“I remind him of our mom, and he was super close to her. He promised her that he would look after me.”
“He’s not like that purely out of obligation to your mom.”
“I guess not, but I know that has something to do with why he’s up my ass about everything. Duke worries about me. So does Austin.”
“Theo and Tucker do, too. They talk about you all the time. For the last few weeks, they have been worried about you. They swore that I was the reason you weren’t around and that I did something to hurt you. We even got into it one night when we had too much to drink.”
“Sorry about that.” She squeezes my hand. “I needed time to think things through.”
“I figured as much. That’s why I gave you some space. But I missed you like crazy the entire time.”
“Same here. Now that we’re graduating tomorrow and going back home, I wish I hadn’t created this divide between us. We should have spent our last few weeks together, not apart.”
“I promise to come out to Chicago and stay with you after the NHL Draft, even if it’s only for a few days or a week. My mom needs my help around the house. I don’t want to leave her by herself for too long when I had to do it all year for school.”
“There’s nothing more important than family,” she says. “I completely understand.”
“I hope I get picked up by a team,” I admit.
“You’re one of the best centers the NHL will ever find. It’s not a matter of getting a spot on a team; it’s where you will end up.”
“I’d like to be as close to you as possible.”
“You hate the Blackhawks. Could you play for my home team?” She laughs and leans back enough to dig her ass into my thigh, reminding me of our night together.
It’s hard not to think about Kat in that way after being inside her. I miss that part of our relationship, too. But what we had wasn’t just sex. It was so much more. At least it was to me.
“I would play for any team that wants me. My professional career has nothing to do with my personal feelings.”
“If you could choose any team in the league, we both know you would go with Tampa Bay.”
“That’s my home team. Of course, I would.”
She sighs. “Florida feels so far away from Chicago.”
“It’s only a plane ride away,” I tell her, stroking her hair. “No matter where I go or which team picks me up, I will still be here for you.”
“I know, Dean.” She lets out an exaggerated sigh. “I have to tell you something before we leave campus tomorrow.”
“What is it?” Her words cause my stomach to turn from the anxiety that brews from within.
“I…” She hesitates, choking on her words a few more times, before she says, “I—”
“It’s okay, Kitten. You don’t have to be nervous with me.”
“I’m not sure how to say this,” she mutters. “I’m…” She stops herself again, but this time, she begins to cry.
Her sobs are low, and as I clutch Kat tighter, her body trembles from how hard she cries. I close my eyes and say a silent prayer that the Blackhawks select me in the NHL Draft. Kat needs me just as much as I need her.
I scraped together enough money from working at the pizza shop off campus to fly my mom to Philadelphia for my graduation. The smile on her face as I held the fake diploma in my hand made the last four years worth it. Everything she sacrificed to get me to this point has finally come full circle.
After I find Kat, who was seated a few rows in front of me, we make our way onto the lawn out front of the event center at Strickland University. The guests shuffle out in waves, the sheer number of people making it impossible to see through the crowd.
Kat had sent my mom the light pink sundress she’s wearing, which makes it easier for us to spot her. My mom has the graduation program in her hand and the camera around her wrist. I call out to her to get her attention, and she holds her hand up to her forehead to block the sun from her eyes. She smiles once she spots us, and I move forward to fill the distance between us.
“Dean,” she says, wrapping her arms around my middle. “I am so proud of you, baby.” She leans her head on my chest for a few seconds, before I release my hold on her.
“None of this would have been possible without you, Mom.” I kiss her on the cheek. “Thank you. For everything.”