“Yes, his family owns a gorgeous resort in Minnesota. It’s called Windhaven. Look it up. You’d love it.”
Mom exhales. “Well, why didn’t he go into that line of work? It would’ve been a lot more suitable. I’ve never understood the appeal of a profession built on violence. It’s brute force on ice.”
“Maybe he will once he retires from hockey.” I shrug.
“You know,” Luca says, “I saw an article about Tully not too long ago, estimating that he’s making almost $20 million a year from endorsements.”
Dad sputters his drink. “You’re kidding.”
My mom is even stunned silent for a few minutes with that news. Finally, she dabs her lips with her napkin. “You were very serious about him.”
Were.
I stare at the candle flame. “It was a long time ago.”
“Not long enough,” Luca says quietly.
He thinks Tully shattered me, despite me trying to correct him. I was shattered about Tully, but I’m the one who ended things. I’m the shatterer.
“He never fit into our world,” Mom says primly.
Isla shifts beside me. She knows the truth. At least some of it. She held it with me when everything fell apart, and she’s never betrayed it.
“Did he attempt to reconnect?”
“I’m actually going to a wedding of one of our mutual friends tomorrow afternoon.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea, honey?” Mom asks.
Isla and I exchange a long, weighty look. I’d be able to see her concern from a mile away.
Dad points at me with his fork. “Some chapters close for a reason, you know.”
His voice is neutral, but when I glance up, his eyes won’t meet mine. Both of us carry a lot of shame from five years ago. I’d hoped it would have dulled by now, but it’s as if it all happened yesterday. I feel it all just as fresh. And seeing Tully again has stirred everything up even more.
I don’t mind, though. It reminds me of why we can never be together.
“Tell me everything,” Isla says, closing my bedroom door.
“I was taking a walk and just…ran into him! I couldn’t believe it. Neither could he. He’s here for Dax’s wedding—his college roommate…”
“Oh, I remember you talking about him. He chased everything in a skirt, didn’t he?” Isla says.
“Yeah, but Tully says he’s so in love that he changed his ways as soon as he met this girl.”
“Cute. Okay, back to Tully. What happened?”
“We took a long walk and talked…agreed to not talk about the past?—”
“Interesting. And he invited you to the wedding?”
“Dax did, but I could tell Tully was happy I said yes. I was invited to the rehearsal dinner tonight too, but I didn’t want to miss dinner with all of you.”
“So you could be grilled about your life choices? I don’t blame you.” Isla rolls her eyes. “When is Mom going to stop giving you a hard time about your job?”
“Probably never. I just brace myself for it now.”
“But it makes you come home less,” Isla says, putting her arms around me from behind. She leans her head on my shoulder and looks at me in the mirror. “I miss you.”