Chapter 44

Stephanie

It doesn’t take long for the arena to fill up and get crazy. It always seems like the Friday and Saturday games are more wild and crazy than the weeknight games, but I don’t know if that’s just in my head. I feel bad not sitting with Sebastian’s family, but Bri convinced me to sit with her for the night. She worked it out to get a ticket by her, so I went along with it. But I have to admit, I kind of miss the craziness that is Sebastian’s family at these games.

I get more and more nervous, the closer we get to the game starting. Finally, the lights dim; and the screens light up. It”s go time! I settle back in my seat and watch the opening montage for the Green Thunder. This part will never get old for me, neither will watching my man play hockey. He was born to play; he has this grace to him that makes him such an incredible hockey player. I can’t help but grin and scream when Sebastian’s face comes on the jumbo screen. When he skates out, I join all the other fans in standing and cheering for him. Soon enough, the puck drops, and the game is underway. Bri grabs my hand and squeezes it, making me wonder if she’s as nervous as I am about going down there during the intermission.

Sebastian seems a little off, and I wonder if he’s not feeling good. He seemed a little off earlier too. We end the first zero to zero. As soon as it ends, I turn to Bri, panic in my eyes. “Do we have to go down there now?”

She waves me off. “That’s not until the next intermission.”

“Oh.” I’m not sure if it calms me down or makes me more nervous to have to wait. I stand and try to shake out my nerves, but it doesn’t seem to work. Before I’m ready, we head into the second period. It feels like our guys come more awake for this period. Gunner and Aiden both score, but the other team scores two as well. It’s an electric second period; we’ll enter the third period two to two. I”m so invested in the game that I forget that now we have to go down to the ice. Bri, on the other hand, doesn’t forget. She turns to me as soon as the period is done.

“Ready?” she asks, beaming.

“No.”

“Too bad.” She tugs me forward, and I shake her off so we don’t both fall down the stairs. She leaves me no time to think about what we’re going to have to do because she’s already almost halfway down the steps. When we get to the main level, Chloe meets us and lets us out onto the ice. Somebody’s already laid out a black mat on the ice, making it easy for Bri and me to walk out.

“Ready?” Bri asks again.

I look out at the ice. “What do we have to do?” I’m totally panicking now.

“Come on, it will be fine.” She takes my hand and pulls me forward. Somehow, I manage to walk out to the end of the black mat without tripping. Thankfully, a quick glance around shows that nobody’s even watching. Most people are talking or leaving to go get snacks or go to the bathroom. My heart slows a little, and I try to take a calming breath.

“Hey, how come there are no other teachers?” I ask Brielle.

She looks around. “Hmm. Maybe they’re still coming.”

Something about her answer makes me give her a second look, but she just smiles. I try to relax and be calm like she is. “How come you’re not nervous?” I ask.

“I am,” she says with a smile.

“Do you think anybody’s going to do anything? I feel stupid just standing here.”

Before she can say anything, the lights dim. And then a loud booming voice announces, “Ladies and Gentlemen, if you will direct your gaze to the ice, we have a special presentation.” A spotlight lights up the space where Bri and I are standing, and suddenly I feel like I’m going to throw up. So much for nobody noticing. “For this special presentation, I would like to welcome to the ice, number ninety-eight, Aiiiiiden Brooooks.” The crowd goes wild, and Aiden appears out of the tunnel and skates over to us, stopping on a dime next to Brielle. He takes off his helmet and bends low and kisses Brielle, causing the audience to go crazy. I can’t help but smile, despite my nerves. “Ladies and Gentlemen, please direct your attention back to the tunnel for the entrance of number eighty-five, Sebaaaaastian Haaaart.” My breath catches as Sebastian skates out onto the ice. He takes almost a full lap before coming to a stop in front of me. I stare up at him. I always forget how tall and broad he is, especially on skates and in pads. My already pounding heart kicks up a beat when he pulls off his helmet and grins down at me.

“Hey, Gorgeous.”

I stare up at him, eyes wide. “What’s going on?” I breathe. I feel like I’m going to pass out or throw up or maybe throw up and then pass out.

“Breathe,” he says, stepping closer to me. He’s on the mat now as well. He tucks a hair behind my ear. “I wanted to ask you something.” My brain must be short-circuiting because I just stare at him. It’s not until he goes down on one knee in front of me, that my eyes widen and I take a step back.

“What are you doing?” I whisper.

He looks over to Aiden who hands him something. Sebastian grins up at me. “I was too nervous I’d lose it or drop it,” he says quietly. Then he opens the box, and my eyes are nearly blinded by the lights reflecting off the large diamond in the ring he’s holding out. “Stephanie.” I somehow manage to drag my eyes back to his. “You are the love of my life, my best friend, and my everything. I want you to become the one thing you’re not yet...and that’s my wife. Will you do the honor of marrying me?”

I stare down at him, and my heart feels like it stops beating altogether. “Are you for real?” I ask.

He laughs, like a full-on, full-belly laugh. When his eyes meet mine, they’re dancing. “Yes, Love. This is for real. All these people watching are as real as it gets.”

“Oh. Oh my word.” I glance around.

“Just look at me, Baby. An um, do you, uh, think you could answer the question?”

“Oh. Yeah. I mean yes. YES!”

He laughs and slides the ring onto my finger. To the sound of thunderous applause, he stands and pulls me into his arms. He pumps the air with his fist and then consumes me in a kiss that makes me forget about the thousands of people watching us...until the announcer begins again.

“She said yes!” He booms into the mic, and the fans goes crazy.

Sebastian pulls back and grins down at me. It finally all clicks. “Is this why you were so out of it today?”

He laughs. “Yes, Baby. I’ve been so nervous for tonight.” His eyes turn serious. “But no more. You said yes. You’re my fiancé now,” he says reverently.

“I am,” I say with a smile. “And you’ve got a hockey game to go win,” I say, nodding over at the ice. All the players from both teams are back on the ice, ready to go. I reach up on tiptoe and kiss him once more. “Go win, Baby!”

He grins so wide, I think his face is going to crack. “Yes, Ma’am!” He kisses me once more, waves to the cheering audience and then skates off.

I somehow manage to make my way back up to my seat. When I get there, though, my row is overrun with the Hart family. “Stephanie!” Tina yells. She gives me a huge hug. “Welcome to the family.” That’s the first of many welcomes. The entire family hugs me and celebrates with me, even as the third period starts. Then with a promise to connect soon, they leave and go back to their seats; and I collapse in my seat next to Brielle.

“Congrats,” Bri says. She takes my hand and stares at my ring. “It’s beautiful! He did good.” Then she smiles at me with tears in her eyes. “I’m so happy for you!” She gives me a big hug. “I can’t believe we’re both marrying hockey players from the same team!” We laugh. But when she starts crying, I do as well. I try to wipe them away, but they just keep coming. “Those are happy tears, right?” she asks, as she wipes her own away.

“Yes.”

“We’re pitiful,” she says, and we both laugh. The other team scores, and just like that, we’re sucked back into the game. It’s less than a minute later when Sebastian answers with a score. I’m on my feet with the rest of the stadium, cheering for my man. Of course, the waterworks start up again when he lifts his hand and gives me his signal. I take a deep breath and sit back down. Three minutes later, it happens again. Sebastian scores for the second time. And when there’s only two minutes left in the game, and Sebastian scores his third goal of the night, I feel like the stadium is going to explode. We win the game, five to three.

Brielle and I immediately make our way to the back to see our guys. “I can’t believe he did a hat trick!” she says on the way. “It’s almost like something lit him up to play the best game of his life,” she says with a knowing grin. It takes us a while to get back to the waiting area. When we do, it’s almost full; so we wait off to the side for the guys.

Finally, the guys start trickling out one by one. A cheer goes up when Sebastian walks out, but he doesn’t pay attention to anybody else. His eyes lock on mine, and he strides my way. My breath catches in my throat at the sight of this gorgeous, incredible man walking towards me. I have to pinch myself to remind myself that he’s mine. Suddenly, I can’t wait for him to get to me, and I walk towards him. He picks me up and twirls me around before planting his lips on mine. “Nice hat trick,” I say, beaming at him, when he finally lets me come up for air.

He grins. “You saw that?”

“The entire world saw it,” I tell him, and he kisses me again.

“Are you going to come up for air soon, or should I come back?” We pull apart, and Sebastian grins at Rico. “Congrats, Guys,” Rico says. He hugs Sebastian and then me.

“You’re getting a good one with this guy,” he says in my ear. “Be good to him.”

I nod. “I will.”

Zac, Trevor, Scott, and a few others gather around us and congratulate us. Gunner waits until everybody else is done before he approaches us. “Congrats, Guys.” He gives Sebastian a hug and then gives me a side hug.

Aiden and Brielle are next. “I’m so happy for you guys!” She gives us both a hug.

“Thanks, Elle,” Sebastian says, grinning.

“Still not my name,” she says without skipping a beat.

Aiden hugs Sebastian and then turns to me. He’s so serious and intimidating, but he wraps me up in a gentle hug. “Congrats,” he says softly. I hug him back; he’s become like the brother I never had.

“Thank you,” I say just as softly, trying not to cry.

Sebastian’s teammates surround us and yell and cheer and carry on, and I smile because I’m so happy. Sebastian’s eyes meet mine. I love you, he mouths to me over the noise.

I smile and feel it with every fiber of my being. I love you too.