“Yeah, it’s gonna be a real hoot,” Blakely jokes as Henry laces our fingers together and guides me into the hallway.
“Is everything okay?” I rub my thumb along the back of his hand. My brows cave. Lifting his arm, I examine his swollen, angry knuckles, my lips parting in surprise.
“Henry––”
“I’m fine,” he grunts.
My eyes snap to his. “What happened?”
“You should see the other guy.”
“Henry,” I warn.
“I needed to make something clear.”
“To whom?” I ask.
His jaw flexes. “You know who.”
My lungs stall, and I lick my lips, the potential repercussions swirling in my head one after the other until I’m practically dizzy.
“You were behind this,” I murmur. “Weren’t you?”
“I told you I’m a patient man.”
I laugh. It sounds forced even to my own ears. “Patient?”
“He needed to know there are consequences to the shit he put you through.”
Grabbing his bicep, I tug him further down the hall, searching for eavesdroppers before demanding, “Did you tell Colt and Theo to hurt him?”
“It didn’t take much prodding.”
“And what happens the next time they play against each other? Will there be more fighting? More penalties? What if Colt or Theo get hurt?”
“It won’t be a problem.”
“Oh, it won’t?”
“No,” he confirms. “It won’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because Shorty is taking the rest of the season off.”
A crease forms between my brows. “Since when?”
“Since I told him to.”
“No offense, but I’m pretty sure you’ll have to pry Shorty’s hockey stick from his cold, dead fingers before he gives into something like that.”
“You don’t believe me?” he questions.
“I do,” I murmur, glancing over my shoulder again as if my ex could pop out at any second like Beetlejuice if I say his name too many times. “But…I know Shorty. And I know it would take a lot to convince him to––”
“You still don’t have any faith in me?” he asks.
I hesitate a moment, but unable to help myself, I reach for his bruised hand. I need to feel him. His warmth. His skin. His unyielding confidence and determination.
Peeking up at him, I whisper, “You know I do.”
“Then you know I’d do anything for you. Anything, Mia Rutherford. Even if I have to get my hands dirty to do it.”
I lift his bruised knuckles to my lips and kiss them gently. These hands. They wield so much power. So much control. If they belonged to anyone else, I’d be terrified. But they’re Henry’s. And I trust him. With my life. My heart. My soul. My future. And my past, no matter how heartwrenching it is.
He cups the side of my face, slipping his fingers into my hair as he urges me to look at him. When my eyes meet his, he murmurs, “Shorty will never bother you again, Mia.”
“Promise?” I whisper.
“You really think I’d let you down?”
My mouth quirks up. “No. I don’t think you’ll let me down.”
“Good. Because I won’t.”
“Never?”
“Never ever.” He pulls me into him and kisses me as his fingers slide down my body, finding my hips and digging into them as if the idea of letting me go is unbearable.
Sinking into his affection, I close my eyes and breathe him in, committing the moment to memory. The feel of him. The taste of him. The sound of his voice. The steady thrum of his heart against my palm. All of it.
“I love you, Professor,” I whisper.
He tilts my head up again and waits until my eyes open. When they do, a playful grin tugs at his lips. “Not your professor anymore.”
“I love you, Henry,” I emphasize.
His chuckle warms my insides, and he pecks the tip of my nose with his lips. “Love you too, Brat.”
“So, I guess we’re both rule-breakers?” I quip. “Ya know, since we promised not to fall in love and all.”
With a cocky smirk tugging at my insides, he shakes his head. “I never promised I wouldn’t fall in love with you.”
“You didn’t?”
“No.” He kisses me again. “I always knew you’d be the one to bring me to my knees, Mia Rutherford.” He nuzzles his head into the crook of my neck and squeezes me tightly. “I figured if I was patient enough, I might convince you to give me a real shot.”
“So, this was your plan all along?”
“I told you I was patient,” he reminds me.
I snort and smack his back, but he only uses his anaconda grip to squeeze me tighter, pulling a laugh from me. “Whatever, Professor. You’re lucky your plan worked.”
“Mm-hmm.” His throat vibrates against my shoulder, making me squirm, but he doesn’t let me go. “I knew you wouldn’t let me down.”
Under different circumstances, I wouldn’t believe him. I’d warn him to stay away. Remind him I’m not worth it, and any kind of love between us would only wind up hurting us both. But after everything we’ve been through, I can’t help but appreciate his faith in me, even when I didn’t have any in myself.
Resting my head against his, I whisper, “Not a chance.”
EPILOGUE
MIA
“I still can’t believe you convinced me to do this,” I mumble, smoothing out my worn Broken Vows T-shirt as I stand outside the building.
“You look perfect.” Henry kisses my cheek. “You’re going to kill it.”
“We’ll see,” I mutter under my breath.
The door in front of us opens, and Blakely appears. “All right, we’re ready for you.”
“Mm-hmm,” I hum, my nose scrunching.
Blakely laughs. “Seriously, you’re going to do fine. Come on.” Pushing the door open the rest of the way, she waits for us to step through, then announces, “Hey, guys! I want you to give my best friend, Mia Rutherford, a big round of applause.”
The kids clap their hands, causing Nala’s ears to perk up beside my thigh. Henry guides her away from my side and nudges me toward the podium at the center of the stage where Blakely’s standing. There’s a set of steps along the side. Henry leads Nala down them and toward the anxious kids. They look like they’re about to have a meltdown if they don’t get their hands on Nala’s fluffy black and brown fur within the next three seconds. We decided it was a good idea to let them pet Nala while I told them my life story. I’m grateful for the distraction as well as the sweet smiles each of the kids have anytime Nala comes within arm’s reach.
As Henry starts winding Nala between the rows, Blakely reaches for the microphone behind the podium and continues, “I know some of you are familiar with my best friend since she’s brought her dog to hang out with us a few times, but today, we’re lucky enough to hear something she’d like to share. Mia?” Blakely steps away from the podium, and I inhale softly, taking her place in front of it.