Page 81 of Ruck Me Harder

“Thanks, V.” His eyes skate past me to land on Tony. “So you’re the boyfriend.”

Tony stands, squaring his shoulders. “Tony Gonzales. Nice to meet you.”

Chuck shakes his hand, scrutinizing him. After a moment, he purses his lips and nods. “Okay, I like you.”

I laugh. “That’s all it took?”

“Nah. You like him, so that is all it took.” Chuck snags a chair and sits. “Tell me. How did you meet? Viv’s been fairly quiet in the group chat.”

Tony takes my hand. “We met at the Olympics.”

“No shit. And you’ve been dating all this time?”

I shake my head. “His sister joined the Revolution. She actually set me up with Al. That’s how I met Tony again.”

My brother grins. “And was it love at first sight?”

Laughing, I say, “No.”

It’s just as Tony opens his mouth and says, “Yes.”

Swiveling in my seat, I stare at him. His eyes meet mine resolutely.

“Yes,” he says, this time just for me. “It was love at first sight.”

My eyes tear up. “I didn’t—I was so⁠—”

So mean. So rude. I didn’t want to give him an inch, much less a mile.

“I love you,” he whispers. “The past is the past. What matters is what we do going forward.”

“Retirement,” I nod. “Vet school.”

Chuck’s eyebrows go up. “You’re going to vet school? What about rugby?”

“I am,” Tony says confidently. “I have to start applying. I’m done with gymnastics after the Olympics. I want to get back there, but after next summer, I’ll be done.”

“Me too. I’m retiring soon,” I admit. “I haven’t told Mom and Dad yet. I just… I’m ready to move on.”

“Hmm.” He sits back in his seat. “Have you thought about what schools you’re applying to?”

Tony nods. “I have a few on my list.”

“You know, Boulder has one of the best vet schools in the country,” Chuck says. “It’s not far from Denver, either.”

I blink. “How do you know that?”

“Dated a girl who was in vet school. Didn’t work out.” A sad smile twists his lips.

“She was too smart for you?” I tease.

He has a faraway look in his eye. “Something like that.”

“I’ll add it to the list,” Tony says gamely.

“You would seriously move to Colorado?” I turn to him.

“Chuck and Janine are there. You’d have a support network,” he points out.