Unsteady

by Peyton Corinne

“I don’t know what I’m going to have to do to prove to you and Oliver that I’m not leaving—and honestly, I don’t care what it is, I’ll do it.”

“I love you. I love everything about you. I love your anger and your snark. I love the way you skate—like you’re full of fire. It makes me remember when I fell in love with hockey. I love how you take care of your brothers, how you protect and love Ro. I love the way you get that frustrated-confused look on your face—the same one you have right now—with the little divot between your brows.”

if you don’t want me anymore, that’s something I’ll have to deal with. But there will never be a day that I do not want you.”

“You don’t need to say anything right now, okay? I can love you enough for the both of us.”

It always feels like the first time with Rhys, and I wonder if, years from now, when we have kids and a yard and a dog, I’ll still feel this way.

I love Rhys Koteskiy. And I’m learning that I do deserve him.

He takes my hand in his, and we step onto the ice together. From now until… forever.

Rhys Koteskiy is pure gold. I know it. And soon the entire world will too.