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INDIE

aver: (v.) to state something is true confidently

T he usher showed us down to our seats down on the lower level, because while some wives or girlfriends chose to hang out in the suite, Eden and the rest of the girls loved the action on the ice.

We sat just as the lights dimmed and the teams were announced.

I glanced down the row at where Nia was with the girls and Travis.

We shuffled seats until Travis was beside me, eyes all lit up and excitement evident on his sweet face.

Lizzy and Tory cheered as Jaxon and the rest of the guys made their way out along with Theo and Cole, Noah heading out last.

Zoe was working the game alongside Laney, making sure the ice team and scream team were hyping up the crowd. Quinn grinned and waved, and I spotted a few of the Seattle Revenge player’s girlfriends directly across on the other side of the ice. Jules waved at Eden, who laughed and waved back.

The anthems played, and both teams faced each other, but just as the lights went up, the entire first line skated over to the glass.

Eden started screaming, and I spotted Zoe across the way, walkie in hand.

The big scoreboard module that hung over center ice flashed the guys as they all held up their hands.

Starting from one end to the other, it panned down the line, until it came to Theo.

WILL

YOU

MARRY

ME

FOR

REAL?

Even Wolf had let someone write on his hand in pink Sharpie.

I let my eyes drop to the actual hands, and read each one in wonder, until I got to Theo.

Eden shoved a pink Sharpie in front of me. “Your turn, girl.”

Theo looked at me, and for once, he looked nervous, and for a split second I thought about messing with him. But then, Travis tugged my hand.

He showed me his hand.

AND ME?

Travis grinned. “Daddy told me if you don’t want to, he’d understand but Coach said to do it quick.”

I threw my head back and laughed, then wrote on one hand, then the other.

YES.

MINE.