I dip my head for another taste of her lips and hopefully convince her she’s the only one I want. “Surer than sure.”
She holds my face between her hands. “I love you too. You know that, right?”
“I do now.” I tilt my grin. “I didn’t want to assume.”
She blurts a watery laugh and kisses me. “This time, assumptions are okay.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, leaning in to kiss and nip at her beautiful lips.
Her eyes tell me all I need to know. “Yes, surer than sure.”
CHAPTER 31
LUKE
FIVE MONTHS LATER
It’s the final game.
The Sun Kings made it into the Kelly Cup finals, and I’m still here. Tampa Bay Lightning decided Jayce was the pick they wanted, and I was more than okay with it. I’m good right where I’m at with the guys I consider part of my expanding family.
And with Sophie. Thanks to the pieces she wrote about the team and me, plus USA Hockey Magazine offering her a job, the board of directors offered Sophie her own column in the Sarabella Herald Tribune. Like I said, the powers that be would have been fools not to cash in on her proposal forRomancing Sarabella.
She’s been so busy writing dual features between the team and the new column that we’ve had to be creative in how we spend time together. And tonight, I plan to take advantage of the fact that she’s here tonight and show her how much she means to me.
Nervous energy about the game and what I have planned shoots through me as I wait on the bench to return to the ice.
I scan the seats again to where Dad and Kinsley are sitting. They’re both in on it and have my back. They’ll make sure Sophie is at the press hole after the second period. I know it’s a risk—a big assumption—but I’m fairly certain what her answer will be.
The Sun Kings have turned into a major attraction for Sarabella. Sophie’s the one we have to thank for that. Her articles did exactly what the owner hoped for. Last year’s scandal is long forgotten, and, thanks to the success of the exposure, the owner wants to add more people to our staff, including a full time PR person.
Fourth line heads to the bench as Payton, Ethan, Mathéo, and I take our turn on the ice. We spend most of the next minute chasing the puck and keeping the other team from reaching our goaltender, although Wade’s done a stellar job blocking. Mathéo’s the one to bring it home this time. The horn blows, and the refs signal the end of the second period.
As we skate by, Gabe hands me the box with a sheepish grin. “Go get her.”
I do a circle of the rink to the other side, where I see Sophie with her camera at the press hole. Dad and my sister are standing behind her.
It’s been an interesting five months with my father. A little rough at first for him to settle in, but then he got the hang of it. We’re both doing some counseling to adjust. Kinsley joins our sessions remotely when she’s away at school. She decided to spend the summer break at home so she could get to know Dad better. I’d like to think Mom would be proud of us and what we’ve accomplished so far, that she’s watching over us and cheering us on as we become a family.
Kinsley jumps up and down when she sees me skating along the boards in their direction. Dad gives me a thumbs up, to which I shake my head. When I told him what I had planned, he got super excited and started making all kinds of suggestionson what to do. I reassured him that I knew the what, when, and how and that I had a plan.
As I get closer, I lock eyes with Sophie. She smiles at me in that way that tilts those gorgeous eyes, brimming with so much love the ache in my chest squeezes, then expands. I didn’t grasp at first why she seemed so surprised when I told her I loved her. I mean, how can I not? She’s amazing.
But then I began to understand all the bits of her heart, wounds and all. And as much as she’s been part of my healing, I like to think I’ve been part of hers because nothing compares to the meaning she holds in my life. Not even hockey.
As I approach to press hole, she leans down, waiting for the kiss Dad and Kinsley told her I wanted.
But I shake my head as I get there.
Sophie purses her lips to the side as she straightens, her gaze questioning.
I glide down on one knee to the boards and open the ring box.
A rumble starts in the crowd, so I’m guessing the fans are starting to notice. And that’s okay because, in a way, they’ve been part of our story. I never imagined that the first time we kissed through the press hole would lead us back here one day.
Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!
We both glance up at the stamping fans, shouting and cheering for her answer.
I swing my eyes back to Sophie as she leans in closer to the camera hole to hear me, her eyes full of unshed tears. The full force of everything she’s meant and means to me hits me so hard I wobble on the ice.
“Soph, I’m a better man today because of you. And not only that, I have a family again. Something I never dreamed possible. But it’s not complete without you. Will you marry me and make our family complete?”
With a sob, she nods and slides her left handthrough the hole. I slip the ring on her finger, then rise and press my hand against the plexiglass where hers is, mouthing ‘I love you’ since there’s no way she’ll hear me now over the din shaking the place. I think the fans got a bigger show than they expected.
She mouths it back, then leans over again, her lips at the press hole, waiting for that kiss I promised.
And I gladly oblige. And I always will.
No assumptions needed.
