Page 38 of The Love Comeback (Glaciers Hockey #3)
Chapter Thirty-One
Kade
“Come on,” I say to Colton. “We have to be fast.”
“How do we know she’s not gonna accidentally swallow it?” Colton’s voice fills with concern as I drop the ring into a glass. “She could have to go to the emergency room or something. How would they even get it out? Would they have to, like, cut her stomach open?”
I blink a few times, suddenly rethinking this whole plan.
“Do you really think she wouldn’t notice?
” I stare at the engagement ring glimmering in the champagne we plan to ring in her birthday with.
It’s a tradition we started together back in high school, where we would stay up the night before our birthdays so we could celebrate it just as the clock struck midnight.
And now—after doing a lot of convincing—Colton gets to experience it with us, too.
“I dunno.” Colton shrugs, his eyes rimmed with fatigue and excitement. “Maybe she’ll just be super thirsty.”
I frown. “I don’t think she’ll down champagne.”
“It’s like soda,” Colton points out. “Just for grown-ups. That’s what she’s always said.”
“Hmm.” I chuckle. “Okay, I’ll figure something else out.” I grab the ring from the glass and rinse off the sticky champagne, trying to come up with a plan B.
“What if she says no?” Colton asks, tilting his head with a wicked little grin on his face. He’s definitely working on all my insecurities at the moment. It’s only been six months since Ella and I started officially dating again.
And I bought the ring the second week.
“She’s not gonna tell me no. Just remember the plan.” I hand Colton the glass of champagne for Ella, along a glass of sparkling apple cider for himself, and he nods.
“I do the cheers and hand her the glass to distract her, and then you’re going to get down on one knee and try not to fall over from nerves. ”
I laugh. “Exactly. Except now there’s no ring in her glass, so I’ll just hold it out to her.”
“What’s taking you guys so long?” Ella calls out from my living room. “It’s 11:58!”
“I know, I know,” I call out, hoping the nerves don’t show in my voice. “We’ll be there in just a second.”
I take a deep breath, reaching out and squeezing his shoulder. “We’re about to blow her away.”
At least, I hope so. In a good way.
I try to steady my hammering heart as I guide Colton through the double doors into the living room.
There, on the couch, sits my beautiful girlfriend, wrapped up in a red fleece throw blanket on the dark leather couch. She’s got a smile on her face, and the light from the timer on the television screen dancing across her face nearly gives her an angelic glow.
I’m head over heels for you, Ella. I want to scream it at the top of my lungs, but I keep my cool, standing a few feet to the side as Colton walks up to her with the glass of champagne in one hand and his sparkling apple cider in the other.
“Oh, Kade let you carry my glass, I see.” She laughs lightly, then eyes me. She pats the seat beside herself, and I nod to Colton, just as the countdown I set up for us on YouTube starts.
“Take it!” Colton blurts out, his eyes widening. “Hurry!”
Ella bursts into giggles before taking the champagne. “Okay, okay. ”
“Countdown with me!” Colton says. “Ten… Nine… Eight… Seven…” As they continue, I drop to one knee, prepared for the moment.
“Five… Four… Three… Two…” Ella counts with Colton.
“One!” Colton shouts.
“Happy Birthday!” we all call out together. Well, I mostly call it out. Honestly, I can barely find my voice. My nerves are choking me, and I feel like all the muscles in my neck are tense as Ella tips back her glass and takes a sip.
She then turns to me, “Kade…” Her voice trails off as she realizes I’m now down on one knee, holding out the square-cut diamond engagement ring in my fingertips. “What are you…”
“He’s about to propose, duh ,” Colton counters, rolling his eyes.
She looks over at him and giggles. “Did you know about this?”
“Of course I did!” Colton puffs his chest out with pride, and I can’t help but chuckle at the way he’s beaming. But still…
I clear my throat. “I need to say my piece.”
“Right, sorry.” Ella’s gaze focuses back on mine. “I’m just so overwhelmed.”
“I know.” I shoot her a wink. “And I had this big, dramatic plan to put the ring in your champagne … but your son reminded me that was more likely to land you in the ER than make you say yes.”
She laughs and I smile at the sound .
I take a deep breath, suddenly unsure of what I’m supposed to say to her.
All those hours I spent preparing for this in the shower clearly are not coming back like I thought they would—so I just dig deep, right to the source of all my love.
“Ella, my heart has been yours since we met all those years ago, and while life led us away from each other for some time, and while I’d do anything to go back and change that, I don’t see it as a hindrance.
It’s a reminder that our love is long-lasting. It can withstand anything.”
Ella sniffles. “You’re right.”
“Now, we’re building this amazing life together, and I would never trade that for anything.
I’d give it all up for you, time and time again.
I would go to the ends of the earth for your love.
You’re the greatest gift I have, and you come with a plus one that I love just as much.
” I look past her to Colton, whose eyes are rimmed with moisture.
“I want nothing more than to join your little family. I want the three of us to build an amazing, steady life. Together. This isn’t just about me and you—but Colton, too. ”
“So…” I breathe in deeply. “Ella Louise Smart, will you make me the luckiest man in the world and marry me?”
“Yes,” she whispers. “I love you so much, Kade.”
I gently slide the diamond ring onto her ring finger. “I love you, too. And…” I reach into my pocket, pulling out a silver chain necklace with a hockey stick on it. “Colton, will you accept me as a permanent, forever part of your family? ”
His eyes grow wide. “Wait… Is that… Is that for me?” His eyes drop to the necklace I’m holding. His name is engraved on the stick.
Ella chokes on a sob as she takes a closer look at it. “Kade…”
“His answer is just as important as yours,” I say softly, looking up at Colton, who takes a step forward. “Your opinion matters to me, Colton. I love you like my own, and I always will.”
He nods, reaching out and taking the necklace from my hand. “This is so cool.”
“Yeah? I wasn’t sure if you’d want to wear it, and you don’t have to. We can hang it up on your nightstand or something.”
“No, I wanna wear it.” Colton sniffles as I stand to my feet. He rushes to me, wrapping his arms around my waist. I hug him back, and Ella and I exchange a look as tears stream down her face.
“I love you,” she murmurs.
“I love you, too,” I say back and then repeat it to Colton. I kiss the top of his head as he clings to me. Ella stands to her feet, tossing the blanket to the couch. She wraps her arms around the two of us. Warmth spreads from her touch, and I lean over, catching her lips with mine.
I kiss her tenderly as I cling to both of them.
They have no idea how much I love them both and how honored I am to get to call them my family.
I wish I could’ve been there from the beginning—and I wish that Ella wouldn’t have had to endure all the hurt she did along the way—but at the same time, I can’t change the past.
All I can do is ensure that she gets the future and the love that she deserves.
“This is so amazing,” Colton says, leaning back as Ella pulls away. “This is the best night ever! I finally have a dad.”
“You’ve always had a dad,” I reassure him. “And I know Brett would be so proud of you, buddy.” I give him another tight squeeze. “And I’ll try to make him proud, too.”
“What do you mean?” Colton tilts his head in confusion, and Ella runs her hand across it.
“He just means that we’re going to try our very hardest to be the best parents to you that we can be. To make Brett and Katie proud.”
Colton grows silent. He appears to be in deep thought, and then suddenly gives us both a sly look as he addresses Ella. “Does this mean that you’ll finally give me a sibling?”
She looks at me and lets out a nervous giggle. “Maybe let’s get the wedding out of the way first.”
Colton lets out a heavy sigh. “ Fine .”
My heart skips a beat at the love in Ella’s eyes. “Deal. Wedding. Then a baby.”
“Who wants cake?!” Colton squeals.
And just like that, our happily-ever-after begins—with cake, of course.