Did I want to go pro? Fuck yes.
Did I want to play for the Rangers? Preferably, but it wasn’t like my spot was secure, even if they drafted me. The NHL could trade me any day without talking to me about it first unless my contract said otherwise. That little piece of writing—not getting traded—wasn’t as easy to get, though.
They could also always decide I wasn’t NHL-worthy and then make me play for the AHL, or even worse, the ECHL.
I could sign that stupid contract right now and it still didn’t mean I’d be going out on that ice with the team. It wouldn’t guarantee that I’d be getting any ice time for the foreseeable future.
Was potentially getting benched my entire first year truly worth ruining my NCAA experience for me? I liked my college team, we were great, and I didn’t plan to leave them before my graduation next year.
One year could change a lot, I knew that, but I was already guaranteed to get drafted nextyear. Maybe they’d still want me next year, and even if they didn’t, it wasn’t going to ruin my life.
It would sting, sure, but spending my senior year with my team, and attending college with my best friend in the whole wide world was worth so much more than a career. Collecting as many memories with Brooke as I could was more important to me than the NHL—they could wait another year.
“Reece, I’m not going to tell you what to do,” Brooke said, genuine concern in her voice. Her eyebrows were drawn together, yet her gaze was soft.
“I don’t want you to,” I replied and laid my hands on either side of her jaw. “I already know that I’m not going to sign the contract.”
“You’re not?” Surprise covered her features.
I shook my head. “Ever since we started talking about college in high school, I knew I wouldn’t play for the NHL before I graduated. We have plans all year, Brooke. What about your birthday? You wanted to go to Bali. I already booked the whole trip, and I sure as fuck won’t cancel the vacation of your dreams because I start my first official NHL season that month. And I know I ruined your figure skating season, so Ineedto be there for the next one.”
“But…” She clung to my wrists, her breathing quickening. “Reece, it’s okay. I don’t want you to risk anything for me.”
“It’s not about you. And it’s not that Ineverwant to go pro,” I told her. “I just want to get my degree first. I want to go to some more stupid college parties that we’re both going to hate so endlessly much that we’ll leave again after thirty minutes. Maybe it’s crazy or even stupid not to sign the contract, but either way, I don’t want to force myself to do something that I’m just not ready for yet.”
Brooke loosened her grip on my wrists, her armsdropping to either side of her body as her face drained of any sort of emotion.
“I want to enjoy my last year with you,mi princesa. I want to enjoy my life for one more year before I’m constantly on the road with whatever team I may end up with. And in case we’ll have to move to a whole other state because I don’t end up playing for the Rangers, I want to enjoy that last year in New York,” I added, even though I was almost a hundred percent sure Brooke didn’t need any more reasons to be convinced that I was sure of my decision.
However, her silence made me nervous.
Brooke displayed little emotion in her eyes, let alone on her face. No expression whatsoever; No happiness, no anger, not even disappointment, or uncertainty. There was nothing. She looked almost frozen in time.
If I had counted the seconds, I was sure it would’ve been at least half a minute until her lips curved upward. In that moment, a relieving breath drew from my lungs.
Brooke’s opinion was the one I valued the most, and certainly the only one that could make me change my plans in a heartbeat. If she thought I’d make a mistake by not signing the contract just yet, I was making a goddamn mistake.
“Well, it’d be nice to move back home before we get anywhere near your plans,” she said and took a tiny step forward until her body was pressed right against mine. Her arms snuck around my torso, her head colliding with my chest.
“You don’t think that’s stupid or irresponsible?” I asked, my voice shaking in fear that she might’ve thought less of me now.
“No, Reece.” She shrieked when I picked her up, her legs wrapping around my waist. “I’m so proud of you.”
“What if I won’t get to play for the Rangers?”
I walked us over to my dresser and sat her down, keeping my hands on her hips.
She sighed softly, slightly tilting her head. “Then I guess we’re moving.”
“What about figure skating? Or your family? You hate not being around them.”
Brooke chuckled. “Reece, I’ve been ready to move to a whole other country with you since we were like ten. Not staying in New York won’t kill me.” Her hands slid from around my neck down my chest. “And I could never skate for a living. The stress isn’t good for me, I don’t think. Maybe I’ll give lessons instead, sounds like much more fun.”
“God, I love you so much.” I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers. I never intended for this kiss to turn into a full-blown makeout session, so I was quick to pull away. Brooke, however, seemed to have had other plans.
“I know you do.” She smiled. “I love you, too.”
She leaned back in, her lips brushing mine before she opened her mouth to grant me access. Even if I had tried to tell my brain to stop, it wouldn’t have listened.