Page 30 of Breakout
“If you’re sure.”
Internally I’m kicking myself for mentioning it. I should have run off with her for the night. Nothing else matters but her. We could be poor and working dead-end jobs, and as long as Peyton was by my side, I would be as rich as could be.
She nods. “I am. I have to work tonight anyway.”
I bite my tongue to stop myself from blurting out that she doesn’t have to work so hard anymore. Not just because of the money she should get from the inheritance, but because she has me too. Not being able to afford something is the least of her worries now.
“Should we head back?” she says, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Yeah.” I nod as I reach for the door handle.
I wait until she’s safely inside before I shut the door. Rounding the hood, I get in and see that she’s checking her phone. Neither of us speaks the entire drive, both lost in our thoughts. The drive back to campus goes by quicker than the drive to the courthouse. When I come to a stop outside her door, she slips her phone back into her purse.
“I’ll see you tonight?” she asks.
“You can count on it.”
A quick smile crosses her face as she leans over the console. I turn my head just in time to catch her lips with mine.
“Later, husband,” she rasps, making me groan.
“Fuck me.”
“Later.” She winks before she jumps out.
I wait, watching her walk across the grass to her door. Only once she’s safely inside do I take off. I look down at the clock and curse when I see the time. I’m cutting it a little close to get to practice on time.
When I arrive at the rink, I throw the car in park and jump out. After grabbing my bag from the trunk, I hustle inside.
One of the guys whistles when I step into the locker room.
“Looking good, Hayes,” one of them calls out.
“How sweet of you to dress up for us,” another says.
“Fuck off,” I say in jest.
I come to a stop at my locker and nod toward the guys.
“Where were you?” Brett asks.
“I had a thing with my dad,” I lie as I take off my shirt.
“He’s getting awfully demanding recently,” Brett says.
“Tell me about it,” I mutter.
Reaching into my locker, I freeze when I catch sight of the paper ring on my hand. Shit, did anyone else notice?
I try to play it cool as I slip it off my finger and into the pocket of my pants. It feels wrong not having it on, which sounds crazy, but for Peyton I’ll take it off. When I’ve exchanged my wedding clothes for my practice gear, I turn around and sit down on the bench to put on my skates.
“How’s Cora’s job going?” Wyatt asks Kellan.
“She’s in heaven. The only thing that would make her happier is if the school year was over so she could be there full time,” Kellan tells him.
“I still hate that she’s dropping out,” Clay mutters.
When Clay’s sister announced that she was dropping out of school to jump straight into work, he didn’t take it well at all. It took him some time to realize that his plans for her didn’t actually matter and that it’s her life, and she gets to call the shots.
