Page 147 of Breakaway Hearts
We chat about the game for a few minutes, and Dalton’s professional façade cracks a little as he talks about our power play in the second period. It’s clear he’s a legit hockey fan, which explains why Sam went out of his way to get him a ticket to the game.
After a little while, Sam leads Dalton away. I stare after the two of them for a long moment, dumbfounded, even as a heady feeling of excitement builds low in my gut.
“Holy shit,” I mutter to myself.
I hike my bag higher on my shoulder and start moving down the hallway again. The second I reach the friends and family lounge, my gaze immediately goes to Violet and Callie, who are chatting on the far side of the room as they wait for me. Callie’s back is to me, allowing me a perfect view of my name emblazoned on the jersey, which sends even more warmth through my chest.
I will never, ever get tired of that sight.
Every fucking time I see it, it does something to me.
I just about sprint up to them, wrapping my arms around Callie and lifting her off the floor.
“Oh my god!” She laughs and relaxes against me as I set her down. I kiss her cheek, then turn her around to face me.
“Hey, Firefly,” I murmur, tucking a lock of wild hair behind her ear.
“Hey.” She leans into my touch, an unconscious gesture that I fucking love. “You played amazing out there. The Wolves didn’t know what hit ’em.”
She leans up and gives me a small, chaste kiss, but I kiss her harder, deeper, and we sway against each other until Violet clears her throat.
“Geez,” my sister gripes, although she’s smirking. “I get it, you guys are in the honeymoon phase or whatever, but read the room. Come on now.”
I smack her arm lightly, and she smacks me back in sisterly fashion. We share a grin, and I keep my arm tightly around Callie’s shoulder.
“Thank you for coming out to support me,” I tell them both. “It means the world.”
“No thanks needed.” Callie wraps her arm around my waist, leaning her head against my chest.
“I’ll accept the thanks,” Violet chimes in, raising her hand.
“And,” I say, ignoring my sister, who laughs at me, “I have some good news. Great news, actually. You remember that endorsement deal that fell through a while back?”
Callie raises an eyebrow, and I feel her body tense a little against mine. I know she still blames herself for that, even though I’ve told her a million times that it isn’t her fault. I made that choice all on my own, and it wasn’t even a choice—not really. She comes first for me. Always.
“Ooh, an endorsement deal?” Violet lights up, her hazel eyes shining. “Like for you to be on TV?”
“Yup, exactly.” I can’t keep the smile off my face, and I give Callie’s hip a squeeze as I continue. “Well, one of the guys from the company came to the game tonight. Sam brought him, and afterward, they came back to chat with me for a bit. He told me they still want to work with me. They understood that I had an emergency that kept me from going to our initial meeting, and he said they think I’d be a great representative for their brand. So the deal is back on—and possibly even bigger than before.”
Callie pulls out of my embrace, stepping back a little so she can look me in the eyes. She blinks, her expression so full of pride and happiness that it makes my throat go tight.
“Really?” she asks, hope coloring her tone.
Reaching out, I tilt her face up toward mine. “Yeah, really.”
I pull her closer while Violet claps her hands together and lets out a small whoop. Callie’s hands rest on my chest as I brush my fingers against her flushed cheeks and through her wild, fiery curls.
“I couldn’t have done it without you,” I murmur. “Thank you for being mine. For always being there for me. You’re all I need. All I’ll ever need.”
I kiss her again, even deeper than before, trying to communicate everything that words are too small to say.
When Violet makes a vomiting noise, I raise my hand, put my palm against my sister’s face, and push her backward while she snort-laughs.
Callie smiles against my lips.
“I love you,” she whispers.
“Love you too, Firefly. With my whole damn heart.”