I’ve been waiting for. It’s a huge opportunity, and I couldn’t be more excited.”
“Anything you can share?” Bodhi presses.
Summer leans forward, drawing it out, eyes bright under the stage lights. “Only that it means a move. At least temporarily. And that I’ll be recording my first album… in Chicago.”