Page 86 of Breaking the Ice

She laughs, a joyous, tinkling sound, and it makes me want to laugh, too. Evan’s mom might leave a lot to be desired, but so far, his grandparents seem awesome.

I didn’t grow up close to my grandparents. My dad’s parents are older and have never been involved in my life. And my mom’s parents retired early to Florida, so I don’t see them often, either.

“So, a whirlwind romance, eh?” Evan’s grandfather says, rocking on the balls of his toes and smirking. There are echoes of Evan in his features—his silver hair has the same texture, and his strong jawline, only slightly softened with age, matches Evan’s. He’s tall, too, and they have similar builds. “Tell us all about it.”

Evan blushes. “I think our marriage was less premeditated than yours. But it seemed like the right choice in the moment.” He locks his gaze on mine, and if possible, he’s looking into my soul. A shiver runs down my spine. “It still feels like the right choice.”

His grandpa claps him on the shoulder. “It is definitely a choice, son. Keep choosing it every day. Choose to love, to see the good in your partner. Choose to think the best of them and be thankful.”

It’s unexpected, but tears sting my eyes. I blink them away and clear my throat. “How long were you together before you eloped?”

They share a glance, laced with love and affection. “Three months.”

My stomach falls. Evan and I knew each other, what, two months before we got married? And we weren’t even really dating. We’ve only stayed married because of the university’s image. To save my dad and the hockey team. Right? I’m hit all over again with the craziness of this situation.

“Was it impulsive and impetuous? Yes. But that doesn’t mean it was a mistake.” His grandma pats my hand. Her words buoy me and give me hope. “It’s cliche to say that when you know you’ve met the right person, you know, but…. It was true for us. And I suspect it was the same for you.”

Evan slips his arm around me and smiles. His grandpa chuckles, deep laugh lines bracketing his mouth. “Tell the truth, son. When did you know Isabella was the one for you?”

“I wanted her from the moment I first laid eyes on her.” I hear an echo of the words he said to me the first time we made love, and my cheeks heat. “It was the hair. I’ve always had a thing for redheads.”

“Really?” I whisper to him.

“Absolutely,” he whispers back. Then aloud he says to me, “What about you? When did you know I was the one?”

Do I believe that there is just one person for everyone? A soulmate situation? I’m not sure, but his grandparents’ advice resonates in my chest.

Keep choosing each other every day. When you know, you know.

I tap my finger on my chin. “I can’t decide. Was it when you brought me a Pepsi in case the restaurant we went to didn’t have any? Was it when I saw you with those little kids at the hockey clinic? When you came to my play? Face it—you wore me down and won me over.”

When he kissed me outside at Sing-O because I didn’t feel confident enough in my body? When he kept pursuing me, even though everything about us should be off-limits?

I’m not sure, but the truth is, I’m in love with Evan. It crept up on me in all the little moments along the way, but I want to be with him forever. I don’t want an annulment after graduation.

“Either way, I put a ring on her finger, and she’s stuck with me.” He presses a quick kiss to my lips, a seal on a promise. It feels genuine, but is he faking it for his grandparents?

If he is—my heart will never recover.

Chapter

Forty-One

ISABELLA

Mom: Does Evan have any clue where you are going?

Isabella: Nope, I’ve managed to keep it a secret! Which is harder than I realized when you live with someone.

Mom: Have fun and be safe!

I’m determined to do something thoughtful for Evan’s birthday. We went out with his friends the night he turned twenty-three, and now I’ve planned a little mid-week getaway for the two of us out of town. Our students have a few days off for Parent-Teacher Conferences and it works with his hockey schedule, so I packed our bags, bought road trip snacks, and bundled him into my old Jetta. With no hints where I’m taking him.

I had originally planned on heading to Detroit to see a Red Wings game, since they’re his favorite NHL team. But they’re in Nashville this weekend. Ariana and Vanessa raved about the city after they went there for fall break—the music scene, the food, and the awesome nightlife in general. It’s only a six-hour drive, so why not?

I also booked an Airbnb with a massive king-sized bed. He never complains, but the tiny, lumpy mattress in our apartment can’t be good for Evan’s body. I ache every morning, and he has to stretch out the kinks in his back the moment he rolls out of it. It’s too bad I can’t give him the gift of a good night’s sleep every day, but for now, this will have to do until we move out.

Will we pick out a mattress together? Or will we go our separate ways at graduation?