Epilogue

EPILOGUE

TWO MONTHS LATER

Harrison

I don’t think my heart beats this fast on the ice. This seems so much more important than a game, and I’m okay saying that.

The ice is my job. This is my life.

Millie slams the small box that she’s been holding diligently for me into my hand. “But I want to marry you!” She crosses her arms.

My stepmom users her away and my father clasps his hand on my shoulder. “You’re breaking your sister’s heart.” He shakes his head and walks way chuckling.

Alexie laughs heartily. “Millie so cute.”

Not unlike his own offspring, Demid, who is getting his last meal of the night from Caia over in the corner of the corner of Zest. I’ve rented out the whole place and every teammate, staff, and coach are sitting around the room.

The only person missing is the one that I hope wants to marry me.

It’s been a whirlwind of dates, finding a new home, moving in together, talking about our future, and then she’s gone quiet. I wondered if she was disappointed that I didn’t pop the question right there and then in the kitchen while we were making homemade ramen bowls. She’s an amazing cook.

But I wanted it to be special. Every one of my teammates has done it their way. I wanted this to be a memory we’ll both remember.

My phone buzzes in my pocket.

Bergan: I’m outside. I just don’t think I’m a Zest kind of girl. Plus, the parking lot is packed, I’m sure it’s super full. Can’t we just go to Blue Line or Grey Fox and have a chill night?

I’m so stupid.

She doesn’t need this fancy shit. She doesn’t want this over-the-top gesture.

She just wants me.

Harrison: Sure. You get started for Blue Line and I’ll be there after I close my tab.

Bergan: Thank you. I love you.

Harrison: Love you, too.

I stand on a chair and whistle. “Attention! Everyone, thank you for coming. The guest of honor has pointed out the fault in my plan. My love is requesting we head elsewhere. To the Blue Line!” I raise a fist in the air.

“Blue Line!” everyone cheers and after they know she’s driven off they start out the door.

I pay for what I had ordered, a buffet of exceptional chef created selections and tip extra for the staff to deliver it all to the nearest children’s hospital for the doctors, nurses, and staff to have a great meal. They agree immediately and the wait staff starts boxing up the chaffing dishes. Many of the staff are excited to have a night off. I invite them to join us over at the Blue Line and I see some of the rookies’ eyes light up at my offer to the young women who’ve been making googly eyes at them.

Professional googly eyes, of course.

I ride with Lexie and Caia to the Blue Line. I rideshared to Zest so I could drive Bergan home.

Everyone is waiting outside. I lift Millie into my arms. “You ready?”

“Lub you, Arrison.”

“Lub you, too, but Bergan loves me, too.”

“I lub Bergan, too.”

I’ve gotten the go ahead, or at least something similar. “Okay, let’s do this.”

Alexie steps up and turns. “Formation!”

The team flanks Millie and me as we walk hand in hand, and we start through the door.

Bergan’s sitting at the team’s normal high-top table, her back to the door. I round the table with the team behind me.

“Ummm… what’s going on?” She sits straighter on the stool.

All of the wives and partners of the team file in behind Bergan.

She’s all decked out in a beautiful green velvet dress, her hair piled on her head like at that auction in Storm Canyon. I think she knows what it does to me to remember that night.

Bergan watches the team file in behind me and then looks behind her and her eyes widen. “Harry…what’s… going on?”

Alexie chuckles, “Harry.”

The team snickers along with him.

I kicked Alexie’s ass on the ice in a shoot-out to stop him from calling me that. But old habits die hard.

I give them all a quick glare and they clam up.

“Bergan, my life has only been better because of you. You make me stop and look at sunsets over the mountains. I appreciate great writing more. You have me shown me the brilliance in putting the cap back on the toothpaste and not having to clean up a pile of toothpaste.”

She smiles a wide smile. “So gross.”

The ladies behind her agree.

“What I’m saying, baby, is that I never want to stop. I want to keep finding a new goal in life with you. I want to be with you forever. I love you, Bergan and…”

The guys lift me up while I’m kneeling and pull the ring out of my pocket, opening it as the room goes silent.

“Will you marry me?”

She slides a piece of paper across the table to me. The guys lower me and all eyes are on me.

I pick it up and read it. She knows me too well. I hold it up in victory. “She said, ‘yes’!”

The room erupts and I round the table, lifting her into my arms and smothering her with a long kiss.

“You knew?”

“You were humming the wedding march in the shower yesterday and… well, your sister told me that she liked ring shopping and asked me to take her back to Thartier this morning. I figured that was Cartier.”

Leave it to Millie.

“Zest wasn’t the right place for this.”

“Sorry, I just wanted it to be here when I passed the paper.”

“So perfect, like you, sweetheart.”

We spend our night laughing and drinking beer, eating greasy food and playing darts. It’s the best engagement party ever. Every guy in the group agrees.

Well, except Alexie, but his engagement was something they write stories about, so he can think whatever he wants.

He walks over. “Congratulations, buddy. I’m happy for you.”

“Say, I got a question for you.”

“Da, da!” He throws up his hands. “I’ll stop calling you Harry.”

“No, not that. Will you be my best man?”

His face falls from its normal jovial position. “Da… I would be honored.”

We bro hug it out and he tells me he’s taking his wife and Demid home.

When people start filing out, we get ready to go, too.

Dad carries Millie over, half-asleep on his shoulder.

I give her a kiss and she says, “Dratulashuns.”

She and Alexie could really understand each other.

“Thank you, sweetie. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She perks up. “Go to the zoo?”

Dad chuckles. “Well?”

“We’ll see,” I answer trying to be as non-committal as possible.

“The lions!” she exclaims, as if I’m asking what we’ll view there. Everyone laughs while I shake my head. She’s adorably devious.

Bergan kisses Millie’s kiss. “Definitely the lions, Millie. They’re my favorite, after the Frostwolves.”

I wrap an arm around Bergan and kiss her temple. “God, I love you.”

“Let’s go, Harry.”

Sometimes you think that you have it all figured out. Then you meet someone who changes the goal line.

But if it’s for love… it’s always going to be a win.