Page 53 of Perfect Score

But then Zoey just starts to laugh, and relief hits me.

“I guess it worked out for you two then?” she asks Gran.

“We were married for thirty-five years before I lost him. And I wouldn’t take back a single thing, including my shotgun wedding. I loved that man more than life.”

Zoey nods.

“I think I know what you mean. I hope in thirty-five years I can look back and feel the same way. Even after all of our setbacks,” Zoey says, staring off across the room in thought.

“You will, honey. Brent will make it all up to you. He’s a good man,” Gran says, looking up and winking at me.

“Oh… right… Brent,” Zoey says hesitantly.

Zoey wasn’t talking about me and all of our setbacks. She was talking about Liam and the fact that he dumped her before prom and then dumped her again right before their wedding for someone else.

She wants to look back on thirty-five years with him and believe it was all worth it. She has no intention of spending those thirty-five years with me.

It’s not as if I don’t already know that I have no shot with Zoey and that I’ll never be a contender. But seeing the light fade from her eyes when she realizes that my grandmother meant being married to me for all those years instead of Liam is hard to watch.

You’d think that after the last ten years since graduation, that I’d be used to seeing her want someone else. But the truth is, it doesn’t get any easier.

The problem with this plan is that I already know that Zoey’s plan is likely going to work. Liam has always wanted what he can’t have. He’s been a spoiled rich kid his whole life and hasn’t ever had to work hard for anything.

The minute he sees that someone else wants Zoey, he’ll have buyer's remorse with Shelby and want Zoey back, just like he did in college. I’ve seen him do this time and time again. The only thing that his dad’s money and influence couldn’t get him into was the NHL.

Gran clears her throat and stands, looking over at me.

“Alright, I know you need to get going soon to a wedding event that you two have tonight. Let me at least introduce you to a few people.”

I nod. “Lead the way,” I say.

Zoey stands from her chair next and then turns to follow Gran. I follow behind Zoey.

Gran leads us around the ballroom, introducing us to at least sixty people, half of whom are men who seem to be flirting with my grandmother right in front of me.

Unsurprising to me, my grandmother is the life of the party, whether or not it’s her birthday party. Everyone we meet gushes about my grandmother and how lucky I am to be related to her.

I’m glad to continue to see that she’s thriving here. I worry now that Tessa and I aren’t living close to San Diego anymore. I told Tessa that once I retire from the NHL that, if I can’t convince her to move up to a closer retirement facility in Washington, I’ll buy a condo here so that I can spend more time with her.

She’s not getting any younger, just like she said during our conversation on the plane, and she’s one of the last family members I have. Maybe I do owe it to her to settle down with someone.

“Excuse me. Do you mind if I steal Verna from you?” a gentleman in a suit asks, referring to my grandmother. “This is our song, and I’ve been waiting for it to come on.”

My gran gives him a big smile. She looks eager to get back on the dance floor, and I know that if she hadn’t taken the time to sit down with Zoey earlier, she probably never would have left the dance floor to begin with.

I nod in response.

“Sure, she’s all yours,” I tell him.

He reaches out his hand, and she takes it happily.

“Go get some food, you two,” she says over her shoulder.

“That’s my grandson and his future wife. Isn’t she beautiful?” I hear her ask him as he leads her to the dance floor.

I have no idea where she’s coming up with the conclusion that Zoey and I will be getting married. I can’t think of anything that I’ve said to her to make her think that. And it’s doubtful that whatever she and Zoey discussed while I was grabbing the punch would have led her to draw that assumption.

I’m the last person on earth that Zoey would consider marrying.