Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

Riley

I stand up and scream my head off when Fergusson scores, pulling our team ahead. It’s two to one for us in the final period. Each team scored a goal in the first three minutes and there’s been nothing since. Then, with two minutes left in the final period, Fergusson scored, and now we’re up by one. We just have to hold on until that buzzer rings and we’re going to tie the series up, three games to three.

I’m on the edge of my seat as I watch the furious pace of the game, never taking my eyes off the ice for a minute. I haven’t looked at my phone once since the puck first dropped. I might not have broken up with Brantley, but Rachel did have a point. I do have to keep my head in the game.

I’m biting my nails I watch the clock wind down. We’re in Cincinnati, so the home crowd is full of excitement.

With fifty seconds left, the Hyenas pull their goalie, Nolan Barlowe, to try and tie it up. He skates as fast as he can to the boards and leaps over them. Austin Gambill jumps out to join his team. They’re up by one player now.

My heart is pounding as I watch them pass the puck. Kemp passes it to McKinstry who passes it to Sutton. Sutton passes it back to Kemp and the whole arena gasps as one of my boys nearly intercepts it. Kemp shoots on the net and my goalie makes an amazing save.

The whole place explodes into cheers and the game is stopped.

Seventeen seconds left.

If my boys hold on for seventeen seconds, we’ll be heading to game seven of the Stoney Cup. I can barely take it, I’m so stressed.

I take a few breaths and cling to Rachel’s hand. She’s digging her nails into my hand and I’m digging mine into hers as we watch the game start back up.

The Hyenas get the puck, but my boys hold on. Carson Rochon pins Tucker McKinstry against the boards, the puck stuck between their skates. Carson takes an elbow in the nose, but he doesn’t let go of the beast, holding on as the clock goes down.

Kemp skates over and tries to pry the puck loose, but Fergusson meets him and slaps his stick away.

I can’t breathe as I glance at the clock. Nine seconds.

This is so intense. I can’t handle it.

The puck gets loose and Fergusson launches it to the other side of the rink. The crowd roars as it hits the backboard, sliding behind the net.

Sebastian Kemp takes off after it, skating as hard as he can, but he simply runs out of time.

The buzzer goes off. The Hyenas lose.

I jump up and cheer along with the twenty-one thousand other die-hard Vipers fans.

We won! We’re going to game seven.

The game to take it all. The game that will start the next dynasty.

Everyone is all smiles and congratulations as I head outside.

I’m supposed to meet Brantley in my office, so I immediately head there. I hate that he’s probably feeling horrible right now. That’s the way it’s gone this whole championship series. When I’m happy, he’s disappointed, and when he’s happy, I’m disappointed. Although, the bad mood doesn’t last long for either of us.

I dance around my office, throwing fists at shadows, and hollering silently before he comes in. Once he knocks, I compose myself, take a few deep breaths, and open the door.

I’m expecting him to be sad, but he smiles widely when he sees me.

“Congratulations,” he says, hugging me as he kicks the door closed. “I’m so happy for you.”

That’s what I love about this man. He’s so mature and supportive. He can be happy for me even if it means bad things for him. Most guys would be having a pity party and taking it out on their girl even though she had nothing to do with it, but not Brantley. Not my man.

He kisses me, celebrating my win.

“I thought you’d be upset,” I say when he puts me down.

He shakes his head as he looks at me. “How could I ever be upset when seeing you?”

I blush and smile shyly as I look away.

“I kind of like it like this,” he says as he runs the back of his hand down my cheek. “Three—three. It’s even. It’s fair.”

“After the next game, it won’t be. Will you still love me if you lose?”

“I’ll love you no matter what,” he says, cupping my cheeks and gazing into my eyes. “I’ll love you until my last breath on earth and then I’ll love you for an eternity more.”

I step on my toes and kiss him.

“I feel the same way,” I whisper, my head spinning from his delicious cologne mixed with his tantalizing taste.

“Then let’s make it official,” he says as he reaches into his coat pocket.

I step back and gasp as he pulls out a ring box and drops to his knee.

“This time with you has been the best time of my life, my love. I want to marry you. I want to be your husband. I want you to be my wife.”

My hands are shaking as he opens the purple box, revealing the largest, most gorgeous diamond ring I’ve ever seen. I don’t even want to know how much that thing cost.

“Will you marry me?”

Tears flood out of my eyes as I drop to my knees and wrap my arms around him. “Yes,” I say without hesitation. “Yes!”

He puts the ring on my finger and I stare at it in shock.

No matter what happens during the next game, we’ll still be one.

And that’s all that matters to me.