Chapter 67

AN INTERVIEW WITH MAC AND VIOLET

MAC:

Okay,you want some kind of update then? About what? About Knox and Willow?

(Mac chuckles)

I’m not telling anyone a thing about Knox and Willow. Or anyone else for that matter.

(Pause)

Oh, you want to know about me?

Okay.

Our time at Puckford came to an end.

It was a hectic time. We ended up winning the national championship.

We were all invited to play internationally too.

Coach Damon hurried to help me figure out my options with agents and all that. It was a little tough to not have my father there for that part. I’ll admit - it bothered me a lot. Not to get all mushy here, but Mike showed up. How about that… I mean, the guy knows nothing about hockey on the business side but he wanted to be there for me.

Mike is a great guy. He still insists I get a cut of the profits from the business. I kept refusing until we got lawyers involved - not in a bad way - and ended up agreeing on something.

We’re taking a portion of the profits and putting it towards some scholarships for hockey players coming to PU.

That’s the easiest way to explain it.

All the actuality behind it? I have no freaking idea.

So, what else happened…?

I ended up drafted and signing with Edmonton.

It’s a great city and a great team.

They put a ton of pressure on me, including the players, and I needed that.

A guy like me… tell me to live up to the hype and watch me go.

Look, it’s also nice to have some real money as my own.

Violet followed me right up here. Fuck, do I love her.

I told her we didn’t have to live here.

She didn’t want to mess around.

She wanted me to be here and live it up.

There’s a chance the team is going to build around me.

Does that scare me? Not for a second.

I’m here. I’m ready. I’m scoring goals.

Kids - and adults - are wearing my jersey.

Groups of people hang around before and after hockey games, hoping to meet me.

It’s at the point now where security has to escort me, just to make sure those looking for autographs aren’t showing up with a million things to hurry and try to sell.

If life isn’t crazy enough…

(Mac looks around and points to the closed door. He nods. Then he reaches down to his gym bag.)

Check this out…

(Mac opens a small box and shows off a large diamond ring.)

I know, right?

It’s time. Time to keep this all moving forward.

It’s a lot to think about, you know?

Meeting Violet the way I did.

It’s a fun ride.

So why not keep it going?

I want her as my wife, just as long as she wants it too.

Hey - do me a favor.

Don’t tell Violet about this, okay?

I’m going to surprise her soon.

Just do it out of nowhere, you know?

I just hope she says yes…

VIOLET:

Mac is an idiot.

No offense to him.

I love him. I really do love him. I think you all know that.

But he’s such an idiot at times.

Not sure what you really want to know about me… so I’ll just go right to the really fun and crazy good part.

Which is…

I know about the engagement ring.

Mac has the damn thing in his gym bag.

He’s so smart and so sexy and so… everything… but I know he’s nervous about this.

I’ve dumped the gym bag out at least three times now to clean out his smelly clothes. And I’ve seen the engagement ring three times now. Each time I look at it, it looks more beautiful than before.

(Violet looks around and smiles)

Okay, fine, the million dollar question here…

Have I worn the engagement ring yet?

No.

I haven’t even touched it.

Just the box.

That’s all.

There’s no way I’m putting that ring on my finger.

I mean, not until he asks me.

(Violet pauses…)

(Violet smiles ear to ear…)

I hate giving away endings.

But fine.

You want to know what I’m going to say when Mac finally asks me to marry him.

Of course I’m going to say yes!