“You can’t do this! I’ll have nothing!” he shouts again, taking a swaying step forward, his bloodshot eyes filled with so much anger.
“I can and I will. You see, I’m nothing like you, so I’m going to give you a small stipend. I hope you can make it last. This will be the last time you’ll ever see me. I hope one day you’ll wake up and realize you had someone in front of you all along who tried to love you, even when you were a monster.” My voice comes out strong and unshaking before I turn around, tugging on Granger’s hand that’s gripped tightly in mine. It’s time to get the hell out of here.
“You're nothing without me, Kathleen! I’m your last family member! No one will ever love you! That money should’ve been mine!” Those are my father’s last words to me, yelled full of resentment towards me, but I don’t look back. I’m moving on and putting myself back together day by day.
“Mr. Whitmore, I would suggest you stop right there before I call the authorities. Everything could be a lot worse if your daughter decided to press charges for breaking the law and stealing money that was rightfully hers. I’m tempted to throw your sorry ass in jail now for being a shit father,” Mr. Wilder suddenly announces, and I’m glad they can handle it from here.
I don’t want to look back, to see the old pain pulling me in. Instead, I want to keep moving, letting my legs carry me and start living from this moment forward. I’ll never forget the past, but I can change how my future looks. Right now, it’s looking pretty perfect with this brooding, grumpy, lovable, hockey jock by my side.
Granger tugs me into his body, his arm over my shoulder, and places a long, lasting kiss on my temple as we stroll down the sidewalk. I snuggle deeper into him, seeking his warmth against the chilly February morning, and send a quick text to Mary to see if they want to join us for breakfast. I know Beast is probably, most definitely, with her, and they’re most likely still in bed because they were separated just like Granger and I. I’m hoping one day my best friend wakes up and sees she can be tied down and still have her freedom with Beast. She hasn’t responded, so I’m guessing she’s still in bed with her Beast. I’m going to have to tell her everything that’s happened eventually, since I only sent her a quick text last night that I wouldn’t be coming back to her dorm. She just knew I was with Granger. It’s going to take me a long time to heal, to feel normal again after everything, but all I need for that is the reminder I’m loved and Granger’s touch.
“I’m fucking proud of you. You're so strong, Kat. Sometimes I just look at you and realize I’m a lucky man to have you in my life. Being away from you and not having you in my arms was complete torture. I got picked up by the Bruins that day before the game, and the moment I found out about it, I wanted to celebrate with you. But when we were apart, nothing seemed to matter. I couldn’t find happiness because you weren’t there,” Granger says, pausing in the middle of the sidewalk to stare down at me. “That’s how much I love you, Kat. Hockey has been all I’ve ever known and cared about, but the moment my dreams come true…it didn’t matter, because I didn’t have the woman I love.”
My lip trembles, emotions that never seem to be far away rising to the surface. I wrap my arms around his waist and look up into pale, green eyes that really see me.
“Princess,” I say with a pout and point at my lips. “Kiss?”
“Princess?” He bites his bottom lip, his eyes sparkling with laughter.
“Yeah, I’m your Princess not Kat, Captain. I love you, and you have me,” I tell him, ignoring the city of Boston, the loud traffic jams on the streets, and the snow drifting down around us. Only the here and now matter.
This is all I need.
“Princess, I love the fuck out of you.” He gets all growly and yanks me into his hard chest before bending down to kiss me.
“Let’s go celebrate, Captain. I’m right here,” I mumble against his soft lips with my eyes closed. I don’t ever want him to stop doing this—being here, loving me, and being a grump.
He groans just as I slide my tongue along his bottom lip, and pulls back with a lopsided smile “I’d really like nothing more than to take you home and make love to you for hours until you're moaning my name. Fuck, let’s skip breakfast with our friends so I can make you feel so fucking good, Princess.” He places his forehead against mine, his minty breath fanning my face and making my stomach flutter with desire.
“Yes, yes to all of that. Take me home, Granger.”
He makes good on his promise, making me think of only his touch and never once stopping as he tells me over and over again that he loves me.
Also, he finally asks me to be his girlfriend…how could I say no? I was his completely, right from the very beginning.
Six Months Later
Kat
“Miss Whitmore is next in five minutes. Miss Kathleen Whitmore, five more minutes until you're on.” A coordinator with a headset comes rushing by and talks to Nadia, while my legs bounce non-stop as I sit here with my head bowed, trying to remain calm as nerves eat me alive. This is it.
“Kat, you have practiced this routine for the last six
