Page 26 of Rookie's Redemption
"That thing was falling apart at the seams!"
"I know." I can't look at him as I admit this. "But it still smells like you. Well, like youusedto smell. Back when you bathed yourself in that awful body spray."
"Hey!" He bumps my shoulder with his. "That wasCool Ice,and it was the height of sophistication."
"It was chemical warfare, Ryder. I'm surprised my nose didn't fall off every time I hugged you."
"You never complained at the time."
"I was in love. Love makes you stupid."
Present tense.Love.Notloved.
Shit.
"Okay!" I say quickly, scrambling to my feet. "This is getting too heavy. We need a mood lightener. Something fun and ridiculous."
"What did you have in mind?"
I grin and throw myself backward into the snow, arms and legs spread wide. "Snow angels, obviously. Come on, don't be a chicken."
"A chicken?" He drops beside me in the snow with a smack. "I'll show you a chicken."
We flap our arms and legs in the snow like complete lunatics, laughing until our sides hurt. The cold seeps through my jeans, but I don't care.
This feeling, this ridiculous, childish freedom, is worth the chill.
"I haven't done this since I was twelve!" I gasp between fits of giggles, my ponytail splayed out in the snow beneath me.
Beside me, Ryder's deep laugh rumbles through the quiet. His snow angel is going to be massive compared to mine. His wingspan alone takes up twice the space of my petite frame.
"You're doing it wrong," I tease, watching him struggle to coordinate his long limbs. "Your angel looks like it had a tragic accident."
"Oh, is that right?" he challenges, his breath coming out in visible puffs. "Snow angel expert now, are we? I don't remember that being on your resume at the animal shelter."
I snort and redouble my efforts, working my arms harder just to prove a point. Our laughter echoes through the trees, totally uninhibited and completely free, like we've shed years of history and hurt for just this perfect, ridiculous moment.
My arms eventually give way and when I turn my head to look at him, he's just watching me, snowflakes caught in his eyelashes.
"What?" I ask breathlessly.
"You're beautiful," he says simply. "I know I don't have the right to say that anymore, but... you are. Even more than I remembered."
My heart does something acrobatic in my chest. "Ryder..."
"I know. I know I hurt you. I know I gave up the right to say things like that when I left." He turns on his side to face me fully. "But I need you to know that I meant what I said at the shelter. Iamsorry. And leaving you was the biggest mistake of my life."
"Don't." My voice is barely a whisper. "Please don't say things like that."
"Why not? It's true."
"Because..." I struggle to find the words. "Because I can't go through that again. I can't let myself hope and then watch you leave."
"I'm not planning to leave, Mia. I told you… I'm home now."
"Everyone leaves eventually, Ryder. That's what people do."
"Not everyone." His hand finds mine in the snow, fingers intertwining. "Not me. Not this time."
