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Chapter 29

Keelan

" I don't think I've ever seen this place this packed during the holidays," Ryker says as we take our places to warm up.

"You guys notice the number of fans that are women has nearly doubled," Zane says.

"Maybe even tripled," Fergie says.

I look around, and from all areas of the arena, our names and numbers are being screamed out.

"I don't know what it feels like to be a rockstar," I say. "But this might be pretty damn close."

Too bad it doesn't make up for the giant hole I left New York with just a few days ago.

Rina and I haven't talked. We've barely even seen each other. And for all I know, it's over.

I've given up on believing in more for us. At the end of the day, love wasn't enough. It never could be.

Maybe fate had something to do with it, too. That's why we kept just barely missing each other. Why all the odds have always been stacked against us.

Maybe this whole time, I've been hung up on someone who could only be mine in my dreams. It wasn't meant to be real.

"Hey," Ryker shoves my shoulder. "You okay?"

"Yeah, it's fine. Did you and Izzy decide what you're going to do for Christmas?"

"Yeah, we're gonna fly out to see your Aunt Ginny in Cali. She's planning this whole elaborate feast. And according to your sister, she has a mans," Ryker says, sounding just like Izzy.

"What? My Aunt Ginny? My perpetually single aunt?"

"The very one," Ryker says.

"Look at you. Coming in hot with the latest gossip," I smile.

"I thought that'd cheer you up."

"Speaking of hot gossip. Y'all wanna hear some good stuff?" Fergie says.

We're all stretching and doing our usual warm-ups but we move in closer to hear Fergie.

"I heard that Coach Murray was seen leaving Mack's office today just before the game."

"Ah, man. He's always in Mack's office," Zane says.

"Oh yeah? With his pants unzipped when he leaves?"

I look at Fergie. "Whaaaat?"

"Mmhmm, but you didn't hear it from me," he says, backing away.

The opposing team's players now make their way onto the ice, and the arena explodes into an intense round of booing, mostly from our female fans.

"Oh, this is going to be a good game."

Who needs a girlfriend cheering you on when you have an entire arena full of super fans?

"Come on, let's skate," I tell the boys, and we all get up and grab our sticks. The equipment managers toss pucks onto the ice for us to warm up our stick handling as we make our rounds around the rink.

I look up to the section where Izzy, Rina, and Jenny usually are. But it's just Izzy tonight.

Where the hell is Rina?

I keep skating past a sea of orange and black jerseys with all my teammates’ numbers.

There's even an entire section that looks like they're all wearing my number.

I keep periodically looking up, but when I pass the section again, I realize they are. There's an entire section wearing only my number. I stop skating and Zane and Ryker both run into me.

"What the hell, man?" Zane complains.

But they both look up to where my eyes are glued.

There, in the middle of an entire section of number nineteen jerseys, is Rina, wearing orange and black face paint and holding up a poster that says. "Number 19. Marry me!"

Zane and Ryker both slap me on my back.

"That's Rina," Ryker says.

Fergie stops skating and looks up along with all my other teammates. Each one of them stops, riveted by the loudest group in the arena.

Next to Rina is her father, Beto, holding up a sign that says, Number 19. Will you marry her already!

Elena is also holding up a poster that says, Marry her, but I'm still not giving you my mother's recipes.

I think I'm stunned at the sight of Rina. In my colors. In my jersey. Holding up that poster.

"Dude, are you going to go up there or what?" Ryker asks.

I look around at all the faces of my teammates.

"What?"

Rina is leaving the aisle and running down the steps.

"Go!" They yell at me.

I finally wake up from my stupor, drop my stick and gloves, and try to find a way to get to her. But the entire arena is surrounded by plexiglass. She approaches the glass closest to me and puts the poster up to it.

"Keelan," she yells through the glass.

Suddenly, the cheers from the crowd die as if a giant sign is flashing somewhere telling them to be quiet.

I look up, and actually, the word Quiet! is on the screen in bright red letters.

I turn back to Rina, and she says through the plexiglass, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for never giving you the chance. I'm sorry for being too scared. But I'm not scared anymore. You asked me what I want. And it's you, Keelan. I want you!"

A tear escapes and runs down the paint on her face. It wets the number 19 on her cheek and falls onto the jersey.

My jersey.

"I'm done running from this, Keelan. It's our time. This is our time. So…" she pounds her hand against the sign in her other hand.

I look around the arena. It's full of worried faces, anticipating my answer.

To them, we must look like a whirlwind romance that came out of nowhere. But Rina and I, we're the real deal. And she's right. It didn't happen before because neither of us was ready. But now… this is our moment.

I put my hand up to hers against the glass. "Yes!" I nod enthusiastically. "Of course, I'll marry you, Your Majesty."

Now, the entire arena erupts into cheers. Home team and away team fans alike. It's like a giant roar. And I look up at the screen that says, Give it up for Keelan and Rina Landry!

I turn back to Rina, laughing. "Who's in charge of the screens?"

"What?" she yells back.

"I said… who’s in charge of the—"

The cheers are still going strong. "I can't hear you,” she motions to her ears.

"Never mind, I'll see you after the game!"

"I love you too," she screams back.

"That's not what I—" I give up.

Love you , I mouth to her before skating away and right into a waiting huddle of my teammates, who all pound my helmet with excited congratulations.

Ryker is the last one, and he opens his arms wide for me. And I skate into him, nearly knocking him back.

"You did it, man. You got the girl."

I nod, "I did, didn't I? I got the girl."

He smacks the top of my helmet. "Now, let's win for her. And the entire Puerto Rican community that apparently showed up wearing your jersey today."

I look around and notice that it's true. There are small flags waving from the section where Rina was and cheering my name.

"Hell yeah!" I say, blowing kisses to them all. They cheer even louder and I get ready for the most intense game I've ever played in my entire life—knowing that waiting for me at the end is the woman I love.

And my soon-to-be wife.

Rina runs to me the second I come off the ice and jumps, wrapping her legs around my waist. We kiss. Right there. In front of everyone.

"What was that all about?" I say into her neck as she holds me tight.

"You were right. Things would've been different. And I called McEvoy to read the fine print of my contract."

"Yeah?"

"It only said I couldn't date a player. It said nothing about marrying one." She hesitates. “And I realize I was a fool for worrying about it. It was just another excuse to run. But I don’t want to run anymore, Keelan. Not away from you. Only to you.”

She smiles with tears in her eyes, and I shake my head at my brilliant and beautiful queen.

"You are incredible," I say, kissing her again.

She slides down my chest and onto her feet. "And you! Are in for one hell of a press conference," she says.

"Of course," I salute her.

She laughs. "Go change. I'll meet you in there." She smacks my butt, and boy, do I like it.

My boys all high-five her as they skate off the ice and congratulate us.

And after the fastest shower in the world, I meet her in front of the press room entrance.

She's still dressed in my jersey, though her face paint has been washed off and replaced with fresh makeup.

I kiss her.

"You ready?" She sounds nervous.

"Are you kidding me? I've wanted this longer than I care to admit," I say, taking her hand.

"Me too, " she says, kissing my hand. "Me too."

I open the door, and the press that are all seated rise and applaud as Rina and I walk hand in hand to the very front. She stops just before getting to the table and whispers, "Go get 'em, Captain."

I wink at her and kiss her cheek before taking my place next to Coach Murray. Coach slaps me on the back with a huge smile.

"This might be the happiest I've ever seen you, son."

"It is, Coach."

"Your dad would be very proud, Landry."

I think so, too.

My parents would've loved Rina. They would've taken her in the same way her parents took me in. They would've been so excited for us. I know that with everything in me.

I search the crowded room for the woman I can't wait to start my life with, and she's in the very back—where she always is. Cool, calm, and collected. Always so in control.

And the thought that crosses my mind just before the press conference starts is that I can't wait to make her lose all that control tonight when I finally get her alone.