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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Brooks

The roar of the crowd is deafening as the team skates onto the ice.

The adrenaline is coursing through me like a live wire even though I’m not playing tonight.

The lights are blindingly bright, reflecting off the polished surface of the rink, and the sound of the skates slicing through the ice sends a thrill up my spine.

The announcer’s voice booms over the speakers, introducing the players one by one, and the energy in the arena is electric. Fans wave banners and flags, their cheers blending into a symphony of excitement.

I scan the stands, and my eyes lock on Ally. She’s bundled in her coat, her cheeks pink from the cold, and when I catch her gaze, I can’t help but give her a wink and a quick wave.

The way her lips part in a surprised smile makes my chest swell with affection, and for a moment, everything else fades away.

But then the Quebec Swans skate onto the ice. Their jerseys sport an enormous, snarling swan mid-attack, the design both ridiculous and oddly intimidating.

The Swans are known for their aggressive play, and judging by their body language as they circle the rink, they’re here to win.

We skate laps to warm up, the sound of blades cutting the ice like a sharp whisper. The puck drops, and the match begins. My focus narrows, the world condensing into the icy battlefield before me.

I can’t actually help much tonight, but I feel like the sheer force of my will might help the team to beat their rivals.

The first period is brutal. The Swans come at us hard, their forwards relentless as they push into our zone. I watch Tyler skate backward, his stick ready, watching for an opportunity to intercept.

A Swans winger takes a hard shot, and the goalie lunges, deflecting it with his stick. The puck ricochets off the boards, and Nick picks it up, weaving through the opposing players like he’s on rails.

“Up!” I shout as Tyler skates into position.

Nick fires the puck forward, and Tyler catches it with ease. He charges down the ice, his movements fluid and powerful. The Swans’ defense scrambles to block him, but he’s too fast, zigzagging past their sticks.

With a sharp wrist shot, he sends the puck flying into the net. The horn blares, and the crowd explodes into cheers.

The Swans retaliate quickly, pressing us hard. Their captain, a hulking center with a mean streak, barrels toward Nick with the puck. He squares up, bracing for impact, and manages to knock him off balance just enough to steal the puck.

He sends it up to our forwards, and we make another push toward their net. The period ends with us up 2-1, but it’s clear this is going to be a fight.

The second period is even tougher. The Swans come back swinging, their hits harder and their strategy sharper.

I find myself leaning forward to help the team as they race toward a loose puck near the boards, but before any of them can grab it, one of their players slams into Tyler, sending him sprawling across the ice.

He grabs his shoulder for a moment, but then he’s already scrambling to his feet.

“Cover me!” he shouts, and Nick swoops in, intercepting the puck and passing it forward. Tyler takes it up the ice, dodging a defender and sending it to our winger, who fires off a shot.

The Swans’ goalie deflects it, but the crowd roars at the near-miss.

The buzzer sounds, signaling the end of the period, and the team skates off the ice. My leg aches from the tension thrumming through my body, and my head throbs, but I barely notice.

My eyes flick to the twins, who give me a small, affirmative nod. They know what’s coming next, and their support steadies me.

I glance toward the stands, searching for Ally again. Just the thought of what’s about to happen makes my stomach twist with nerves, but there’s no turning back now. This is the right thing to do, for all of us.

During the intermission, the lights dim, and the spotlight focuses on Coach Walker, who skates onto the ice in his suit. His voice echoes across the arena as he announces a “special moment”.

The crowd buzzes as the team skates back out, this time holding signs.

The first is her name: “ALLY”.

My eyes flick to her face and she looks like a deer caught in headlights as she sights in the bright overhead light.

Tyler skates out next, his sign reading: “WILL YOU”.

Nick follows with: “MARRY”.

My heart pounds as I take my place, holding the final sign, praying my shaking hands won’t drop it and screw this entire thing up: “ME”.

The crowd erupts into cheers, and the spotlight shifts to Ally, who stands frozen by her seat. Her hands fly to her mouth, and tears glisten in her eyes as she slowly makes her way down the stairs toward the ice.

I make it to the edge of the ice, the cool air biting against my flushed skin, and kneel in spite of the brace on my leg.

My hands tremble as I open the small velvet box to reveal the ring inside. The diamond catches the light, sparkling like the ice beneath us.

“Ally,” I say, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me. “You’ve changed my life in ways I never thought possible. You’ve brought out something in me I thought was long gone. Will you marry me?”

She nods, tears streaming down her cheeks, and whispers, “yes,” before repeating it louder of the crowd, “YES!”

The arena erupts again, but all I can see is her. As I lean forward to kiss her, I feel the twins’ presence nearby, their support silent but unwavering. Together, we’ll figure out the rest.

“Thank you,” I tell her, and I mean it. There are so many things I want to thank her for.

As I sit back down on the bench, the cheers from the crowd still ringing in my ears, I feel the weight of everything settle in, joy, relief, and a little bit of dread. Nick and Tyler slap me on the back, grinning like idiots, and the rest of the team gathers around, shouting congratulations.

“Brooks, man, we didn’t even know you were seeing someone, let alone ready to pop the question!” one of the forwards laughs, shaking his head. “You’ve been holding out on us.”

“I like to keep my personal life personal,” I reply with a chuckle, though the words feel awkward on my tongue. The guys burst out laughing, a mix of camaraderie and genuine surprise.

Another teammate pipes up, pointing at Nick and Tyler. “But you two must’ve known, right? I mean, you live with the guy.”

Nick leans back, folding his arms with a grin. “It was a well-kept secret.”

“Yeah,” Tyler agrees, smirking. “He didn’t let on much. We’re as shocked as you are.”

The conversation tapers off as Coach calls us back to focus for the third period.

I glance toward the stands one last time and see Ally back in her seat, her smile radiant. It steadies me, reminding me what this is all for.

The third period starts with both teams coming out strong, the score tied 2-2. The puck drops, and the intensity on the ice spikes immediately.

I stick close to my position, watching the Swans’ center barrel down the rink with the puck. He’s fast, but so is Tyler. He intercepts him, pressing him toward the boards, and with a quick flick of his stick, the puck’s loose.

Nick swoops in, grabbing it and darting toward their goal.

Their defense moves in, forcing Nick to pass to Tyler, who skates like a freight train down the ice. The Swans close in on him, and at the last second, he passes back to Nick. A wrist shot flies toward the goal, but their goalie blocks it.

The Swans regain control, rushing into our zone. Their winger sends a shot hurtling toward our net, but Bruno stretches out just in time, deflecting it with his pad. The crowd groans and cheers simultaneously as the game remains neck and neck.

I’m getting nervous for the team, but adrenaline keeps me steady. We’re in for a fight, but that’s exactly what we signed up for.

The final period is pure chaos. Both teams are desperate to break the tie, and the pace is relentless.

I keep my eyes sharp, tracking the puck as it ricochets across the ice. My heart pounds in rhythm with the deafening roar of the crowd, a steady drumbeat driving the team forward.

Tyler takes possession and rushes down the ice, weaving past two Swans players with a deftness that earns a cheer from the stands. He passes the puck to Nick, who takes a hard slapshot.

The puck bounces off the goalie’s pad, and another player seizes the rebound, skating into position for a clean shot.

But just as he’s about to shoot, a Swans defenseman slams into him. The impact sends him sprawling, but Tyler grabs the loose puck and circles around.

Nick positions himself near the crease, ready for the pass. Tyler fires the puck to him, and Nick slams it into the net with a resounding crack.

The horn blares, and the arena explodes into celebration. My teammates swarm the ice, shouting and cheering. The Swans look furious, their captain shaking his head as he skates off.

I lock eyes with Ally in the stands, and her wide smile sends a jolt of pride through me.

We head back to the locker room, everyone riding the high of victory. This is why we play: to feel this rush, to see the payoff for all the hard work.

Back in the locker room, the mood is electric. Teammates slap me on the back, shouting congratulations for both the win and the engagement.

“Ally must be your lucky charm,” one of the defensemen says with a grin. “You popped the question and the team won the game, all in one night.”

“Guess I should keep her around, huh?” I joke, laughing along with them. But as I watch them all head to the showers, the words linger in my mind.

The sounds of the locker room cascade over me, washing away the sweat and tension of the game, but not the gnawing thoughts.

Ally said yes, and I know I want her in my life. But as the rest of the team towels off and gets dressed, I notice the twins sitting silently by their lockers, their smiles dimmed slightly, almost forced.

The chatter about “Future Mrs. Brooks” carries through the room, and I can see how it’s hitting them.

They’ve been such a huge part of this, of us, and now, it feels like I’ve stolen something that was meant to be shared.

I leave the locker room, the excitement of the win tempered by the weight of what’s to come. I need to figure out how to make this work, how to keep Ally and keep us all together.

But for now, I head to find her, eager to see her smile again, even if the road ahead feels uncertain.

When I see Ally standing in the hallway, her arms hugged tightly around herself. Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes dart to me, wide and searching.

“Ally,” I call softly, closing the space between us.

Her lips part, but no words come out at first. Finally, she mumbles, “I was thinking of leaving...taking a position across the country.”

The words hit me like a slap, and I stop dead in my tracks. “What?” My voice comes out sharper than I intend. “Leaving? When were you going to tell me this?”

Her eyes well up, and she stammers, “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how you felt…about us. I panicked. But this,” she gestures down the hall toward the rink, the cheers and memories of my proposal still fresh. “This seals the deal, Brooks. I do want to marry you. I’m just scared. And I don’t know about…well, you know.”

Her hesitation says it all, and I step closer, tilting her chin up so she meets my gaze. “Don’t worry about any of that, Ally. We’ll all figure it out together. You’re not alone in this, I promise.”

Her lips tremble, but she nods, her smile breaking through the fear. “Okay.”

“Good,” I whisper, leaning in to kiss her forehead. “Now, let’s make this official.”

I lead Ally back to the locker room, my crutches a necessary nuisance slowing us both down.

When we step inside, the room erupts. Cheers and applause ricochet off the walls as the team crowds around us. “Future Mrs. Brooks!” someone shouts, and the chant catches on, laughter mixing with their voices.

Ally blushes furiously, her smile shy but radiant. I catch her glancing up at me for reassurance, and I give her a slight nod, letting her know she’s doing great.

Players come forward one by one, clapping her on the shoulder or giving her quick hugs. It’s like a giant family welcoming her in.

Nick and Tyler linger toward the back, watching everything unfold with their usual handsome, cocksure composure. When they finally step forward, I notice how they keep their hugs brief and chaste, the kind of affectionate but professional touch that won’t raise eyebrows.

It’s a subtle move, but it tells me everything I need to know: they understand the balance we’re trying to keep.

Ally’s gaze shifts between the twins and me, her eyes brimming with emotion. It’s a lot for her to process, but the way she clutches my hand tells me she’s in it for the long haul.

“You okay?” I whisper.

She nods, the blush on her cheeks deepening. “Just...overwhelmed. But in a good way.”

“I feel so lucky,” Ally says, her voice trembling with sincerity as she addresses the room. “Not just to have worked with the Marauders but to have met...the love of my life here.” Her eyes meet mine, and it feels like time stops for a moment.

I squeeze her hand, feeling my chest swell with pride. “The feeling’s mutual,” I say softly, earning a chorus of good-natured teasing from the guys.

As the celebration begins to wind down, I lean in close to her ear. “Let me drive you home. You’ve had a big night, and we can celebrate properly.”

Ally shakes her head, a small smile playing on her lips. “I have some paperwork to finish up first. But I’ll come back with you and the twins afterward.”

I nod, respecting her decision, though I’m already counting down the minutes until we’re home together. “All right. We’ll wait for you.”

We gather our things, and I can feel the twins watching us, their gazes unreadable. I know they’re proud of this moment, but there’s something unspoken lingering between us.

As we make our way toward Ally’s office, the corridor is eerily quiet.

I seize the moment, glancing back at Nick and Tyler, who follow a few steps behind.

“Can I ask you guys something?” I say, halting and hopping a little to catch my balance on one foot. I angle one of my crutches a little to support my weight as I turn to look back at them.

Tyler raises an eyebrow. “What’s up?”

I shove my hands in my pockets, the cool fabric brushing against my skin. “Do you feel left out...at all? I mean, this whole thing with Ally, me proposing.”

Nick shrugs, but his expression is thoughtful. “Honestly? No. We knew this was how it was going to be.”

Tyler nods, his usual smirk softening into something sincere. “Yeah. We’re good. It’s all working out the way it’s supposed to.”

Their words ease something in my chest, and I give them a grateful nod. “Thanks, guys. Really.”