“My pleasure. Now, there’s a room back there to the right with some clothes and shoe options so that you can get ready for the symphony.”
Her eyebrows rose, but she was excited. It was a risky move on his part. But she would go take a look. She stepped into the bedroom, which was full of comfortable furnishings and a plush-looking bed and had a huge closet. She stepped inside and fingered some of the dresses. The sizes were right. She leaned her head out to call to Rocco. “These look perfect. Wow!”
He stepped into the doorway. “My mom helped.”
“Of course.” Summer smiled, hoping his dad would get over his disapproval of her.
Then Rocco held a phone to his ear. “Dad? Yes.” He covered the mouthpiece. “He would like to talk to you. But I can tell him to take a hike if you want.”
Her hand shook as she held it out for the phone. “Hello, Mr. De Luca.”
“Summer, I’m calling to apologize for the conversation we had earlier. It was out of line and not at all in keeping with my son’s opinion of you or hopes for your relationship. And whatever Rocco wants is what we support, wholeheartedly. You’re one of us if that’s what you want.”
“Thank you, Mr. De Luca.”
“You’re welcome. And, Summer?”
“Yes?”
“If my son was going to marry a Scandinavian blond, you would be my first choice.”
Her heart pounded two extra times at the word “marry,” but she said, “Thank you. I love your family, sir.”
She handed the phone back to Rocco.
“Yep, good enough. Thanks, Dad.” He turned to her. “I know you’re probably not feeling the love from him, yet. But just know the Italian stuff doesn’t matter at all. Not to me, or my mom, or Stefano.”
“Now we just have to make it easier for you to handle my dad. And get him to stop writing about us.”
“Yeah.” Rocco’s face went blank, and Summer was beginning to notice that he did that whenever he was trying to hide his emotion. But he never could fully hide when something was up with him. His whole body oozed with emotion no matter what.
“So why don’t you tell me how you really feel about all the publicity?” She laughed and then wrapped her arms around him. “I’m sorry. I don’t like it either, but I think it will go away. We aren’t that interesting.”
“You don’t know that. But you’re right. I need to get a grip. Being in the media is part of my job. Luckily, people don’t get as hyped about hockey.”
“Depends where you are. I mean the guy at Boston College totally knew you.”
“I guess.” He shrugged.
“Okay, I have to get changed. Out with you.”
He leaned against the doorframe. “Are you sure I can’t stick around?”
She shook her head and then shut the closet door.
Sifting through the dresses was fun. Mrs. De Luca had amazing taste. Several designer brands were hanging in front of her. The question was if Summer should go with understated black or sequin blue?
Both dresses had shoes that fit perfectly. She would have to kiss Mrs. De Luca when she got back.
When she stepped out of her room, the first thing she saw was that Rocco was back in his tux. How lucky she was to be with a guy who looked that hot in a tux. “Wow.” She walked toward his outstretched hand.
He spun her. “Wow is right. Summer, the blue is perfect.”
He pressed his lips to hers, but just for a moment. “The car is here.”
As she stepped into the waiting limo, she felt beautiful. It made her feel cared for, important.
Rocco joined her. “We’re gonna need to find more reasons for you to wear this dress.”
“It’s perfect. We need to thank your mom.”
“She’s great, but you’re the one I feel like thanking. Maybe you could wear it to the game tomorrow?”
“Ha, that would certainly stir up some attention.”
“True. But, Summer, I have to decide to stop caring about that.”
Summer didn’t say anything, because she loved it too much. He always did things to draw attention, even if he didn’t mean to, things like stopping at the glass during a victory lap to stare at her. She smiled. She wouldn’t change a thing.
The symphony was beautiful. They had a visiting tenor who was famous the world over for his beautiful, stirring notes. Summer wiped her eyes more than once. And then dinner, overlooking all of Boston, was incredible.
But the whole time, the best part of the day was Rocco and his desire to make her happy. As they were getting back into the limo, he slipped his jacket over her shoulders and kissed her on the temple.
“Is this really happening?”
“I ask myself that every five minutes.”
“Then we’re legit. It’s happening.”
He walked her to her door back at the hotel and, this time, kissed her softly enough for her to be leaning on the wall, watching him walk away, yearning for more.
25
Rocco texted the Pit. He paced the floor in his hotel room while waiting for a response.
This deserves a video call, Zane replied.
His phone rang, and when he answered, small boxes with pictures of the guys started to show up.
He laughed at the tired mugs of Trane and Declan. “Hey, guys. Thanks.”
Declan rubbed his face. “Can you please repeat the question?”
He waited until everyone was on, then he said, “I’m going to ask Summer to marry me.”
The silence was thick. “Guys?”
“How long have you known this girl?” The background behind Jax stopped moving as he settled into a chair.
“That doesn’t matter.”
Trane grunted. “Is she still going to Prague?”
“Maybe.” Rocco’s courage started to falter.
“None of that matters.” Zane nodded. “If he knows, he knows. Right, Rocco?”
“Right. She might not want to stick around, but she will want to marry me. I think.”
“That makes no sense.” Jax shook his head. “But I say go for it.”
“Okay, what if I did it tonight after the game?”
Clint cleared his throat. “Is she expecting this at all?”
Rocco shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
They all stared at him until he felt his shoulders drop. “So you’re saying it’s too soon?”
When they all nodded, he had to agree.
“But hey, that’s cool you’re at this place with someone. Congratulations.” Clint smiled.
“Yeah. Okay. Thanks, guys.” He clicked off. And then continued pacing. Somehow, he had to get Summer to stay or teach himself how to let her go.
At least, he knew he wanted to marry the woman. Now all he had to do was convince her she wanted to marry him…and figure out how he could survive while she lived her dream across the ocean.
Sleep came slowly. He thought of Summer until his eyes closed, finally succumbing to the rest he needed for his game the next day.
He thought of her all morning. He wondered where she would sit. He wondered what she was eating for breakfast. Then he wondered what she would wear. Once he got to the arena, he wondered what car she would drive. Should he send a limo?
Then as Coach was trying to give them the pregame talk, he wondered if her brothers were watching the game. He pictured her family sitting behind the glass, her dad in full hockey uniform with a megaphone, and he couldn’t blame the man too much for being overzealous.
While he and Crandall were trying to warm up, he thought of the time Summer beat him on the ice and scored off him. Only when the puck dropped did he shake himself and focus completely on the game at hand.
Three minutes in, he found himself sitting on the bench. Never had he played such a sucky game. Summer wasn’t in the stands. Or at least, he couldn’t see her. He couldn’t focus. He even lost the puck to that loser Simmons. That had been when Coach benched him. He didn’t say anything, just put in Jenner, the secon
d string who hadn’t played the whole season.
Rocco dipped his head. Where was Summer?
What did it matter right now? He had a game to play. Get. Your. Head. Right. He stood.
Coach eyed him. When Rocco nodded, he gestured for him to take the ice.
Jenner came back in, looking relieved, which made Rocco laugh.
Then Rocco shoved the nearest guy in a Hatchet jersey before he tore off down the ice, stole the puck, and headed back toward the goal.
Crandall cheered. “Yes! You back?”
“I’m back.”
They played hard. The teams were tied up for half the game. He didn’t see Summer the whole first period, but he put her on a shelf, far away from hockey, and refused to think about her again.
Until the start of the third period.
26
Summer hurried out of the hotel. She was so late. Listening on the radio, she knew Rocco was playing the worst game of his career. When the coach benched him, Summer had literal tears fill her eyes. “This is my fault.”
“Pardon me?” Her Uber driver had a hockey jersey on and was thankfully listening to the game.
“Nothing.”
She ran into the stadium, showed them her tickets, flew through the crowds and down the stairs. She hated to be late, but she had a fantastic excuse. Boston College had called her that morning with an amazing offer. She couldn’t wait to tell Rocco. She’d gone over to talk to the dean and do a tour of the library. She had all but made up her mind, but she wanted to talk to Rocco first. Even though this offer was better than anything she would have expected, a tiny part of her worried about giving up Prague. If Rocco was all in, then there was no question. Boston all the way. But she had to look into Rocco’s face to see his reaction before she knew for sure.
She ran down the next flight of stairs, her eyes on her seat at the glass. The game looked like it was heading into the third period, scores tied.
Rocco came out onto the ice.
Relief flowed through her. At least, he was back in the game. Now, she crossed all her fingers he would play well. As she got closer, he saw her, and the force of his gaze, even across the ice, warmed her to her toes. She hurried down to her seat.
He tipped forward like he might skate to her but then stopped and stood in his position.
Summer missed how it happened, but the puck was immediately in Rocco’s possession. He raced to the goal and slammed it toward the goalie. Tractor caught it and sent it to his defenders, but Summer breathed out in relief. Rocco was back.
She sat back in her seat, trying to relax.
But she couldn’t. After almost losing Rocco, and then almost having him, and then being faced with a decision that would separate them for a year, and now having a solution right in her grasp, she didn’t think her emotions could handle it.
Rocco picked up his pace and went in pursuit of the puck. Then he was barreling toward them, toward her. If she didn’t know better, she would have guessed he was planning to ram the glass in front of her. Everyone in the stands stood, cheering. Then she noticed the Hatchets player racing toward her from the other direction with the puck.
They were set to ram each other, neither one giving way. Summer cringed and forced her eyes to stay open. When they crashed together into the glass in front of Summer, she screamed. She didn’t mean to, but the sound came out loud and shrill. Rocco’s helmet came off, and his face was squashed against the glass right in front of her, mouth open and cheek smushed. He grimaced like he was in pain, but then he saw Summer and tried to smile. He pushed back against the player behind him. The crowd went wild while he put his helmet back on and went after the puck again.
“Wow.” Summer was stunned and happy to not be a hockey player.
“That was something.” The man next to her had the longest mullet she’d ever seen. It hung almost as long as her own hair. “I think he likes you. Did you see that?”
She felt her face heat. “I don’t know. Maybe he does.” She was about to see just how much.
When the game was finally over, she made her way slowly back up the stairs. The Steers had won four to three. Rocco had scored two goals. And Summer had the answers to all their problems. Why wasn’t she skipping with happiness? Because now was the moment of truth. Did they know each other well enough for her to be making this kind of sacrifice for him? Was it even a sacrifice? Boston College might be the better of the two choices for all she knew. She thought it might be. Unless she wanted to live in Europe for six months to a year, which she didn’t, really, except on the days she was frustrated with her dad.
She exited into the main concessions area and then headed down the stairs to the floor with the locker rooms. The security guard smiled at her when she told him her name, and he let her pass.
She was used to waiting. It took the players about an hour to debrief with their coach and shower and talk to the press. So she was surprised when Rocco stood waiting outside the stairwell, with newly showered hair. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
He pulled her into his arms. “Wow, that was the worst.”
“I listened on the radio.”
“They’re saying it’s my worst game ever played. I hate the stats guys.”
“Yeah. Why do they need to know that?”
“Apparently, everyone needs to know that. But I had to get a grip and stop wondering where you were.” His eyes held questions. “I mean, it’s okay if you weren’t there. This problem’s on me.”
“No, if I say I’m gonna be there, I should be there.” She started walking down the hall to a more secluded section. “Can we talk?”
“Sure.” The hand that held hers comforted her.
“Boston College called. I went over there right before I came here.”
“And?”
“Well…” She turned to face him. “I was offered an even better offer to stay right here.” She waited, watching him.
His face took on a guarded expression, which made her heart sink. “And?”
“And I could take it.”
“But…”
“There is no but. I could take it. If you want me to. Look, Rocco. I want to take it, but I am giving up going abroad. But I don’t want that if I have you. Do I have you? I mean, really? If this is just a three-month thing, I might regret staying here. But I don’t want to live in Europe if there’s an us. Is there an us?”
“Are you finished?”
“Probably not.”
“Okay, well, let me clear up a few things. Yes. Yes, to all of the questions about you staying. Should you stay? Yes, yes, yes. Boston is not as good as Star Valley, but I’m perfectly happy moving to Boston.”
She snorted at his comparison and then stopped, her heart shuddering. “Wait, what?”
His eyes twinkled. “This town rocks, and I’m not living somewhere you aren’t.”
“Okay, that’s…”
“What I hope you wanted to hear?”
“Yeah. Um… Yeah.” It is what she wanted to hear.
“Unless you don’t want me that close?”
“No! I do! This is what I wanted. I was just wondering how you would feel about me making that kind of choice, about sticking around.”
“Okay, so we’re good?”
“We’re good.” But something felt awkward, weird. And she wanted to go hide and think about things for a while. What was it? “Wait. You’re not switching teams, are you?”
“Well, I could. I need to do some research into that option, talk to my agent, that kind of thing. But I can live here as much as anywhere…”
“But you’re never here if you’re either away or home… What about your family?”
“They can build another franchise. They’d love Boston. So I guess I’ll try to see about switching teams. I’m in all the way, forever. I’ll do what it takes. You’re my number one.” Rocco looked around and tugged her further away from the crowds. “This is not how I planned.”
“What?”
“Just a second.” He kept looking behind them, and more people kept showing up, so he opened the nearest door. “Broom closet. Really?” He pulled her in and shut the door.
The darkness around them made her laugh. “Uh, Rocco?”
He reached around her to fumble with the light, and she drank in the smell of him, the feel of his solid arms, the closeness that electrified the tiny space between them. She leaned closer. Why fight the urge to throw herself into his arms? He found the light and then looked down into her face. “Summer, I love you more than I thought I could love anyone. The guys told me this was crazy, that I was crazy, that I should wait. But everything in my gut is telling me now’s the time. So I’m going for it.”
She sucked in her breath.
He lowered to one knee in the cramped space. “Summer Davis, will you please make me the happiest of men and do me the great honor of being my wife?”
He held her hand, his eyes shining with love. She searched his face and realized that this moment, this surety, was what she had been missing. This was what she needed. She wouldn’t trade this moment for anything in the world.
She reached her hand out and ran a finger across his forehead, loving everything about this awesome man. Then she kneeled down with him and took his face in her hands.
“Yes, Rocco. Nothing would make me happier, nothing would be more important to me than having you as my husband. Yes.” When she pressed her lips to his, it was a moment full of promises, of sweetness, of love.
He pulled her to her feet and covered her lips with his, kissing her again and again. Rocco put his large hands on her hips and pulled her against him with promises of a different kind. Her body responded to his asking; everywhere he touched left a trail of yearning until she didn’t think she could stand any longer. “Rocco.”
“I know.” He breathed deep with his forehead against hers, then he turned out the light and opened the door.
When they stepped out into the hall, his team started clapping. They were all there. Crandall had his phone up, recording, and when Rocco looked like he might pummel him, he held up his hand. “Chill, dude. It’s the Pit.”
Rebound Page 17
