Page 9

9

MATTHIEU

Matthieu’s pulse pounded in his ears as he stared out the small oval window, watching the dark, endless sky shift and swirl outside. Keep calm… keep it together. But it was easier said than done. His stomach lurched as the plane jolted, the turbulence rattling through the cabin like an unwelcome omen.

There was a lot of turbulence.

He gripped the armrests tightly, his knuckles going white. Was it just him, or was the air thinner in here? He forced a slow breath through his nose, but it did nothing to ease the knot of anxiety tightening in his chest. It wasn’t the flight itself—he’d been on countless planes and traveled across the country for games without batting an eye. No, this wasn’t about flying. This was about her .

Jeannie sat beside him, her presence so close yet somehow overwhelming. His bride-to-be… secretly. No one but Salas and Lafreniére knew he wasn’t married to Jeannie, though some might have guessed.

His whole future was wrapped up in the woman sitting inches away, blissfully unaware of the chaotic storm raging inside his head. This was supposed to be the most important trip of his life, the final step before everything changed forever. He had planned every single detail meticulously?—

I got the room.

I got the tickets.

The license, the photographer, the cake…

The rings!

His heart nearly stopped.

He slapped a hand to his chest, feeling the reassuring weight of the small velvet box tucked inside his jacket. A sharp breath of relief escaped him, but when he lifted his eyes, he found Salas watching him with an amused smirk.

The guy didn’t even have to say anything. His dark eyes were enough— Chill out, man.

Matthieu wanted to.

He really did. But another pocket of turbulence hit, and his stomach twisted violently. Oh gosh, I’m gonna be sick. He swallowed hard, clenching his jaw as he tried to keep his expression neutral. Across the aisle, next to Salas, his wife Jamie slept peacefully, little Zach curled up on her like a baby koala, oblivious to the bouncing plane.

How was everyone so darn calm?

Another jolt.

His grip tightened.

His lungs forgot how to work.

"Dude." Salas’ voice cut through his downward spiral. “Knock it off. You’re freaking me out, and my family is on board, too. I’m telling you now if you make my son cry—you’ll need wires to hold your jaw shut.”

Matthieu barely registered the words before he heard Jeannie inhale sharply beside him as if startled by the blunt warning. He turned, catching the flicker of surprise in her eyes, and his breath hitched. She was watching him now—really watching him. Did she see the nervous wreck he was beneath the calm facade?

Salas, completely unbothered, grinned. “And I mean that with all the love—one straight dude to another.”

The tension shattered as Jett’s voice piped up from the back of the plane. “I love the fact that our very own Brawny man had to clarify that he’s straight – especially with his wife and kid beside him.”

Laughter rippled through the team as Salas, unamused and unwilling to waste energy on words, merely lifted a middle finger without even turning his head.

"Love you too, bro," Jett called out with a chuckle. "In a straight way, of course."

“Y’all are ridiculous,” Ashley, the hockey team captain’s wife, muttered, standing up to head toward the restroom.

The moment she disappeared, Jett leaned forward, conspiratorial mischief lighting up his face. “Dude, Savage, if you cannot see the writing on the wall… go get her, bro!”

Savage blinked in confusion, and Matthieu almost laughed. They might be hockey players, but they were men at their core— except goody-two-shoes-Savage. The man was like a boy scout, always following the rules, behaving, doing whatever the coach said, and the golden boy of their group. For a man named Savage, you’d think he would have some rough exterior, some tattoos, piercings, or something – and the confusion on his face cemented his opinion of the man.

“What are you talking about?” Savage asked curiously.

“Mile high club? Hellooo? Your hot wife just went to the bathroom on a private plane, wearing a skirt.”

“It’s not private—you’re here,” Savage deadpanned, frowning.

“Oh my gosh, are you dense ? If Karen was here and she took off for the bathroom, you’d hear me moaning from the cockpit.”

“Thank God for small miracles,” Salas added cheerfully, flipping Jett off again.

“You really think so?” Savage asked, a thread of raw hope in his voice that made a few heads turn in shock.

Matthieu’s nerves briefly faded as he looked at the guy. Something was wrong between Golden Boy and his wife?

“Are things not okay at home, bro?” Salas asked, this time quieter, careful.

Savage hesitated, rubbing a hand over his face. “It’s… complicated.”

Jett was having none of it. He jerked his thumb toward the bathroom like it was the gateway to salvation. “Well, now’s your chance to go work it out. Seriously, dude. You are missing out on the chance of a lifetime – and she’s hot.”

Savage swallowed, his fingers tugging at his collar like it was suffocating him. “But… she’s not like that. She’s a lady and?—”

“All women want to know they are wanted, loved, or desired. You should absolutely go,” Jeannie volunteered suddenly.

Matthieu froze.

The guys whistled low, the atmosphere instantly shifting.

He turned to look at her, his brain short-circuiting at what she’d just implied. His Jeannie. Prim, soft-spoken, glasses perched on her delicate nose, the absolute picture of sweetness and innocence. And yet… she had just casually thrown that out there?

Matthieu swallowed. Oh, helloooo…

His mind raced with the possibilities, with what that meant—what she meant. His blood ran hot, his heart hammering as he tried to process the revelation. Did she want to join the Mile High club? Did she want him like that? If Jeannie was willing to say something like that out loud, in front of everyone, then maybe ?—

A hand clapped his shoulder, dragging him back to reality.

“Congrats, brother,” Salas said, offering him a knowing thumbs-up.

Matthieu let out a slow breath, a smirk creeping onto his lips. “Don’t I know it,” he murmured.

Because turbulence, nerves, and wedding logistics aside—at the end of this trip, no matter what happened, he’d be married to her — the woman he loved more than life itself. This incredible, amazing, surprising woman who seemed to reveal a new facet to her every time he turned around.

He glanced at his watch and frowned.

If Savage bailed on his wife – he was suddenly going to ‘need the bathroom’ and would show his bride-to-be just how freakin’ much he loved her… because it was true.

He loved Jeannie.

And that made every bump, every jolt, every ounce of anxiety completely worth it.

A s the plane descended, the cabin buzzed with an unspoken tension, thick and palpable. Matthieu could feel it pressing down on him like a weighted blanket, making every breath feel slightly heavier. The air was laced with restrained laughter, knowing glances exchanged in the dim lighting. He didn’t have to look over his shoulder to know exactly what was happening at the back of the plane—Jett’s sudden bark of laughter confirmed it.

“Mad props to our captain, y’all…” Jett’s voice rang out, loud and amused, filling the space between them as he fist-bumped Boucher, Coeur, and Lafreniere. Heck, anyone within reach. It was both a tease and a toast, and Matthieu felt his pulse quicken at the blatant acknowledgment of what everyone had suspected.

“I didn’t think the boy scout had it in him. I’m impressed.”

Matthieu’s ears burned. He felt Jeannie shift beside him, and when she muttered, “Hopefully, she is too,” under her breath, he lost it. Laughter bubbled out of him, sudden and uncontrollable, making him choke as she playfully shushed him.

The landing gear hit the tarmac with a jolt, and the moment splintered. The time for playful teasing was over. The weight of what came next pressed down on him. He saw Salas stir, carefully scooping up his still-sleeping son while Jamie stretched and yawned beside him. The others were already moving, murmuring in low voices, gathering their things as the plane taxied to a stop.

Matthieu swallowed hard and forced himself to his feet, offering a steadying hand to Jeannie. When she slid her fingers into his, warmth spread through his chest, settling deep and sure. But then she tilted her head up, her lashes sweeping over those incredible, deep eyes, and it darn near wrecked him.

He nearly beat his chest like a caveman just to keep himself from blurting out how much he adored her in front of the entire team.

Instead, he cleared his throat, trying for composure. “We’ll be splitting up out here,” he said, an apology woven into his tone. “It’s gonna be fine, though, because the limo driver is going to take you straight to the hotel. I’ve got to head to the arena to practice for tonight, but I’ll see you soon.”

The words felt rushed, inadequate somehow. He wanted to say more—needed to—but time was slipping away too fast.

As they stepped off the plane, three sleek limousines rolled up in smooth precision, followed by the unmistakable presence of a team tour bus. The sight should’ve been familiar, routine even, but this time was different. This time, his world was waiting for him.

“Come on,” he urged, steering Jeannie toward the cars.

The second limo’s back door swung open, and before he could react, a whirlwind of energy launched itself toward him.

“Hey, twerp!” he laughed as Katie barreled into him, her arms locking around his torso like a vice. She didn’t care about the plane, the people, the cameras—nothing mattered except the moment.

And then, just beyond her, he saw his mother’s face glowing with warmth and pride. His chest tightened painfully.

“Katie, this is Jeannie,” he began, but before Jeannie could fully process the introduction, his sister was already wrapping her up in a full embrace.

Jeannie let out a small gasp, her body stiffening for a split second before melting into the unexpected hug. Matthieu watched as her glassy eyes flicked to him, searching, questioning.

Katie pulled back just enough to beam at her. “I’m so excited to meet you!” she screeched happily, her enthusiasm uncontainable.

His mother stepped forward then, softer but no less welcoming. Matthieu’s throat worked as he turned to her, the gravity of the moment settling over him like a thick fog.

“Hey, Mama,” he said gently, his voice rougher than he intended.

Then, gathering himself, he reached for Jeannie’s hand again, lacing their fingers together like an anchor. “Let me present my wife, Jeannie, to you—if Katie can let up on the stranglehold…”

The laughter of his teammates rang out as they passed by, throwing teasing pats on his back, but Matthieu barely registered them. They were teasing him, Savage, and thankfully leaving his wife out of the comments as she ducked into a nearby limo.

Time was moving too fast, slipping through his fingers like sand. His father wasn’t here—stuck at the hospital, trapped in an emergency surgery—but his mother and sister were, and that meant everything.

Jeannie’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears as his mother pulled them both into a gentle hug. And darn it, his own vision blurred for a second, too.

“Family is everything,” he whispered, his thumb brushing over Jeannie’s cheek, savoring the soft warmth of her skin. “And I’m so happy you are mine.”

She exhaled a shaky breath, nodding, her grip on his hand tightening.

“Go with Mom and Katie,” he urged, his voice thick with emotion. “And I’ll see you soon.”

Jeannie hesitated, her eyes locking onto his with an intensity that made his heart clench. Then, slowly, she lifted onto her toes and pressed the softest kiss against his lips.

He rubbed his lips together as she pulled away, trying to hold onto the taste, the feeling, the moment—anything to make it last a little longer.

“See you soon,” she whispered.

Matthieu stepped back, forcing himself to let go even as his body protested. The guys were calling for him now, their voices cutting through the haze of emotion, grounding him back to the present. He nodded once, squared his shoulders, and turned toward them.

But as he walked away, his heart stayed behind—with her.

He couldn’t wait to marry that woman.