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EPILOGUE

ARIELLA

2 years later…

I burst through the arena doors, my heart pounding as I checked the time on my phone—7:54 PM. I was so freaking late, and the game was nearly over. Yesterday, my flight was delayed, and then I missed my connecting flight, and I couldn't get another plane until today, which also ended up being delayed.

I sprinted down the corridor, lungs burning.

"Excuse me! Sorry!"

A wall of bodies blocked my path, fans already leaving, thinking the night's excitement was over. I ducked under elbows and slipped between families, my shoulder bag catching on someone's jacket.

After graduation, Zaiden signed with the Atlanta Hurricanes and moved across the country to Georgia. I stayed behind with three years of school still ahead of me.

It hadn't been easy, but we'd made it work. During hockey season, I flew to him whenever possible. During the off-season, he lived with me back home.

The distance had one silver lining: I'd packed in extra classes to graduate early. And secretly, I hoped that after graduation, he'd ask me to move with him to Georgia.

But the best part of all of it was not only that I'd forgiven Zaiden but that he'd learned to forgive himself. He no longer blamed himself for what happened to Kacie or what almost happened to me.

He was finally free, and because of that, he was a completely different person. The one I'd fallen for before.

Six months ago, Anne was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the murder of Kacie and twenty-five years to life for the attempted murder of me. She still hadn't been charged for her part in the school shooting or Officer Tanner's deal, but we were all happy to know that we'd never have to see her again. She'd gotten what she deserved.

The sound of the buzzer echoed through the building as I finally emerged into the stands. I usually sat in a suite, but this time, Zaiden got me glass seats, which was so much better. I spotted Journey, Sterling, Hawk, and Mila all cheering along with the crowd. It was our first time all together in over a year.

Journey graduated with Zaiden and moved to New York to pursue a career on Broadway. Sterling was drafted into the NHL the same year, but an injury ended his career early. Now, he was a high school coach, and Mila was graduating with me.

The scoreboard showed less than a minute left in the third period. Zaiden's team was up by one goal. I scanned the ice, spotting him in his number 54 jersey as he skated into position for a face-off.

"I made it," I whispered, collapsing into my seat beside Journey. My lungs still burned from the sprint.

Journey's eyes widened as she spun toward me, her black hair whipping around her shoulders. "Oh my God!" She grabbed my arm, her silver bangles jingling. "You're actually here!"

Across the row, Mila caught my eye and elbowed Hawk, both of them breaking into relieved grins and offering enthusiastic waves.

"We didn't think you were going to make it," Sterling said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.

I pushed my hair from my face and exhaled shakily. "I didn't either." The sounds of skates scraping ice and sticks clacking brought me back to the moment. "How's he doing?" I asked, nodding toward the rink where Zaiden's number 54 darted between opponents.

"They're winning," Journey said. "And Zaiden only got put in the box once."

I laughed. "That's definitely a win."

Zaiden took control of the puck, gliding across the ice as he spun and dodged several players on the opposing team.

"At this point," Journey said, pointing to the scoreboard. "They just need to keep the puck from the other team."

He shot the puck to a teammate as they moved closer and closer to the goal.

The final buzzer sounded, and the entire arena went wild. The Hurricanes won. We all shot out of our seats, jumping up and down and cheering along with the crowd.

The arena lights dimmed. Not the gradual fade after a game, but a deliberate blackout that stopped fans mid-stride. Conversations cut short. A collective intake of breath.

"What's happening?" I whispered, scanning the darkened rink where the players should have been celebrating.

Journey didn't answer. Just gripped my arm harder, her eyes fixed on something above us.

"Ari," Journey shouted, and I followed her line of sight to the jumbotron as it flickered to life, its massive screen illuminating the arena. I froze in place as words began to appear:

ARIELLA LEDGER, WILL YOU MARRY ME? –ZAIDEN

The spotlight hit center ice where, somehow, all the players had cleared away except for Zaiden. He was down on one knee, his helmet removed, dark hair falling across his forehead. In his gloved hand was a small black velvet box.

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Someone nudged me. "Ari," Mila screamed over everyone. "That's you."

My throat closed completely. The lights blurred as tears welled up, turning the arena into a kaleidoscope of color and light. I managed only a trembling nod as an usher materialized at my elbow, his voice coming as if from underwater.

"Ms. Ledger? This way, please," he said with a smile, guiding me toward a gate at ice level.

My legs felt like jelly as I stepped onto the ice, careful not to slip. The spotlight found me, and I squinted as the cheering grew louder. Zaiden's face broke into a relieved smile when he saw me.

"I thought you might not make it." His voice cracked, barely audible above the roar.

What if I hadn't? What if my taxi had hit one more red light? What if I'd given up at the airport?

"I'm so sorry I was late," I managed through tears, the weight of those almost-missed seconds crushing my chest.

Zaiden shook his head, a private grin forming at the corners of his mouth. "Your timing," he whispered, just for me, "is perfect."

His gloved hands trembled slightly as he opened the velvet box. The diamond caught the spotlight, fracturing it into a thousand glittering promises. Around us, the massive arena seemed to disappear until it held only two people.

"I know we still have a lot to figure out, like where we are going to live, but I know without a doubt that I want to spend the rest of my life with you." The corners of his mouth lifted into the smile I loved so much. "Ariella Ledger." His voice broke on my name. He swallowed, steadied himself. "Will you marry me?"

Eighteen thousand people held their breath, but I could hear only my heartbeat.

My lips parted, but no sound emerged. I nodded once, twice, tears streaming freely down my face.

Find your voice, Ari.

"Yes," I finally managed, the word barely audible at first, then stronger as I repeated it. "Yes! Yes, I will!"

The crowd erupted again as Zaiden slipped the ring onto my finger and rose to his feet, pulling me into his arms. His teammates burst back onto the ice, showering them with confetti and cheers.

The Jumbotron now read:

SHE SAID YES!

As Zaiden lifted me off my feet and spun me around on the ice, my laughter mingled with tears. Being late had never felt so perfectly timed.

I looked back at our friends in the stands as my shoes hit the ice, their excited faces confirming what I already suspected—they were all in on it. Sterling nodded, his smile widening. Journey covered her mouth with both hands, her shoulders shaking with emotion. Even Hawk, usually so stoic, wore a wide grin.

My heart swelled, but over the roar of the crowd and the confetti falling like snow, a familiar ache surfaced. That empty seat that would never be filled.

Kacie.

My fingers instinctively found the small silver bracelet on my wrist, the one she'd given me on my seventeenth birthday. I rarely wore it because I was terrified of losing it.

"She would have loved this," Zaiden whispered against my ear, his voice thick with emotion. He'd known exactly what, who I was thinking about.

I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of the new ring on my finger and the weight of the bracelet on my wrist. "She knew before either of us did," I whispered back.

A memory surfaced—Kacie, at sixteen, sprawled across my bedroom floor, pointing her highlighter at me. "You're going to marry my brother someday, Ari." At the time, it had been so ridiculous because we weren't even dating. "I see the way he looks at you." I'd brushed her off.

The arena lights seemed to brighten for just a moment, or maybe it was my tears catching the glow. I looked up at the rafters, beyond the banners and beams, and smiled.

"You were right, Kacie," I whispered. "As always."

As Zaiden's teammates surrounded us in a jubilant circle, I felt complete—not because the missing piece had returned, but because I'd finally learned to carry her with me in a way that felt like celebration rather than loss.