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SHINE ON

Tyler

With one hand wrapped around her gift, I reach for her palm and we walk back into the rink.

All the crowds have filtered out, the crocheted dogs have been thrown, and my kids have gone home with their mom.

My teammates and most of the crew have taken off for the night.

But before we can truly start over, we need some real talk.

Best to have it here—by the place where we both feel most at home. The ice. It’s also where this big love started for me. We walk through the tunnel, past the players’ bench, and into the second row, where we sit down.

“We need to talk,” I say as I set down the bag with the present.

“We do,” she says softly.

I tuck a strand of shiny blonde hair behind her ear. “Have I told you I love you?”

She smiles. “Only a few times.”

“Get ready for me to say it over and over again,” I say, but then I clear my throat.

“I should have said this sooner—that I love you. I should have said something the other night. Instead, I choked. I shut down because I thought you were shutting down. And I didn’t want to be another person who hurt you.

I was a dumbass and thought I was being noble.

News flash: I wasn’t noble. I was a chicken.

But I am so sorry I hurt you. I never want to hurt you. ”

She gives a soft, forgiving smile. “I know that. I think I knew it all along. I just tried to deny it because…” Her smile vanishes. “Everything hurt after my dad showed up.”

“Of course it did, baby,” I say, stroking her cheek.

“But I should have told you the details, Tyler. I should have told you what was going on. I should have insisted we talk that night. I was just so leveled out from the confrontation that I went into perfectionist mode, and that’s not fair to you.”

I squeeze her hand. “And I read everything wrong. I thought I was too much for you. With the kids and?—”

She squeezes my hand even harder. “You dumbass, I love your kids.”

My throat tightens. I roll my lips together, fighting off the swell of emotions. “You do?” Am I dreaming? Is she really saying that?

“Of course I do,” she says, her eyes swimming with tears.

“They’re wonderful little humans. Luna is so outgoing and enthusiastic, so bright and happy, so tough and strong.

She’s you and Elle. And Parker is serious and surprisingly funny.

He’s inquisitive and more loving than I’d ever imagined.

He’s like a cat. And Luna’s like a dog. And you know I love animals, and I just love them so much. I love all of you.”

I didn’t think a moment could be more perfect. But I was wrong. This is. And I fight like hell to stop the goddamn tears that are threatening to roll down my cheeks. But this woman? She loves my kids. I’m so far gone .

I kiss her so I don’t cry. When I find the will to end the kiss, I say, in a hoarse voice, “I’m not letting you go. I want you in my life. I want to build a life with you. Like I told you, I’m nothing but serious, and that’s exactly how I feel about you.”

“You sure about that?” she asks, playful but also protective. I get it—she’s been through a lot. She’d want to be certain.

This is the moment. Where I let her know just how all in I am.

“I don’t want you to just be my girlfriend.

You’re my partner—if you’ll have me. And, well, Luna and Parker too.

We’re a package deal, and we all want you in our lives.

For real.” Then I take a beat, my chest filling with hope but nerves too.

Because I know this is a lot. I’m a lot. “If you’re ready for that.”

“You’re really not a casual guy, are you, Falcon?”

I laugh, but not for long. “I’m not.”

She doesn’t make me wait a second more. “I’m yours. And, well, I’m theirs too.”

And I kiss her again, with a new sense of…

calm coursing through me. For so long, I’ve honed my focus on my kids, just my kids, figuring big love was for another time in my life.

Then Sabrina came along and upended everything I’d thought I could have.

Now, I know I can have my family and a love that knocks me to my knees.

I pick up the bag, hand it to her, and say, “Open it.”

With curious eyes and a quirk in her pretty lips, she dips a hand in the bag, then gasps. “Tyler, you didn’t.”

“I did.”

With uncommon glee, she takes out her gift—a sparkly tiara.

She hands it to me. “Put it on me.”

“With so much pleasure,” I say, then set the glittery little crown on her head, adjusting it just so. “Beautiful.”

She bobs a shoulder. “I do like shiny things. ”

“You’ll get many, many more,” I say, holding her gaze so she gets the full meaning.

“Keep them coming.” Then she nods to the exit. “Let’s go. Your partner is going to have to start working on a whole new list real soon. Like, say, tonight.”

I’m up and out of there so fast.

When I reach the corridor I remember something—I snagged a ride here with Miles. “I don’t have my car. Do you?”

“I got a ride with Leighton. But don’t worry—I’ve got this.”

Fifteen minutes later, Rhonda rolls up in her Prius, pokes her head out the window, and eyes me up and down. “Looks like you’re riding that hot daddy.”

“Yes, I am,” Sabrina says.

And whatever Sabrina wants, she gets.

We hop into her fairy godmother’s carriage and ride off into the night.