Page 93 of Pucking Strong (Jacksonville Rays #4)

I don’t stay for the end of the press conference. I know Henrik left to come find me. Slipping from the back of the crowd, I make my way through the tunnels, jogging towards the double doors that lead to the WAG room. Rolando, the security guard, waves me past the checkpoint with a nod.

I turn the corner to find Nat and Jayla standing with the girls in front of a brightly painted mural. A local artist crafted it to look like a watercolor painting of a school of rays on a coral reef. The girls are each exclaiming, pointing out the different fish.

Jayla sees me first. “Where did you go?”

Nat spins around, eyes wide with concern.

I jog up, smiling from ear to ear. “Sorry, Henrik was doing the press conference. I didn’t wanna miss it.”

Jayla’s expression is wary. “Everything good?”

I nod. God, I feel like I have a pinball loose in my chest. It’s pinging all around, making my heart flutter. And I can’t stop smiling.

Nat grins. “Ted, what are you into? What did you do?”

Before I can reply, the door at the end of the hall slams open, and Henrik comes striding out, still in his Rays warm-up kit. Which, you know, thank god for whoever was in charge of picking the five-inch inseam on those uniform shorts. His tree-trunk thigh muscles flex as he jogs down the hallway.

“Hey, Henrik,” Jayla calls with a wave.

“Can we still say, ‘good game’?” Nat mutters at me.

I groan, shrugging her hand off my shoulder.

“We promised the girls we’d go get ice cream,” says Jayla. “Hope you don’t mind.”

If Henrik hears her, he makes no sign of it. He only has eyes for me. His energy is volcanic as he sweeps down the hallway, determination thundering with every step. Once he’s close enough, he smiles. My god, he’s dazzling.

I hold out my hands to him. “Babe, that was amazing. I’m so proud of you—”

Henrik reels me in, kissing me breathless. Behind me, the nieces all squeak. His passion and excitement only fans mine. I’m gasping when he breaks the kiss too soon. Still smiling, he drops down to one knee.

“Henrik, what—”

“Marry me.”

Behind me, my sisters shriek, and the girls fall apart in a fit of swooning giggles. My brain does a backflip while my stupid, boyish heart starts doing cartwheels. “I—babe, we’re already married.”

“I don’t care.” His gaze is steadfast, the blue of his eyes deep and warm. “Marry me again. Marry me properly. With flower girls, and photographers, and vows in English.”

“And a kiss,” Karolina squeals, bouncing in the seat of her wheelchair.

“And a kiss,” he echoes.

I just shake my head. This is crazy. Too much is happening. There are too many unknowns. How can he think about us getting remarried while we’re dealing with his family, and Karro’s PT, and our work schedules, and this press-fueled nightmare with the case worker?

He searches my face, his brow furrowing slightly. “Why do you hesitate?”

I try to process all my thoughts and emotions to form one succinct answer. “Well … why now?”

Jayla steps in behind me, shaking my shoulders. “Are you crazy, Teddy? Just say yes!”

“ Shh .” Natalie pulls her back. “I wanna hear his answer.”

Slowly, Henrik rises to his feet. His heated gaze dances over the letters of my name, stitched onto the left breast of my WAG jacket. His number is on both my arms and my back. Our names are combined across my shoulders: “TEDRIK.” Two halves of one whole.

“Why now?” I repeat.

He has to say it. I think I’ll die if he won’t.

Smiling, he cups my cheek. “Because I love you.”

I close my eyes, leaning into the press of his hand. Behind me, my sisters and nieces squeal again.

“Look at me,” he soothes, both hands now resting on my shoulders.

I blink my eyes open, ignoring my blurry tears.

“I love you,” he says again. “You know I do. You knew it before I did. Before I could ever form the words, you already knew. I love you as a friend, as a lover, as the partner of my life.”

“I hoped you did,” I admit.

But he shakes his head. “No. You knew. You know me, mitt hj?rta. No one has ever made me feel more seen than you. No matter what comes, we will be together, yes?”

I place both hands on his hips, anchoring myself to him as I nod. “Henrik, yes . I’m yours, you know that. I would have liked a second sink to prove your love,” I tease. “But I guess this works too.”

“You have to give him a ring!” Camila shouts from behind me.

“That’s true,” Natalie says from my left. “A proposal usually comes with a ring, Henrik. If you’re doing this all again, do it right, honey.”

Lips pursed with amusement, Henrik drops his hands from me and works the slender gold ring off his right pinkie. My heart officially fucking stops. He holds it up for my sisters and nieces to inspect. “Will this suffice?”

Jayla’s eyes narrow on the band. “Is that real gold?”

I groan, but Henrik just chuckles. “It is. A Karlsson has worn this as a wedding ring for over one hundred years. It was my mother’s. She gifted it to Teddy, the man who is my heart’s fire, mate of my soul … Those were her words, correct?” he adds at me with a teasing smile.

It’s all I can do to nod, tears ready to brim over.

“I’ve kept it safe for you, mitt hj?rta. You told me to wait and give it to a partner I love, cherish, and adore.” He holds it out to me. “Will you take it now? Take it, like you’ve taken my heart.”

“Sweet lord,” Jayla murmurs.

Nat elbows her. “Will you hush up? Let the man have his moment.”

“Kneel down, Morbror,” Karolina calls. “They always kneel down.”

“Yeah, honey, do it right,” says Jay.

I feel like I’ve swallowed a fucking rainbow as Henrik dutifully drops to one knee again, holding out the slender gold ring. He takes my right hand in his, pressing a tender kiss to my knuckles. “Theodore Malik O’Connor, make me the happiest man alive, and marry me … again.”

“In English,” Nat adds over my shoulder.

“Yes, in English,” he agrees.

“And I’m flower girl,” Karolina shouts.

“And we’re all invited,” Jayla adds.

“Of course.” He gives a solemn nod. Then he looks to me. “So, will you? In front of our family and friends, will you vow to be mine for always?”

“Say yes, Uncle Teddy!”

“If you don’t say yes, I will.”

Henrik just waits, smiling only for me.

Feeling joyous and free, I nod. “Yes, Henrik. I’ll marry you again.”

Fingers trembling, he slips the thin gold band onto my right pinkie.

We both stare down at it, finally at home on my finger.

He brushes his thumb over the band. Leaning down, he kisses it.

His lips sear my skin like a brand. It’s a sacred act, a sealing of his intent.

In this moment I decide: This ring is never coming off my finger again.

Grabbing him by the shirt, I pull him up to standing. My arms go around his shoulders and then we’re kissing. The hallway erupts in cheers as our family loses it. I’m laughing and crying, kissing him again and again. “I love you,” I pant, our hands everywhere as I claim his mouth.

“I love you.”

“I’ll marry you. God, baby, I’d marry you every day of the week.”

He hums a laugh, holding me close. “Once more will be enough, I think.”

Nat peeks around me, tapping us each on the shoulder. Then she pulls a scowl that could rival my mother. “Word to the wise? If Mama doesn’t get to walk Teddy down the aisle this time, she’ll probably burn this whole arena down.”

Henrik nods. “Noted.”

Leaning up on her toes, she kisses his cheek. “Welcome to the family.”

“ W hy didn’t you tell me about all that stuff with the donations?” I say, my fingers woven with Henrik’s atop the gearshift.

We’re cruising home in the SUV. After our celebratory ice cream party, we dropped my sisters off at their hotel for the night.

Camila and Evie begged us to let Karolina stay too.

I’ve already denied them all so much time to bond as cousins.

One look at my face, and Henrik quickly agreed.

We’ve all made plans to have a big breakfast together tomorrow before I take them to the airport.

For tonight, I finally get Henrik to myself again.

“Poppy asked me not to,” Henrik replies. “Not until everything was settled. And I didn’t want to get your hopes up if it came to nothing.”

“Well, so how did it happen?”

He keeps his eyes on the road. “Apparently, Poppy has been looking for an exit from public relations for a while now. She’s been helping Mark Talbot build the scaffold of a new philanthropy foundation.”

“Ray of Hope?”

He nods. “They had plans to announce it in the summer. She came to me with this idea, and they had to scramble to move up their timeline. But Talbot seems pleased. And Poppy is thrilled. She’ll be announcing her departure from Rays PR just as soon as they hire her replacement.”

I lean my head back against the headrest. “Rays PR without Poppy St. James … it’s like the end of an era.”

He hums his agreement, taking a turn one-handed as he pulls us onto the street of our apartment building.

I turn my head to take in his profile, illuminated by the passing streetlights. “Announcing a major donation was an amazing idea. It’s such an important cause. And you stated the case so well.”

“You think so?”

“Totally. In the end, it’s all about preserving human dignity.

In their rush to print stories, the press seems to forget about the people behind them.

These are very human lives they hold in their hands, and they have the power to crush us into dust with a few pointed words.

Maria deserves more. Karolina definitely does. ”

Henrik just nods again.

“And Gunnar and Maria are really okay with it? Being in the press like this?”

He sighs, pulling us into the parking garage and coasting into our reserved spot.

“Dad and I are both protective of Mom. And we Swedes are notoriously private people. But you’re right—it’s a matter of human dignity.

That reporter knew my mother was unwell.

” He glares at the steering wheel, squeezing it tight.

“He knew, and he pressed her anyway. It’s unconscionable. ”