Page 105 of Fault Line

“Yeah, it will be. You know, I was gonna tell you that I’m glad that Elio could take in Bentley. I think it’s been really good for him.”

“Yeah, Taylor figured it might be,” he says. “Should’ve just trusted her from the get-go.”

“What do you mean?”

He shifts uncomfortably on the balls of his feet, avoiding my questioning gaze. “Er, nothing really.”

“Spill,” I playfully demand. “I can keep a secret.”

He rubs at the back of his neck. “Just—Harps and I really wanted to take him on, thought it would be fun for Juney and all. We were gonna hire someone to walk him during the day, but in the end, Tay thought Elio should have him. That it might, I don’t know, spark something good in his life.”

“Ah, I agree with Taylor. He needed a little bit of sunshine.”

“Well, good, then.”

We chat a bit more, catching up and reminiscing about past holidays spent together. Despite Luca’s initial stiffness, our conversation flows easily, and I’m reminded of the years I spent growing up around his family.

Before long, the rink doors open, and a group of players spills out, chatting and laughing as they make their way to the parking lot. I spot Holden among them, his face lighting up when he sees me.

“Hey, baby!” he calls, jogging over with a grin. “What are you doing out here in the cold?”

“Waiting for you, obviously,” I say, wrapping my arms around his neck as he pulls me into a warm embrace.

As we walk away, I glance back at Luca, who waves and offers a tight-lipped smile before heading into the rink to find his wife.

Once we’re tucked inside the warmth of Holden’s car, I let out a contented sigh, snuggling into the heated seat. “It was nice seeing Luca again,” I say, glancing over as he starts the engine. “I didn’t expect to run into him here.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard he’s a pretty decent guy. He and Elio seem nothing alike, though. I’m always shocked that they’re related.”

“Yeah, in some ways, they’re very different,” I say, tucking my nose into my scarf. “But in others, they’re more alike than you might expect.”

He makes a noncommittal sound as he pulls from the lot. “Well, I’m glad you two had the chance to catch up, especially since you’ll be spending Christmas with me this year.”

As we drive, I focus on the upcoming holidays and the changes they represent. Spending Christmas with Holden and his family will be a new experience, one that I’m anxiously anticipating.

I’m also acutely aware that, in the coming days, I’ll be hearing back from the schools I applied to for early admission. The anticipation of those decisions is a constant hum in the back of my mind, and I can’t shake the feeling that everything’s about to change—for me, for us.

Holden squeezes my hand, sensing my growing anxiety. “Hey,” he says softly, his voice full of reassurance. “No matter what happens in the next few months, we’ll figure it out as a team, okay?”

I look over at him, my heart bursting with love and gratitude. “Okay,” I agree, squeezing his hand back. “You’re right. We’re a team now.”

* * *

Three days pass,and Holden and I find ourselves seated in my bedroom, my laptop balanced on both thighs. I’ve received a notification from all three early decision schools, and it’s officially time for me to sift through them.

My hands tremble with anticipation, and Holden’s arms encircle me, providing both solace and reassurance.

“You’ve got this, Karras,” he murmurs, pressing a gentle kiss to my temple.

I pause to center myself and click on the first portal, my heart pounding in my chest. The screen loads, and I can barely breathe as I read the words, “Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted, early admittance, to Dayton University—Master’s of Science in Biomedical Engineering.”

A gasp escapes me, and I turn to Holden, my eyes brimming with tears of joy. “I got in!” I exclaim, practically shaking with excitement.

He grins, pulling me in for a tight hug. “I knew you would! Congratulations, baby!”

I can’t contain the grin that spreads across my face, my heart swelling with joy as I open the next portal. This out-of-state school was more of a spontaneous application, but to my pleasant surprise, I’m greeted with yet another acceptance.

An accompanying scholarship catches my eye, offering me a generous grant to attend their program. While it wasn’t a top contender before, this boosts its spot in the ranks for me.

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