Rhett

I've just coached my team to our first victory and I couldn't be more proud. These boys have put in the work and listened to everything I told them to do. I'm just missing one thing or I guess one person. So, when I look out into the crowd and see her standing next to the rink, I can't stop the smile that takes over my face. Before I can get to her she's climbing over the wall.

Winnie Parker will never stop taking my breath away. She looks so beautiful it hurts. Her hair is as wild as I've ever seen it and her cheeks are pink. She's beaming at me and I stand a little taller knowing she's looking at me. I grin at her, but make a mad dash to get to her when she tries to move on the ice and falls onto her side. I'm worried she's hurt herself when I get to her side. I pick her up and walk her back to the center of the rink.

"You know, I wanted you to fall for me, but I really didn't mean physically. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. I'm sorry, you know I can't walk on flat ground without tripping, let alone ice." I chuckle. The weight I've been carrying in my chest lifted.

"I was starting to think you weren't coming and I was going to have to make a special visit next door."

"I wasn't. I had all but convinced myself that you were better off without me and I should let you go." I blink.

"As far from the truth as that is, I have to ask. What changed your mind?"

"I don't think I believe anything differently now. You probably are better off without me and you could have found someone else who is less trouble. Someone easier, but I wouldn't be better off without you, I'm not sure I could survive it again." She lets out a sob and I wipe the tears from her beautiful face. She has no idea the hold she has on me and before I can tell her that, she continues. "I'm so out of my mind in love with you Rhett. I'm so sorry it took me this long to come to terms with it." She's crying in earnest now, but I can't help my smile. Knowing she cares for me a fraction of what I feel for her has me feeling like I'm floating. I set her down on her feet, holding onto her by her forearms.

"Don't cry, honeybee," I whisper. "If it helps to know, I was never really that worried." It's a lie, because I had thought about how impossible it would be to not have her be mine, but I'm trying to be reassuring. "I let you go once before and I spent eight years missing you. I won't ever be that stupid again," I say, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"That makes one of us. I'm still so scared. I don't want to lose you, Rhett. It would kill me to lose you, but never having you because of a what if? That thought terrifies me." I take her face in my hands then, kissing her lips softly in the middle of the hockey rink, in front of the whole town.

"Never going to happen. I am yours, Winnie. Whatever parts of yourself you'll give me will be more than enough for me." She whimpers and reaches up on her tip toes, kissing me before pulling back.

"Rhett."

"Yes, Winnie?"

"I'm not sure if you realized, but I got your message." I grin wider.

"I was hoping you would. You should know I talked to your brother before I did the interview."

"You talked to Colt? How did that go?" she asks, sounding as if she thinks it went badly.

"It may take some getting used to, but it's all out in the open now. We're out in the open. I don't want you to ever doubt I'm in this for good, Darlin'." I breathe out the words in a rush.

"I love you," She says and I feel like my heart might beat out of my chest. "More than I thought I could love someone or anything. I will never stop loving you."

"I'm so in love with you I can't think straight, honeybee." She smiles at that.

"I want you to know that I'm in this. I want you and even though I have a lot to overcome I want to trust that you will be by my side."

"I'll be there every step of the way. I don't want you to do this on your own. Not when you have me now."

"I know that. I want to lean on you, even though that's hard for me," she admits and I'm flying. All I want in this world is for Winnie to know she can rely on me.

"I want you. I will choose you. I won't let you fight these battles alone. All that I am is yours. I'm yours."

"And I'm yours."

I pick her up once more so she's wrapped around my waist and kiss her for all I'm worth. There have been times in my life where not weighing the odds got me into trouble—sometimes it even got me hurt. I've never been one to play it safe, but I always calculate the probability of success. Having Winnie though. Making her mine. Sharing a life with her. There has never been a doubt in my mind that she was worth the risk.