Page 274 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

He laughs, low and warm, the sound filling the truck. How I’ve missed that laugh. I’ve missed everything. The way his shoulders relax when he is happy. The small lines at the corners of his eyes. The steady warmth of his palm around mine.

I spent weeks telling myself I was leaving so he could have his life back. I never stopped to consider that I had become part of it.

The truck turns onto a quiet residential street lined with old maples and wide front porches. Several cars are parked along the curb ahead of us.

Too many cars.

I recognize Liam’s black SUV. Caleb’s silver truck. A familiar blue sedan that belongs to Paige.

“Oh no.”

Jamie glances over. “What?”

“You invited everyone.”

“I invited the team.”

“That appears to be everyone.”

“Only the important ones.”

I give him a look. He laughs again. By the time he pulls into Toby’s driveway, my stomach is full of nervous butterflies.

Jamie cuts the engine but does not immediately move. Instead, he turns toward me.

His hand leaves mine only long enough to brush a loose strand of hair away from my face.

“You okay?”

There it is.

The question beneath every other question.

Are you sure?

Are you staying?

Do you regret coming back?

I lean into his touch. “I’m okay. I’m just worried that they are angry with me. Really angry because of the pain I’ve caused you.”

“You really don’t need to worry about that. They will ALL understand and welcome you back. Every one of them. But I should probably warn you that Liam is going to make this unbearable.”

“He usually does.”

“And Paige will probably cry.”

“I may cry with her.”

“Toby will pretend he knew the entire time.”

“He probably did.”

“Caleb will stand in a corner and look judgmental.”

“He always does.”

Jamie’s thumb brushes my cheek. “And everyone is going to be very happy to see you. I promise.”