Page 42

Nik

Since we decided all those months ago that we were going to work tirelessly to achieve both of our goals, I have wondered what Charlie’s face would look like when it hit him that he’d done it.

But life throws you curveballs sometimes.

Only two weeks after we came out as a couple to the world, he was announced as the winner of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for showing stellar sportsmanship on the ice. It was the first time he’d ever won it, and his face...

I mean, I still laugh when I remember it.

He was so confused.

He was speechless, and he was humbled.

It’s something he never even thought of being awarded for, but it had more meaning than anyone could’ve predicted.

He told a story about his father when he accepted that award.

“Giovanni Heart taught me how to skate, how to hold a stick, and how to do millions of other things. But the first thing he taught me when I told him I wanted to play hockey, was that you never hit harder than you have to, you never go against those less powerful than you, and you never back down from a fight you believe in. I only remembered those lessons when I was announced as the winner, and for that I thank you.

“It was those lessons that made me the man I am today. A man recognized around the country for being a gentleman while playing the most animalistic game on the planet. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

After that, we continued our battle to the top, and when we were almost there, it was a surprise to no one that it was Boston we were up against.

We won the first round in four games, the second round in five, and the conference final in four again. It was lucky that we had so much time between rounds because our fight for the Stanley Cup took seven excruciating games—which I didn’t play with four broken ribs thankfully.

When that moment came, when the horn sounded and we were officially champions again, Charlie and I weren’t on the ice. We were on the bench, watching our teammates fall to their knees or jump in the air .

Then we turned to each other.

Charlie looked calm.

Calmer than I’d ever seen him, and that’s saying something.

His smile was the sweetest I’d ever seen, and though I wanted to jump over the boards and join my teammates in the giant pile they’d become next to Bear’s net, I stayed with Charlie until he was ready.

I took his hand, I pressed my helmet to his, and I whispered the words I’d never get tired of saying to him.

“I love you, sweetheart.”

It’s a week later that we’re at the NHL awards, wearing our best suits and ready to find out if both our dreams could come true in one season.

The endless ceremony is made worse by the fact that the James Norris award is the second to last one.

The last one is the Hart Memorial Trophy, which everybody knows Jules will win again because he had a fucking hat trick in the final game of the Stanley Cup finals, and that’s just logical.

But no matter how much Charlie insists that me winning is a given, I can’t believe him.

The man loves me , he doesn’t have common sense.

He’s proven the contrary over and over, since he puts up with my shit—and laughs at it—every freaking day .

But then the moment finally comes, and I understand Charlie’s reaction when we won the Stanley Cup.

Complete calm washes over me as Max jumps from his seat next to me and claps like a maniac.

Mission complete.

I finally won, and now it’s time for the next thing.

“Uh,” I pretend to hesitate when I start my speech. “You are not just giving me this because I stopped a puck with my head, are you?” I joke, and get the laughs I was aiming for. “In all seriousness, I want to dedicate this to my parents.” I take a moment to swallow the lump of emotion in my throat. “Mama, Papa, I know you would have liked to be here for this, but I did it,” I say with a watery laugh. “And I know it is not the Lady Byng Trophy, but we all know I was never going to get that one.” More laughter rings out across the big auditorium. They get it. “But good news,” I keep going brightly. “I now have one of those at home and I will just pretend it is mine along with those five other James Norris ones Charlie has been hoarding.”

The audience’s reaction is better than I expected—they laugh as much as they did before, even though I’m clearly referencing the fact that I live with my very male partner.

But even through the surprise, I hear Charlie’s cackle of laughter ring out over the rest of the audience, and I have to shake my head when I step back.

I see the evidence of how much my life has changed as Max rolls his eyes at me and the love of my life clutches his stomach .

Who would’ve thought?

Thank you so much for reading!

Please consider leaving a review or rating as this helps self-published authors immensely

Want to find out if Santa and Sweetheart will grace the ice next season? You can find out in the Bonus .