Page 186 of Desperate Pucker
I turn back to Maddy, who’s standing off to the side, watching with a warm look on her face. I pull her into my arms.
“Is this moment everything you hoped it would be?” she asks.
“It’s even better because you’re here with me.” I kiss her.
When she leans back, fresh tears tumble down her cheeks.
I swipe my thumb against her wet skin. “Happy tears?”
She nods and sniffles, her smile wobbly once more. “So, so happy.”
I kiss her again, then scoop her up and haul her over my shoulder.
“Ryker!” she squeals. “What are you doing?”
“Taking you someplace quiet. It’s pretty chaotic out here, and I want a moment alone with my girlfriend.”
I head for the tunnel and down the hall. When I reach a quiet corner, I put her down. We can still hear the cheers and screams echoing in the arena.
She’s fighting a smile as she looks up at me. “Was that totally necessary to carry me?”
I shake my head. “Nope. But that’s the effect you have on me, princess. You make me do things I never thought I’d do. Like skate as fast as a figure skater. And win the Stanley Cup. And fall in love with the woman of my dreams.”
Her expression softens. She presses her body against me. “What other things do you plan on doing?”
“Anything. As long as it’s with you.”
I capture her mouth in a slow, teasing kiss that makes my heart go crazy. She moans into my mouth. God, that sound. I’ll never, ever, ever get sick of it.
“How did I get so lucky?” she says softly.
I gaze at the woman I love more than anything else in this world. “I’m the lucky one, princess.”
Epilogue
2 weeks later
Maddy
When I wake up, I see Ryker sitting at the foot of the bed, holding a massive bouquet of roses in every color.
I smile. “Oh my gosh.” I lean up and inhale the intoxicating scent of the flowers. “What’s this for?”
“Just a little something to congratulate you on your podcast episode.”
Last week, I sat down with Libby, the gymnast I met at the sports expo at Hollis University, and recorded a podcast about my experience at the Winter Olympics. She let me tell my story about what really happened. I told the truth about everything—my disordered eating, my injury, my breakup with Sergei.
As scary as it was, it was also exhilarating to finally be able to tell the truth. To finally dispel all those rumors and half-truths that people have been speculating about me and what I was going through in that moment. I finally cleared it all up.
Today’s the day the episode goes live, but I’m too nervous to listen to it. Maybe I will later.
One thing I’m for sure never doing is reading the comments. I’m sure there will be lots of shitty ones, and that’s fine. Peoplecan say what they want. I spoke my truth, and that’s what matters.
Ryker kisses me. “I’m so proud of you.”
I smile against his mouth, my heart doing a pitter-patter rhythm in my chest.
“You’re amazing, you know that?” I murmur against his mouth.
