Page 101 of Breaking the Ice

“Of course I do. It’s on the refrigerator.” And I’m in love with you.

He grabs my hands, running his thumbs over my skin. Goosebumps dance up and down my spine. “I talked to my coach. Convinced him to move the start time back a little bit so his team could help out here tonight.”

I blink. “Your coach? My dad? He agreed to this?”

“We called in a few favors. The music thing will be over long before we have to be on the ice.” Evan shrugs, like it was nothing. But my heart thumps like it’s everything.

“I don’t—I can’t even⁠—”

“Hey.” Cutting me off, he steps closer, chest pressed against mine. Wrapping one arm around me, he cups my jaw and tilts my head up so I’m gazing into his gorgeous blue eyes. “You’ve got this. You’ve made all the plans and put in the work. You just needed a team backing you up.”

I swallow, and my eyes drop to his lips. Is he going to kiss me? Do I want him to?

Desperately. He convinced my dad to change the hockey start time for me? The logistical gymnastics needed to coordinate that between two colleges and all their fans has broken my brain.

I fist my hands in his Harrison hockey t-shirt and tilt my jaw—and he brushes a kiss over my cheek.

Disappointment floods me. But we’re backstage, surrounded by teachers and his teammates. The heat in his eyes says he’d like to do a lot more. My belly gives a little flip of agreement.

Clearing his throat, he moves away. “I should go to the cafeteria. Kids will be arriving soon. Break a leg, or whatever.”

“Evan.” I grab his arm, stopping him. “I can’t thank you enough.”

A grin spreads across his face, and the butterflies in my stomach intensify. “Nah, don’t worry about it. We’ve got your back.”

With that, he turns around, grabs his teammates, and exits the stage area. My feet are frozen in place, though.

“That’s one hell of a man.” Planted next to me, Mrs. Vanloo whistles. “I can see why you married him.”

Emotions continue to rocket through me—astonishment, gratitude, and love.

Because maybe Tipsy Bella really knew what she was doing in Vegas. Evan messed up in Nashville, but that doesn’t have to mean it’s over. People are allowed to change and grow. We’re new at this marriage thing, but we can get better at it.

I need to let him know that we’re okay. I need to finally tell him I love him and talk about our future.

“He’s pretty great, right?” I ask, still watching the door he disappeared through.

“You deserve the best, and it looks like you found it.” She puts her arm around me in a tight squeeze. “Now let’s go impress your professors and get five hundred kids to sing on key.”

That might be harder than confessing my feelings to Evan. But I’m going to give both tasks my best shot.

Chapter

Forty-Nine

ISABELLA

Isabella: I need to run an errand this morning.

Isabella: But thanks again for last night. It means the world to me.

Evan: You’re welcome. Your program was pretty great.

Isabella: I’m not sure about that, but we survived.

Isabella: Thanks to you.

Evan: My pleasure.