I wrap my arms around her back as she squeezes my neck. “I’m sorry my brother was an idiot.”
We both shake with laughter until she pulls away, holding me at an arm’s distance, a thankful smile on her lips.
“Stevie!” Ella attacks my legs, so I bend down, making myself eye level with her. “You do my hair?”
“Absolutely.”
The bus begins moving, the parade continuing.
Maddison and I share a quick wordless conversation from across the way. He offers me a thankful smile before Logan wraps me up in a hug.
Zanders’ hand finds the small of my back. “I want you to meet someone.”
He guides me to the almost as equally tall man standing with Lindsey. “Vee, this is my dad. Dad, this is my girlfriend, Stevie.”
My eyes burn a bit, but I hold it in. Of all the progress Zanders has made, this is by far the most important. His dad always loved him, as did I, but he had a hard time believing us both.
And now he does.
“It’s so nice to meet you,” I tell his dad, brows pinched together.
He releases a breath of relief. “Oh, you have no idea how happy I am to meet you, Stevie.” His tall frame bends down, arms slinging around me. “Thank you,” he quietly whispers for no one else to hear.
Words stick in my throat. I can’t speak, so instead, I quickly nod into his hug.
We share an understanding smile before Zanders’ arms are around my shoulders once again, my back to his chest.
He urges me forward to stand at the railing with him, all of Chicago’s hockey fans below us, and at this moment, it hits me that this is the first time we’ve been in public together without hiding. And for someone who was afraid of the recognition that followed Zanders around, I don’t mind the attention one bit.
I want everyone to know he’s mine.
He peppers kisses along my neck and shoulder as I find my worn-out ring on his pinky finger, spinning it before repeating the exact phrase he used the morning he took it.
“Mine.” I melt back into his touch.
His hold tightens. “And you’re mine, sweetheart. None of this”—he nods below us—“was right without you. You’re my first and only choice, Vee, and never again am I going to make you feel like you’re not.”
This is all I’ve ever wanted, to be chosen by the person I care about the most. I had friends in school who only chose to spend time with me because of my brother. I’m a twin, and I was still my own mother’s second choice. I’ve had a relationship where his first pick was anyone but me.
But here, with the person I value more than anyone else, I’m chosen.
“All right, you two,” Maddison interrupts, teasing us. “This is a family-friendly event.” Though, his own hand rests on his wife’s ass.
Zanders flips him off with one hand and uses the other to hook around the back of my neck, capturing my mouth with his once again.
“Fucking love you,” he murmurs against my lips. “I’ll follow you anywhere, Stevie.”
I put that conversation on pause and instead nudge his nose with mine and kiss him once more.
“Linds!” he shouts back over his shoulder. “Let’s pop those bottles of champagne! We won the Stanley Cup, and I got my girl back. Now we can celebrate!”
56
ZANDERS
“We need to get you some new Forces.” I open my apartment door to let Stevie in first, but Rosie finds her way in before either of us can.
“No, we don’t.”
“Vee, they’re supposed to be white. Yours are…not.”
She kicks them off with a bit of an attitude, leaving them at my front door before strutting towards the living room. “You’re too pretty for your own good. You know that?”
I chase after her, wrapping my arms around her waist from behind. “You love me.”
She giggles in my grasp. “Yeah,” she sighs. “I do.”
The parade was fun and all, but I’ve been waiting to get her back home all day. My place has a different energy when she’s here. It’s brighter, more fun. It’s a home when she’s inside, and I truly don’t plan on ever being without her again.
I just don’t know what that will look like. I don’t know where I’m playing next year. I don’t know if Stevie signed on a place in Seattle. Everything is still up in the air, but the most important thing is that I got my girl back, and we can figure out the rest together.
“Vee, we should probably talk about what’s next.”