Whoever said lying is bad for your health clearly never had parents like mine. Lying is about the best thing I do for my health, since we all know I neglect it most other ways, like listening to my doctors or not overworking myself.

Me: I can't come home for my birthday, doctor said I will still be on bedrest.

Dad: Fucking quack, what fucking moron did you find?

Me: Islanders told me where to go, not going to argue with them.

Mom: Well I will see if the venue can let us reschedule, this is a huge inconvenience on us Ryder.

I type out am I'm sorry but then I delete. What the fuck was I ever apologizing for? That my broken ribs inconvenienced them? In reality they could come here and visit me for my birthday but then again this morning was the first time they have called or texted since before my injury and I had to reach out first.

I ignore my mom's last text and check the time. I am waiting outside Francesca class on the same bench I sat on just over 2 weeks ago while trying to find her to fix things. A lot has changed in the last two weeks, but it's easily been the best two weeks of my life.

When class is over the 4 roommates walk out in their normal little huddle. Luna, as always, is leading the pack and is first to spot me. She walks over to me while looking over her shoulder to talk to everyone else. "No, I still think my original plan is better," she insists.

"How is that better than stealing all their doors?" Parker argues.

Francesca smiles at me as they approach noticing finally where Luna was leading them. She stands next to me with her arms wrapped around my shoulders as we watch the debate together.

"They can survive without doors but I doubt any of them could survive without toilet paper."

"You'd be surprised," I chime in earning me 4 disgusted looks.

"Fine, toilet paper is out but we aren't stealing doors again that was too heavy," Luna says while munching on her oversized container of Goldfish. I reach toward the container and without hesitation she lets me grab some. Me and Lulu, we fight, a lot, but we also have two shared loves. The first obviously being Francesca and the second being Goldfish.

"I liked Maya's idea with the donuts," Francesca adds.

"Oh I like donuts," I say.

"Not these ones you won't babe," she tells me while leaning down to kiss my cheek.

"Oh, never mind then."

"Should we even be talking about this in front of the enemy?" Luna asks, eyeing me suspiciously but never pulling the snack container that is between us away from me.

"You're just bitter I outran you yesterday," I brag and flex a little just to rub it in. Last night's game of tag went until 1am but the first hour was just Luna trying to catch me, she never did and in the end went for Maya, the weakest link.

"Wanna make it 5, it could be arranged," she spits.

"No, no violence," Francesca interrupts protectively shielding me from Luna who tries to kick at my ankle.

"I need to go, I have some alterations to finish but text me what we decide," Maya interrupts our argument. We all say our goodbyes to her and then she hurries off.

"Last Goldfish, you want it Ryder?" Luna asks while tipping the container toward me.

"Nah we are going out to lunch but thanks Luna."

Luna nods before popping the last of the snack into her mouth. "I am already late for class but seriously Parker think of something better," Luna says before walking away.

"It is terrifying seeing them be civil," Parker remarks to Francesca.

"God I know. The two biggest assholes I know and they both love Goldfish, someone should study that."

"Hey, fucking rude," I protest.

"I'm sorry," Francesca coos, pinching my cheeks as Parker laughs while I swat her away in frustration.

"Well, now I feel like a third wheel so I will also be leaving. Bye kids, don't do anything me and Bray wouldn't do." Parker blows us a kiss and winking as goes, leaving just me and Francesca alone on the bench.

"Where to for lunch?" Francesca asks as I stand up and start walking to the exit.

"I was thinking we'd go grab something quick at chipotle after going to see Josh and Barb."

"Why are we going to see them?" she asks looking up at me.

"I haven't seen them since before I got hurt and we haven't told them about us, I figured they should hear it from us what they caused."

"Oh that sounds good, are they at the rink?"

"Already texted them."

I drive to the rink while Francesca blasts Taylor Swift with all the windows down. I am not sure if Taylor Swift is on tour but if she is I really want to get Francesca tickets. I never told my parents about me living with the Becketts, so I will have a lot of extra money this summer and she is the only person I want to spend it on.

When we get to the rink Francesca runs from the car before I can ever fully stop. "Beck, that is cheating!" I yell after her as I put the car in park then chase after her.

I may be injured still but I have longer legs so catching up to her isn't all that difficult. I am right on her heels as she throws the office door open and we both nearly trip on each other trying to get in first.

"I am having flashbacks," Josh laughs. We did something very similar thing exactly 14 weeks ago. "Kids, unfortunately I still can't change your ice time, you're stuck together."

"Well shit, that sucks," I laugh. "Where is Barb?" I ask as I look around.

"Hot chocolate," Josh says simply and I smile. Of course she is, why did I even ask.

"Fran I didn't know you were coming," Josh notes as he slips his reading glasses off and watches her perch herself on the window sill. I lean on it next to her, my arm behind her back because god forbid we go more than a few seconds in the same room without touching.

"Neither did I," she answers honestly. "I was kidnapped."

I roll my eyes as I look at her with a bored look. "No one would want to kidnap you Beck."

"You tried to kidnap me once."

"I threatened to, that is different." I won't deny it, some time, many months ago when I saw her walking in the cold, I told her she had two choices: get in my car or I was going to kidnap her. She made the smart choice and got in the car willingly.

"So, you are no one now," she shoots back.

"Ryder," Barb yells, setting the cup down gently on the desk before rushing over to me and carefully pulling me into a hug. "Oh sweetie, I am so glad you're ok."

"Thanks Barb." I return the hug the best I can, though I can tell I am still a little awkward. Physical touch and affection with anyone besides Francesca is still something I am trying to get used to, but slowly I am making progress.

When we break apart she grabs the cut and hands it to me. "Franny sweetie I didn't know you were coming too. I am so sorry for not bringing you one honey."

Francesca hops from her spot and hugs Barb. "It's ok we can share," she tells her before turning around and ripping the drink from my hand.

"No butt!" I scream as I try to grab the cup back. "It's mine."

Without missing a beat Francesca spits in the cup and then hands it back to me. "Fine, all yours," she smiles.

I take the cup and hold eye contact with her as I take a big sip. "Ah, refreshing."

"Ry," she screeches in horror.

"You act like your spit isn't constantly in my mouth anyways butt, what is the big deal," I defend.

"Oh," Josh says as he and Barb look at each other. In the heat of the moment I forgot we weren't alone, the words came out before I could even process what I was saying.

"Surprise," I weakly cheer. Next to me Francesca has hid her face in her hands but I know her cheeks are flaming red.

"I win," Barb sings, reaching her hand toward her husband who is taking his wallet out of his pocket.

"You bet on us," I ask in shock.

"Yes we did," Josh tells me with no shame. Jesus christ they bet on us getting together.

"When?" Francesca asks in just as much shock.

"I think it was finals week when you both sent us your times for this semester and they were the same."

"So you knew? When we ran in here the first day you both already knew?"

Josh shrugs as Barb counts her money. "Josh said you two would kill each other before getting together, I had more faith in you both," Barb brags.

"That's not true, once they became friends I thought they'd eventually get together. I just wasn't sure they could get to the friend part," he pipes up looking hurt.

"Why?" Francesca asks, both of us still clearly in shock over the new information.

"We only had three choices: either one of you would get the ice time, neither of you, or you could share. Me and Barb couldn't decide so we left it up to you both to figure out yourselves. To be fair the bet didn't originally start with us thinking you'd get together. I thought you'd kill each other and not share, but Barb said you were both too stubborn and would end up sharing through some solution of your own making."

"We are stubborn," Francesca admits, wrapping her arms around me.

"We hadn't noticed sweetheart," Barb teases.

We talk for a little longer with them, filling them in on all the stuff they missed from January till now like stealing the ladies, me taking care of her while she was sick, me moving in with her this summer and all the little things in between. Barb is still extremely proud of herself as we say our goodbyes to them. "You'll come say bye before leaving for New York, right?" she asks but it's not a question.

"Of course," Francesca assures as I grab her hand.

We walk silently to the car. My mind is racing a 100 miles per hour. Josh and Barb have done more for me in my life than my actual parents. Even before this I felt like I owed them a debt I could never repay but now? I am just overwhelmed. I see the worst in myself I always have but they never did. They are the most in love, perfect couple I've ever met and if they saw potential in us that has to mean something, right? Clearly they of all people know the makings of a good relationship.

Francesca and me climb into the car and buckle our seatbelts in autopilot. Everything we thought we knew isn't true. How is is possible they saw it, our friends saw it, everyone saw it but us? God all that wasted time we could have spent together. Not that I'd change a single thing about these last few months but my brain can't help doing the 'what-if' game sometimes.

"They-... they set us up," she stammers finally.

"I know," I scoff. "Now we have to hire Barb to our match making company, I don't know if we have the overhead to take on another employee."

Francesca laughs and I roll my eyes. "This isn't funny Beck, do you know how many small businesses fail every year?"

She bursts out laughing ever harder. "Why do I love you," she gasps while trying to catch her breath.

"Do you want the full list or just like the cliff notes version," I ask, still completely serious.

Instead of answering she leans over and kisses me. "I am so glad we shared the ice this semester," she confesses after we break apart.

"Me too." I'm not sure where I'd be if we'd settled on a different outcome but I do know my life would be so much emptier if she wasn't in it.

I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart, Double Booked hit 200k reads today and I can't even begin to explain how grateful I am. Thank you all so much and I hope you enjoy these final few chapters!