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"All of them."

James Adler

It’s the day of Beaumont’s wedding, and I can’t stop pacing and fidgeting as I wait for Elizabeth to come out of her room.

Everything has been great between us these past few days, and I feel closer to her than ever.

We hung out at my place, baking and watching TV—acting like a normal couple. Well, except for the kissing part.

Finally, the door opens, and she walks into the living room wearing a floor-length, light pink dress that seems to float around her body. Her blonde hair is wavier than usual, and her makeup is discreet wh ile bringing out her beautiful eyes even more.

“Wow, you look breathtaking. Just . . . wow.” A smile builds on my lips. “You always look gorgeous, but this is next level.”

She brings her eyes to her shoes, blushing. “Thanks. You look great too, but we said no flirting, remember?”

I take a step back, my jaw falling open. “What! Nuh-uh. There’s got to be a loophole when you look this hot. Or when we’re going to a wedding. You know flirting is kind of a staple at weddings, right?”

She cocks her head to the side. “Really, is that a thing?”

“It is in my book. I will absolutely flirt with my date at a wedding. End of story,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

She presses her lips together. “Your date, huh?”

“What, are you not my date?” My eyes sweep over her, and a playful smirk pulls at my lips. “That blush confused me for a second. But in that case, maybe I should call Kirsten.” I’m not going to lie, seeing Elizabeth getting jealous was quite enjoyable.

Her mouth drops open. “You said you didn’t realize she was flirting with you. Liar.”

I let out a chuckle, shrugging. “Honestly, I didn’t. Most women act like that around me. It’s hard to tell the difference.” My voice drops. “That's why I like you, Elizabeth. You’re not like most women.”

Our eyes meet, and once again, the air around us charges with a burning intensity. I don’t know how much longer I’ll manage to keep my act together around her, but I do know she’s worth the wait.

Biting her bottom lip, she grabs her purse. “We should go.”

I tear my eyes away and start walking out of the room when she clears her throat.

“You know,” she says. “I expect my date to offer his arm when we walk together. I'm not exactly used to walking in these things.” She gestures to her high heels.

My heart pounds so hard, my pulse is ringing in my ears. Spinning to face her again, I flash a grin before marching back to her, offering my arm like a gentleman. “Shall we?”

With a soft giggle, she takes it.

“Just to clarify,” I say. “This is a date, right?”

She glances up at me, her beautiful gray eyes trapping me. “Yes, it’s a date.”

The wedding is being held in a beautiful event venue in Brooklyn, with exposed beams and large windows that give the space a lofty openness with elegant vibes.

The main room is huge and divided into three distinct spaces—the cocktail reception, where we’re now gathered for a pre-ceremony drink; the dining area with round tables covered in white cloths that are clustered around a dance floor; and a ceremony area where rows of chairs face a wedding arch made of white flowers.

“Hey, guys!” Miles calls to us, raising a hand to get our attention. We skirt around a big group of people prattling in French at an incomprehensible speed—probably Beaumont’s family—and join Miles. He’s with Marissa, Wally, Hawthorne, Auston, Deacon, and Lola.

“Where are Alice and Emma?” I ask, surprised to see the guys alone.

“They’re helping Hayley get ready,” Auston explains. “I just checked on Maxime, and he’s fine.”

“You know they only said ‘no bridesmaids and groomsmen’ because they didn’t want us to tease him, right?” I say.

They all laugh. “My thoughts too,” Miles says. “I mean, he was willing to make that stupid bet just so we’d ease up.”

“It doesn’t change anything, though,” I say. “When it’s time for the toasts, we’ll take the stage.”

When our laughter subsides, we al l grab a drink and start brainstorming how we’re going to roast Beaumont during the reception.

Finally, an attendant asks everyone to take a seat because the ceremony is about to start.

“After you, beautiful,” I say, inviting Elizabeth to sit down in our row, and she chuckles. Yeah, I’m going to milk this date for all it’s worth. For once, I’m allowed to flirt, and I can’t let the opportunity go to waste.

The officiant begins the ceremony, conducting it in both French and English to cater to everyone present. I love that Hayley is rocking a white pantsuit that matches her personality perfectly. They keep the ceremony short and sweet, but Elizabeth is hanging on every word.

Beaumont stands facing Hayley, his eyes fixed on her with a level of adoration that would convince even the biggest cynic of the whole "soulmate" thing. He’s far from the cocky, annoying hockey player we all know, and I kind of like this softer version of him.

“I never thought I’d find someone who saw me for who I really am,” Hayley begins, her voice steady. “But then you came into my life. You were the real man I never thought I needed, and before I knew it, you surpassed every single one of my book boyfriends.”

“Phew,” Beaumont says, a hand to his brow. “That wasn’t easy. I had to read a lot of romance to get there.”

Everyone chuckles, and he takes her hand. “Sorry, keep going.”

Hayley smiles softly, squeezing his hand. “You taught me that love isn’t about finding perfection—it’s about finding someone who makes all your flaws feel like they belong. And I promise to keep loving you, in every page, in every chapter, for the rest of our story.”

Beaumont’s eyes flicker with emotion, but he doesn’t break. When his turn comes to say his vows, he takes a breath before speaking. He’s more hesitant than usual, as though he’s not used to putting his feelings into words.

“Hayley, the second I met you, I knew you were the one,” he starts, his voice rough. “You wanted nothing to do with me.” He chuckles. “But I pursued you, and I’m glad I did. Because now here I am, standing in front of you, the luckiest guy alive.”

As he pours his heartfelt words out to her, I can’t help but glance at Beth. Beaumont and I have a lot in common. Not just our skills on the ice and our position, but also how we both knew from day one that we’d stumbled on someone special, someone we could envision a future with.

“I promise to protect you,” he continues. “To push through your walls, and to love you every single day, even when you’re lost in the pages of a book and I’m just a little bit jealous of your characters.”

A few people laugh, but even in that moment of humor, it’s clear he’s speaking from the heart.

And Hayley, despite her usual reserve, is visibly touched.

As I watch them, I can’t help but think how perfect they are for each other.

They’re opposites in so many ways, but somehow, that balance works.

And I hope that someday, I’ll have the same happy ending as they have.

“It’s so beautiful,” Beth whispers as the bride and groom hold hands, about to kiss.

“Is this the kind of wedding you want?” I ask, leaning in and matching her hushed tone.

Her cheeks tint red. “Maybe. Do you ever want a wedding?”

“Absolutely,” I say without hesitation. It’s true. I’ve always imagined that I’d get married one day. Honestly, I thought I’d be married by now. But life didn’t go the way I planned it. Hopefully, that’s all about to change.

We both turn back to the altar when the officiant says, “You may now kiss the bride. Vous pouvez embrasser la mariée. ”

Frenchie Boy tugs his girl toward him, then kisses her under the applause and whistles of the crowd.

After we congratulate the newlywe ds and have our pictures taken with them, we head to the dining area and find our table. We’re seated with all our friends, except for Hayley and Beaumont, who are at a table with their close family.

I lean back, my arm draped over the back of Elizabeth’s chair, and immediately, everyone’s eyes zero in on it.

I give a nonchalant shrug. “What? Elizabeth and I are on a date, didn’t I tell you?

” I grin, proud of my big reveal. I purposely hadn’t said anything until now, waiting for the perfect moment.

“No way! You guys are dating?” Alice exclaims, her eyes sparkling. “That’s great.”

Elizabeth shakes her head. “We’re not dating. We’re on a date. Tonight.”

“Wow,” Miles says, leaning back. “Good for you guys.”

“Yeah, who would have predicted that one?” Marissa says with a hint of sarcasm, winking at Elizabeth.

Before I can say anything, Beaumont’s dad stands up and proposes a toast to his son and his new daughter-in-law. His English is pretty fluent, and he even makes a joke or two. Then, Hayley’s mom, Emma, and Alice give their toasts.

“All right,” I say, taking the microphone when Alice hands it to me.

“I guess it’s my turn.” I glance at Beaumont and Hayley, who are watchin g me expectantly.

“Well, when I first met Frenchie Boy, he was just a young, promising rookie player hoping to make it big in the NHL. Today, he’s still all that, but he’s also a married man. ”

Everyone chuckles, and Beaumont clears his throat, flipping me the bird.

I shoot him a grin. “Okay, maybe you got a little better over the years. After all, you’ve been working with the best winger in the league.”

Some people laugh, but not nearly enough, so I add, “ I’m the best winger in the league.”

Now everyone is laughing, and Beaumont just rolls his eyes. “But none of that matters. Because you’ve won the most important prize, man,” I say, glancing at Hayley, who’s all smiles. “You found the perfect woman for you. Someone to love, and who loves you back, even with your many, many flaws.”

More laughs ripple around the room.

My tone sobers a little. “And that’s what matters most in this life.

If I could trade my stats and trophies for what you have, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

” My eyes instinctively fall on Elizabeth.

She’s gazing up at me, and my heart leaps in my chest. Because I meant every word of this speech.

If I could give everything I have to make her see how much I love her, I would.

“To Beau mont and Hayley,” I say, forcing my eyes back to them, and everyone applauds.

Beth Bowen

I’m just getting back to the table following a long restroom break. After those speeches, I needed a hard reset. But somehow, James’ words are still echoing in my head, torturing me.

“There you are,” James says, approaching the table. “I was looking all over for you.” He extends his hand, a devastating smile on his face. “May I have this dance with my date ?”

I press my lips together, then smile. “Absolutely.”

He guides me to the dance floor, where several other couples are already swaying to the slow ballad.

He settles his hands on my waist, and I wrap my arms around his neck.

As we start moving to the music, a blissful sensation washes over me.

Everything about this day has felt like a dream, too perfect to be true.

But it’s still going strong, leaving me wondering if this could really be my life.

Being in James’ arms every day, joking around, listening to him tell me how beautiful I am.

Our eyes meet, and once again, I ’m sucked into his smoldering gaze.

“I’m crazy about you, Elizabeth,” he murmurs into my ear, his voice husky. It’s like he’s reading my mind. “What will it take for you to go out with me for real?” He caresses my cheek, his fingers leaving a trail of fire in their wake.

“You’re a hockey player,” I blurt out, not taking the time to edit my thoughts. As much as I wish that wasn’t a problem, I think it’s still what’s preventing me from trusting him fully.

“No,” he says softly. “I’m a man who plays hockey. I don’t define you by your occupation. Why is it any different for me?”

I look down, trying to find an answer to his question. That’s when I realize there’s something else preventing me from finally going after what I want. “You’re going to break my heart,” I whisper, pressing my forehead to his.

“Never. I’ll worship you, like I have since the second we met. You were just too stubborn to notice it.”

A lone chuckle escapes me, and I pull back slightly. “Is that so?”

“Are you finally ready to surrender, Elizabeth? Because I’m hopeless here.”

The sincerity in his eyes, combined with his speech from earlier, sends a whirlwind of emotions through me. And just like that, all my walls are com pletely shattered. He’s right. For so long, he’s been showing me all the ways he’s good for me. I just wasn’t paying attention. But I am now.

My heart is thundering in my chest, the sound so loud, I can’t even hear the music anymore. Finally, I meet his eyes again. “Yes,” I breathe out.

A glint of pure joy touches his eyes, and he caresses my cheek before drawing me closer.

His familiar scent of clean cotton and musk embraces me, sweeping me off the dance floor and into our own bubble.

Our lips touch, and I melt against him, unable to resist any longer.

His hands slide down my back, pulling me tight against him as I run my fingers through his hair.

Every brush of his lips feels desperate, like he’s been waiting for this forever, and I’ve never felt so wanted.

He pulls away, and I release a small moan at the loss of contact.

“I want everything with you, Elizabeth,” he says, the back of his hand grazing my cheek. “Not just one night, but all of them.”

A smile breaks onto my face, and I nod in agreement before kissing him again. “All of them.”