“Better?” I murmur. “Much,” he replies. “I can’t offer you more right now, Jake.” He nods. “I know.” “But at least you got to say goodbye.” “That was a goodbye to who we were in Seattle. Two strangers lost and alone.” He looks straight at me, his eyes burning with intensity. “But we’re not strangers anymore. My name is Jake Compton, and I’m the starting defenseman for the Jacksonville Rays. I like sushi and the color blue, and I drink my coffee black. I have a twin sister, and I hate all flavors of sparkling water. And I am not going anywhere, Rachel.”
