Page 66 of He Has Game (Boston Brawlers Hockey)
I meet Vivvie’s eyes, they’re sad and my heart wants to crack in two. She doesn’t know how hard I’ve fallen, not completely.
Grace says to mom, “Caro, honey, I don’t think—”
“Everyone out,” I say. Because I can’t wait another minute to finish setting this thing straight.
“What are you doing?” Vivvie says, standing. “I’ve been released. I can go now.”
“I don’t want to wait.” But for a guy who’s dying to talk, my mouth suddenly goes dry.
“You sure your heart is a hundred percent?”
“That’s what the doctors say. I feel good. Especially seeing you.” Her smile melts my nerves.
“Will you marry me, Vivvie, for real?”
I take her in my arms as her face lights up and a tear falls as she nods her head wildly. I kiss the tear away.
“I’d present you with a ring right about now, but you already have that. Now you have my heart too. And I promise to protect yours.” I think about the enormity of my next promise and my heart stutters, but the well of need and love inside me compels me to say it, bigger and more terrifying than anything I’ve said or meant before. “Forever. I want you forever and I’m giving myself to you-all of me, heart and soul—forever.”
“Finn.” She kisses me, conveying everything in her heart, all those feelings and promise and caring that have been there, that I’ve been rejecting or worse, pretending they weren’t real. I swear to myself that I’ll never do that to her again, that I’ll accept and embrace all her romantic notions now and for the rest of our lives.
* * *
My mom spills backinto the room with Grace while we’re kissing and they’re happy and I’m about to complain, but Neil claps his hands together and yells, “Enough, ladies. This couple wants to go home now.” Then he physically drags them from the room while we follow.
“I think I’m in love with my new almost step-father.”
“He’s a nice guy, isn’t he?” Vivvie says. “I’m happy for your mother to have him.”
“Who are you happier for? Her or you?”
“Trick question?”
“No. Test question.”
“I’m the happiest person in the universe for us. You and me. For real.”
