Chapter 27

Reign

It is mid-day when our flight lands and we get our belongings. Like I told her, the minute we land, my parents take off to have their own fun. My mom gives Riley a hug and winks at me before whisking my father away. He just gives me a stern look that reads "don't fuck this up." I have no plans to. For the first time in years, he and I are on the same page with the same goal. I just need Michigan to make their move.

"What's first on the agenda?" Riley asks as we drive away in our rental car.

"Let's go to the hotel first and drop off our bags. We can freshen up then head over to the school," I tell her. Riley smiles and nods, but I can read her anxiousness with every twist of her hands. It gives me hope that she doesn't want to say goodbye to me at the end of the year. I have to hold onto that; I'll take any fucking sign I can.

My mom was playing it cheeky when she got us two separate rooms. Riley bursts out laughing until I take her bag with mine and bring them both to my room. Then her eyes just do that soft, doe expression and I have us out of there in under ten minutes or else we won't be leaving. As much as I want to fuck her sweet pussy right now, I have a bigger game plan that needs to be play out. I need Riley to fall in love with this campus. The best way to get to her is showing her the magical library first.

Riley's hand grips mine when we step inside the tall, brick and mortar building. One whole wall is floor-to-ceiling windows that, to me, look like normal glass, but apparently there's a gold tint to it. That's what Riley explained anyway. We walk down hallways where study rooms and little group settings with chairs and bubble cubes are located. Students can study in comfort alone or in a group setting. Each cube has its own plug for laptops and cell phones. When we make it to the lower level, the winding staircase opens up to the rows and rows of books. My girl's eyes go wide, and her smile is fucking contagious. I want to pat my own back for making the right call. I let Riley spend maybe too much time in the library but eventually we head to the main admissions area where we are set to meet up with a representative for the hockey team.

The library is impressive, but overall, the main building itself is stunning. More importantly, it feels right. This is where I see myself waiting for her after class and meeting in the mornings before breakfast. Holding Riley's hand while we walk from building to building, into the hallways and past empty classrooms, feels like a dream. The dream I've been having for so long and now I am finally going to be able to share it with her.

"You must be Reign Thorn." A middle aged man approaches, his hand extended. We shake hands and he explains his role with the team. I introduce myself and Riley before he starts walking us through the facilities. New training equipment and weights adorn the work-out area, the locker rooms had been upgraded the year prior and still have a tinge of fresh paint smell. With a smile, he opens a large steel door and we come face to face with the arena. It feels like it has been forever since I've breathed in the scent of fresh ice. I glance at Riley, who is gazing at the open space just as I am. I squeeze her hand in mine and she squeezes back. This could be it for us. We could be practicing here next year, cheering each other on for games. The thought feels so vivid in my mind, I can picture it clear as day. It's going to happen.

By the time we leave the campus, I'm sold. I know this is the right decision for both of us. I just need to convince Riley this is what she wants, and that this dream isn't as far out of reach as she thinks it is.

"We aren't going to the pool hall?" She smiles at me in the car and I laugh.

"No. I actually wanted to try out this smaller Italian place tonight. Hope that's okay?"

Riley groans and her hand lands on her stomach. "I never turn down pasta, pizza or any type of bread, Reign. It is a golden rule."

My smile grows bigger and I take her hand in mine for the rest of the drive.

Luckily, we're seated right away and it doesn't take us long to order. I watch Riley and the far off look she gets in her eyes when she looks around the intimate space. "What are you thinking about, pretty girl?"

Her dark eyes snap to mine and a smile slowly tugs at her lips. "This place is cute. I could see myself sitting here, late night cramming with a pile of breadsticks."

We both laugh and once again I reach for her hand. Playing with her fingers across the table, I work up the nerve to finally bring up the whole point of this trip. "Could you really though? See yourself here, I mean. The campus is impressive."

Riley's eyes fall to her plate before she glances back at me, her shoulders slumping. "It is amazing. A dream really. That library alone…"

"All I kept thinking about as we walked around was how right this felt. I could picture us here, doing everyday things. The arena, I could hear the stands packed, everyone there to cheer for us."

Riley takes a small sip of her water. "You're going to soar here, Reign."

My eyes run over her face before ripping off the band-aid. "This is meant for both of us, Riley. I haven't said anything yet but the tour is really for you, and tomorrow you have an interview with the admissions department."

Her hand slides out of mine and her eyes darken. "What?"

"I knew you had to see it. You weren't going to make any decisions until you came here and you saw how good it could be."

"Reign." She holds up her hand. "There is so much more to picking a college than just loving the campus."

"I think that's an important place to start," I counter, and her eyes narrow further. I'm prepared to go to battle over this.

"I can't afford to be at a D1 school, Reign. It isn't in the cards for me. And Michigan, we had to take a plane. It's too far to drive and I have to think about my dad."

I rub my hands on my napkin and lean closer over the table, fully invested in dispelling all her rationalizations. "If you pass your admissions interview, you can apply and request a scholarship. Between academics and hockey, babe, you could easily earn a scholarship to help out. And anything it doesn't cover, I would cover for you."

"I'm not taking your money, Reign," she argues, practically blanching at the thought. It makes me fall for her a little more.

"You wouldn't be taking it because I'd be giving it to you. And your dad will help if he can. He wants this for you as much as I do."

"You and my dad talked about this? What just like you both schemed and planned for me to be at All Saints?" She huffs and pushes back from the table. "I can't believe this."

Riley gets up and heads for the door. I quickly throw some money on the table, more than enough to cover what we ate and chase after her. "Riles," I call her name, but she ignores me.

I give her the chance she needs to process. To see where we're coming from just like with her move to my school. Our drive back to the hotel is silent, except for the random ticking of the blinker when I make turns. She's quiet up to our room, but she does walk to mine instead of the one my mom had paid for her. Once the door clicks shut, she spins on her heels and crosses her arms.

"Why would you do this? Do you not see how stupid I feel? Everyone is going to think that I need you to fix everything for me. That I can't make anything out of my life on my own without you handing it to me. Is the interview tomorrow rigged?"

My jaw clenches and my fists ball at my sides. I hate that she feels this way about herself. "I wish you could see how amazing you are from my perspective." She scoffs.

"I don't have to fix anything for you. Did I make a call, yes. Only because I knew you were throwing out the option without trying. You aren't stupid, Riley. All you have to do is walk into that interview, answer their questions, show your outstanding grade point average and possibly the clip I have of you playing hockey. None of that is fake or rigged by me. All I had to do was get you here and the rest is on you."

"Oh, how nice of you." Her sarcasm rolls off when she brushes past me to her suitcase.

"Riley, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You asked why I was doing this, it's because I love you. Because I want more for you, because you're a fucking amazing hockey player and you deserve to skate with these girls here. And because I don't want to be away from you when I can picture in my head exactly how our life can be here. And you liked it too. When I paint that picture for you, you like it. One of us has to be the dreamer, babe. I'm not giving up on this dream for us."

Riley's back is to me, and I watch as the tension fades. I wrap my arms around her and pull her body against mine. "You're amazing, Riley Conrad, and one day you're going to know it just like I do. Now let's go shopping. The mall is right across the road."

Riley barely slept last night. I was hoping shopping for her interview would wear her out or at least make her excited, but nothing. She's been a ball of nerves since. Even my fingers gliding across her neck, over her pulse, doesn't relax her. Every time she turned or moved in bed last night I was aware, hyper focused on making sure she stayed in the room with me. I half expected her to run to the airport and fly back home. Not that I didn't have contingency plans set up, but I preferred to not have to tie her up. And for this reason, I barely slept. All I can focus on is getting her to the interview. The weight of the future is pressing on my chest. All the things I want to say to her, to promise, are trapped inside me.

"How does this look?" she asks, stepping outside the bathroom. My eyes wander over her fitted navy blue pants, heels, and the gauzy silver blouse she's wearing. Her hair is perfectly curled with only the basics of makeup on her face. She takes my breath away, and the reality of the day starts to set in.

I move off the bed and wrap my arms around her, hugging her body to mine before pulling back and cradling her head in my hands. Making sure she's with me, my fingers once again brush over her pulse, beating wildly against her delicate skin.

"You look ready to kick ass."

Riley laughs and swats my stomach with her free hand. "I'm nervous."

I press my lips to hers and breathe in her fresh, strawberry scent. "You're a badass, Riley Conrad. You will blow them away." She hums in agreement and it brings a ghost of a smile to my lips.

"This is a small point in our future, Riles. After this we graduate, we enjoy our years here, make friends, enjoy our alone time, play hockey, and when it's over, we move on to the next big adventure. It starts here today, but we never end. After college there's the draft, moving, our wedding, babies. We're going to take the world by storm."