Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 131271 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 656(@200wpm)___ 525(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131271 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 656(@200wpm)___ 525(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Hayes hands me back the phone. “It’s impressive,” he says, drawing surprise from his brothers. “But what’s next?”
I take a deep breath, meeting their eyes one by one. “I’ll close it all down,” I say in a rush. “I’ll stop making content and remove all the past episodes. I can’t undo what’s already been done, the people who have watched, but I can stop more people watching.”
“Is that what you want?” he asks.
“I’ll do whatever you want me to do… whatever it takes.”
Hayes shakes his head. “You’ve made a lot of sacrifices to be with us,” he says. “Knowing the direction of our careers, accepting the negative exposure as part and parcel of our lives because you know how important hockey has been for us. I don’t want you to get rid of the channel, Riley. Not if it’s important to you.”
I blink, so surprised that I’m lost for words. Jacob and Shawn stare at their brother, digesting what he’s said at the same time as me. He’s right. I have risked a lot for them and forgiven them, too. I’ve looked past their bad reputations and dealt with the horrible online exposure of Shawn’s past actions, and the negative coverage of our relationship. I’ve done it all knowing that our relationship exists on borrowed time, and they’re all going to be leaving to play professionally soon. Taking away my channel would leave me with nothing in the end.
“You’re all going to leave soon,” I whisper, my voice stolen by emotion. “If I still have this…” Tears tear at my throat and pool in my eyes, spilling over to trail hotly down my cheeks.
Shawn, closest to me, doesn’t hesitate to wrap me in a tight embrace. “Don’t cry, Riles,” he says, cupping his hand over my ear to press my face into his chest. “I can’t fucking stand to see you cry.”
“Wherever we go, we’ll still want what we have together, Riley,” Hayes says calmly, measuredly, in this smooth deep tone which always makes me feel better. “Nothing will change except the time between dates. We’ll make it work.”
“We’ll make it work,” Shawn says.
“Wherever we are,” Jacob echoes.
“I’m so sorry,” I say, my voice hitching with a sob. “I’m sorry for anything I’ve done to hurt you. It was before I knew what amazing men you are.”
“Amazing?” The smile is back in Shawn’s voice, and the teasing tone too. “I prefer stupefying or maybe astonishing. Scrap that. Astounding.”
“What are you, the fucking thesaurus?” Jacob scowls, but he’s moved closer and gently eases me from Shawn’s embrace, wrapping me in one of his own. “We’re proud of you, Riles. For everything that you’ve achieved. I just wish you felt you could be honest with us.”
“I didn’t want to be a disappointment,” I admit. “I couldn’t bear to hear you say anything bad about me again.”
He strokes my hair and presses a firm kiss on the top of my head. “We’re on your side,” he says. “Like you were on ours when we were kids.”
I blink at him, confused.
“You think we didn’t know you made those banners Mom was suddenly waving when she bothered to attend one of our games?”
Hayes and Shawn smile with bright eyes at the memory. I had no idea they still carried it with them.
“How did you know?” I whisper.
“The childish letter formation gave it away,” Hayes says.
“And the fact that Mom never made a banner before…”
“…or after.” Jacob finishes Shawn’s sentence with a bite of resentment in his voice. “You and your dad were the only ones who supported us for our achievements, not because of an end goal or because we needed to live up to a name we never chose for ourselves.”
“You deserved it,” I say.
“And you deserve it now.” Hayes kneels in front of us, and I slide from Jacob’s arms into his embrace as more tears spill. We’ve come a long way and hit some bumps along the road, but between us, we continue to find a way through.
I just hope and pray that whatever comes next won’t be the thing that breaks us apart for good.
38
RILEY
Tearstains still streak my cheeks, but my heart is fuller than I ever thought possible. Overwhelmed with gratitude and love, I grip the back of Hayes’ neck fiercely and press my lips to his, pouring everything I feel into the kiss.
His response is instant, his hand firm against the small of my back, pulling me tightly against his solid frame. The rustle of fabric fills the room as I yank my sweater over my head, breaking the kiss just long enough to free myself. Jacob’s nimble fingers unclasp my bra while Shawn tugs at my leggings, his urgency matching the fire already building inside me.
In the whirlwind of movement, the Draytons reveal themselves, shucking off sweaters and pants, their bodies all hard planes and athletic grace. Their blue eyes darken with intent as they take me in, but it’s not just lust. I see something deeper, something sweeter, in the way they look at me, and their hands skim over my skin, their lips brushing against my shoulders like worship.