Page 42 of Tempting the Goalie (Riverside U #5)

Luc

The following summer

It’s crazy how winter in Val-Du-Lys can be so cold and summer can be so scorching hot. It’s our wedding day and all our friends and family are staying on the Thorne property.

The guys are all helping to set up the large tents for the event, while a truck delivery arrives with more items and food.

Everyone is helping Izzy’s brothers, Elyna, the team from Riverside, and my new team members from Philadelphia.

In the end Izzy was accepted to a combined program in Clinical Psych at the University of Philadelphia, and I signed on with the team in Philly.

She was happy with the program there, and I was getting an excellent contract for a rookie goalie.

It was a much better offer than Montreal with almost a million dollars per year for two years, with a signing bonus and performance bonuses that could push my salary to 3.

5 million dollars per year. It was an offer we couldn’t refuse.

It would give us enough money to start our life off and allow me to finally help Elyna.

My papa lost his property when he went into tax payment arrears.

The bank had taken it over and put it for sale.

Izzy and I were the highest bidders and won the property.

Even though it wouldn’t be our main home, we thought it would be nice to build a nice cottage to come home to a few times a year, even if we’d be living in Philly.

“You need to go shower and get ready,” Elyna says to me as she chases Braden around.

I look at my watch. “You’re right. How is my bride doing?” I ask since Izzy refused to see me for the last twenty-four hours. I spent the night at the loft in Phoenix’s house and Izzy stayed in the main house in her room, where she has Priya, Yuna, Ruby, Briar, and Annie getting her ready.

“She’s gorgeous and she can’t wait to marry you,” Elyna says. “Now, head over to the loft and take your friends and get ready.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I say. I laugh and take off. I see my friends along the way and get their attention. Usually, the Thorne property is open to the public, but today it’s closed for a private event. Because the days have been so warm we opted for a late evening wedding.

I head back to the loft with Aaron, Finn, Cade, Macklin, and Hayden. Aaron is my best man and the others are my groomsmen. We take turns showering and getting ready.

“So, who’s your date?” Macklin asks Hayden, my old teammates who grew up together and are best friends.

“Her mom owns the New Jersey team,” he says.

All our eyes bug out of our heads. “Are you looking to commit professional suicide?” Macklin asks him.

“As if you’re one to talk.” Hayden chuckles. Mack was dating Hayden’s sister, Ruby, behind Hayden’s back, but that’s a story for another day.

“Guys, leave him alone. Bro seems happy,” Aaron says.

I agree.

“Let’s focus on me, and the fact I’m walking down the aisle on my own,” I say to my friends. I laugh. “I see that got your attention. I’m just kidding. I’m not walking alone. Elyna and Braden are walking me down the aisle.”

“Good, bro, because I was just about to offer to walk you,” Aaron says, clapping me on the back.

We didn’t invite Papa to the wedding. After he lost the house, he moved to Montreal and we lost track of his whereabouts. It’s sad but it seemed like he didn’t want to be found or helped.

“Thanks, bro, I’m just a little bit nervous. What if I don’t remember my vows? I wrote them myself. Or what if I make a fool of myself in front of all our family and friends?”

“Everything is going to go by without a hitch,” Macklin assures.

“I agree,” Aaron says. “I got nervous my wedding day. I wanted everything to be perfect, but there’s no such thing as perfect. There’s just this thing called life. We have to do our best to live it right.”

I clap him on the back. I know in the past few weeks his mother’s health has been deteriorating and it has taken a big toll on him.

The guys gather around, and we give each other a group hug.

“I love all of you,” I say to them.

“I love you too, bro,” Macklin says.

Aaron follows by telling everyone he loves them. Then Hayden and Cade. Finn and Charlie are the only ones who couldn’t make it.

We continue to get ready. We are all wearing ivory tuxes with black bowties. Once we are ready, we head toward the venue. We have a wedding planner, and she lines everyone up in pairs for walking down the aisle.

Elyna, Braden, and I walk first as someone plays a soft song on a violin.

Elyna is so happy for me she is beaming, and Braden is wearing a matching tux, which makes the little man look adorable.

Since Elyna is scared of him running off mid-ceremony she is holding him on her hip.

We reach the pastor waiting at the altar.

Elyna and Braden stand off to the side as the rest of the wedding party makes their way down the aisle, starting with Izzy’s brothers.

They each walk down the aisle on their own, followed by my friends, who walk down the aisle with their partners.

When Izzy appears at the end of the aisle on her father’s arm, my heart stutters.

She looks breathtaking. Her long brown hair is done in soft curls, some hair is pulled off her face with soft white flowers spread through.

Her white veil is made up of a tiara, which sits on her head, making her look every bit the princess she is.

Her dress is long and fitted, made of white lace.

She is breathtaking and as our eyes lock, I am overcome with emotion.

This woman is my everything. I don’t even know where I would be without her in my life.

Her smile is wide and sure and that does something to my insides because if a woman like her trusts in me, trusts in us, then I’m deserving of her and her love.

The closer she gets I feel my heart galloping in my chest. I can’t wait to make her mine.

Her father passes her on to me, shakes my hand, and taps my shoulder, giving me a nod and wink.

His approval means everything. His faith in me brought me to this day.

His kind words, his help for a child who didn’t have any responsible parents around formed me.

I’m here offering his daughter all the love I have because he guided me to this moment.

As the pastor begins the ceremony, Izzy and I stare into each other’s eyes and nothing but love and admiration shines through. When the pastor is done, he asks Izzy to recite the vows she has prepared.

“Luc, you were my childhood crush.” She giggles.

“But more than that, you were the boy who always held my heart and kept it safe. You knew what I needed and when I needed it. You were there through the difficult moments in my life, always providing comforting words and a shoulder to cry on. As we enter this marriage, I want you to know how much I love and cherish you. I want to always be there for you. I want you to know you carry my heart and my soul always.”

“Thanks, Isabelle,” the pastor says.

I have to swallow, feeling choked up by her words. I just hope I won’t screw this up.

“Luc, you may go ahead with your vows,” the pastor says.

“Isabelle, from the moment I saw you I thought you were the prettiest girl I’d ever seen, but it was the soft kindness in your heart, the way you always think of others that drew me into your sphere.

I made you my best friend. My confidant.

You helped me through the death of my mother.

You kept me sane through the hard times.

You gave me guidance and support, never with an ounce of judgment, only love.

It’s because of your love and friendship that I am the man I am today.

I promise to love you with my whole heart and soul forever. ”

I exhale thinking I did a bang-up job. Izzy has tears streaming down her face and I lean in to kiss her when I hear laughter. I open my eyes to see I may have jumped the gun.

“Luc, we aren’t there yet,” the pastor says quietly.

Oops.

“Sorry,” I chuckle.

The pastor goes on to say his last words and then he says, “Now you may kiss the bride.”

Izzy and I lunge at each other like it’s no one’s business.

I kiss her with every fiber of my being, and she matches me with the same intention.

Out tongues lash out and some of our guests begin to whistle.

That’s when we pull apart. Izzy’s smile matches mine and when I look at my wife, I finally understand what the promise of forever truly means.

Thank you for joining me on the journey through Riverside U . Saying goodbye isn’t easy, but I hope you loved meeting the Thorne family because their story is just beginning.

Next, we’re heading to Maple Valley, where each of the Thorne brothers will get their own book. First up is Phoenix Thorne in Wildflower and Whiskey : an enemies to lovers single mom romance, and a love that burns hotter than the past they can’t escape.

Turn the page, because Maple Valley is waiting…

Full story coming November 2025

(This excerpt is unedited and subject to change)