Page 117 of Shattered Souls
You’re insane. And you should tell Xander about your car!
Her response comes back immediately.
Tara
Xander?! I can’t tell Xander! Do you have any idea how long he will lord it over my head? Telling me Betsy is a death trap is his favorite thing to do.
Snorting, I hesitate for only a moment before typing out:
Me
Any chance you’d have a spare spot for me if I came back to Lux next week?
Tomorrow night is Logan’s last game of the regular season before regionals, and now that things seem to be settling down and we’ve developed a routine that works for everyone with Aurora, I’m keen to get back to work, even if it’s just one shift a week. Even with Bertram still out there, I need this return to normalcy. Having a job gives me independence, especially now that I’m living with the guys and so reliant on their help with Aurora.
Bubbles form and disappear on repeat before a response finally comes through.
Tara
Biiiiitch, you better not be messing with me! Hell yes, I’ve got a spot for you! Come to rehearsals on Tuesday!
I’m smiling as I respond and set my phone down. I know we still have Bertram’s existence hanging over our heads, but it feels good to return to normal. Not that I can really call any of this normal since I’ve never had any of it before—unlimited time with Aurora, other people here to help and support me, three incredibly hot men to call my own.
No, this isn’t normal.
It’s so much fucking better!
33
RILEY
The crowd at Halston’s ice rink is electric, buzzing with anticipation for the Huskies’ final regular season game. The energy is contagious, and even though Grayson is absent—saying he wanted to catch up on work he’d missed out on this past week—I can’t help but get swept up in the excitement around me. Aurora bounces up and down in her seat, her little hands gripping the edge of her tiny jersey—Logan’s number emblazoned on the back, the fabric hanging loose on her small frame. She’s never been to a hockey game before, and her wide eyes take in everything—the noise, the lights, the way the players glide across the ice.
I think back to sitting in my crappy apartment with Ava and Isabella, watching a previous game of Logan’s, and wishing I could share the experience with my daughter. Now I can’t believe that it’s really happening.
Royce squeezes my hand as if he knows where my head has gone, and I give him a genuine smile.
“Mommy! Ro!” she squeals, pointing excitedly as the team skates out for warm-ups. “It’s Lo!”
My heart swells at the sight of Logan, focused and determined as he circles the rink. When he spots us, his facesoftens into a smile, and he waves his hand. Aurora practically leaps out of her seat, waving back with all her might. “Lo! Lo!” she calls out, her voice somehow cutting through the crowd’s roar.
Logan’s grin widens, and he taps his chest where his heart is, then points at Aurora. It’s a gesture that melts my heart, and Aurora’s resounding squeal brings tears to my eyes.
As the game begins, Aurora’s excitement only grows. She doesn’t fully understand what’s happening on the ice, but she knows it’s important. Every time Logan skates by, she jumps up, cheering in that high-pitched voice that only a three-year-old can manage.
“Go, Lo, go!” she yells, her tiny fists pumping the air.
As the game progresses, a break in the action shifts everyone’s attention to the jumbotron, which suddenly lights up with the familiar "Kiss Cam" graphic. The camera pans over the crowd, catching couples who lean in for quick kisses, sparking cheers and laughter from the stands.
I’m not paying too much attention until I notice the screen has stopped moving, and there, in bright, colorful clarity, is Aurora and me.
“Oh, look!” I laugh, pointing up at the screen. “We’re on the Kiss Cam, baby!”
Aurora’s eyes widen with excitement, and she immediately leans in, planting a big, wet kiss on my cheek. The crowd erupts into cheers, and I can’t help but laugh, kissing her back.
But Aurora isn’t done. She wriggles out of her seat and crawls into Royce’s lap, her little hands cupping his face as she gives him an equally enthusiastic kiss. Caught off guard, Royce stares at her for a surprised moment, his cheeks tinted with color. He barks out a shocked laugh, his deep chuckle rumbling through him as he hugs her close.
I expect the camera to have moved on, so when I look up, I’m surprised to find it still lingering on us as catcalls and cheers grow louder. “Kiss him!” a tipsy freshman yells behind us, stamping her feet as others nearby egg us on.
