Page 213 of Lose You Twice

Mom nods. “I am. This also means that I won’t have to work as much overtime, thank the heavens.” She chuckles. “Between us, I was starting to lose my marbles a bit.”

We both laugh softly.

I’ve missed this version of my mom. The one who I’d sit with and talk to at all hours of the day or night. The one I’d cook dinners with, share snacks with while watching a movie. The one my siblings haven’t truly gotten to experience the last few years either.

I reach over, wrapping my arms around her. “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you, too, Wren.” She squeezes me tightly. “So very much.”

Pulling back, I look down at the envelope before looking back at her, a small smile playing at her lips.

“Just because I said you could use it for college doesn’t mean you have to.” She takes my hands in hers. “I know you love taking pictures, capturing moments. I also know you don’t seem passionate about anything you’ve been studying outside of your time in London. Even if it’s not something you want to pursue fully, it’s still okay to explore it. You don’t have to have your life all figured out yet, Wren. You have time.”

She stands, heading toward the kitchen to refill her drink.

“Now, are you going to tell that poor boy he can come in now?”

Laughing quietly, I do just that.

39

WREN

The final ten seconds take approximately six years off my life.

“Get it out,” I mutter, gripping the railing in front of me so hard my fingers ache. “Get it out, get it out, get it⁠—”

The puck clears the zone.

Five. Four.

The entire arena is already on its feet.

Three.

Kai is near center ice, stick down, eyes locked on the play.

Two.

One.

The horn sounds.

For half a second, everything stops.

Then the place explodes.

“Oh, my God!”

I’m screaming before I even realize it, both hands flying into the air as purple and gray gloves scatter across the ice below us.

PCU won.

They actually fucking won.

The Frozen Four.

Kai disappears beneath a pile of his teammates near center ice, Weston launching himself on top. Asher leaves his crease so fast his mask goes flying somewhere behind him.