Page 31

EVIE

The energy in the Summit is absolutely electric. Even though the season is technically over, the Appies just won the Calder Cup for the second year running, and tonight, they’re having a celebration in their home arena. It’s a tribute to their fans and, much to my delight, to their former captain. They’re retiring Alec’s jersey number as part of tonight’s proceedings, honoring him in a way that has already moved my tender-hearted boyfriend to tears more than once.

And it hasn’t even happened yet.

Alec has been at the Summit all day, doing who knows what with the rest of the team, so I’m only with Megan when I arrive at the arena. After a long debate with Alec, I decided to leave my very squirmy thirteen-month-old with Ruth for the night. I would love to have her here with me, but she just started walking and is basically trouble on legs. Two adorably squishy legs. But still. I’d rather not miss half the event because I’m chasing her up and down the arena stairs.

Unfortunately, after his dad’s stroke, Alec’s parents weren’t able to make the trip to be here with us. But Parker promised me the entire thing would be live-streamed on the Appies’ social media platforms, and my little brother Brady agreed to drive over to their retirement villa in White Plains to make sure the tech part of participating didn’t overwhelm them.

He already checked in and gave me a thumbs up that all is set and ready to stream.

My family will also be watching, which makes my heart happy, even if I do wish they could be here in person. They’d initially planned to make the trip, but since Alec and I were just in New York for Brady’s high school graduation, they decided to save their travel points and come back this summer when they can stay for a couple of weeks and really enjoy the mountains.

Parker meets the three of us at the VIP entrance to tonight’s event with a huge smile on her face. “Hi. Are you excited? I’m so excited!” She squeezes my hands. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

I’m not even a little surprised to see Parker so out of her mind with excitement. This is exactly the kind of thing her social-media savvy brain loves. She talks the entire time she’s walking with us to the seating she has reserved just for us, hinting at the many things the evening will include. Some sort of special shoot-out. A Texas-themed performance from Carter and Theo I can’t wait to see. And lots of audience-participation things I’m sure the fans are going to love.

“So the jersey retirement ceremony is happening at the end of the night,” Parker says when we finally reach our seats. “And that’s when you two need to be down on the ice with Alec. When you see the Summit staff rolling out the walkway to cover the ice, that’s your cue to move. Got it?”

We nod in unison, and Parker smiles. “Good,” she says. But then she gets this weird look on her face, like she’s fighting back emotion before she adds, “I’m so excited for you guys, Evie. It’s going to be so great.”

Nerves coil in my belly as Parker turns and leaves. What is going to be so great? The jersey retirement? Or…does Parker know something I don’t?

Megan must be asking herself the same question because as soon as Parker is out of earshot, she turns and grips my arm. “Evie, do you think Alec is going to propose tonight?”

I bite my lip as my eyes dart around the arena. He might propose. Our relationship has definitely progressed to the point where it wouldn’t surprise me. We talk about Juno like she’s ours, I refer to him as her dad whenever we’re out and about and we meet new people. And Alec is constantly trying to get her to say Dada. At this point, an actual proposal will feel more like a formality. We both know this is the future we want. The family we want.

Still. My romantic heart has been excited about the actual event. Anticipating when and how Alec might ask.

A tiny thread of disappointment unfurls in my chest. I’m not sure the Summit and a sea of hockey fans is the location I would have picked.

“Hey,” Megan says when I don’t answer. “Are you disappointed? What’s with the face?” She frowns. “Oh gosh. Please tell me you’ll say yes if he asks.”

“What? Of course I’ll say yes. Are you crazy? I just…never thought he’d go for a big public proposal.” As much as Alec shines in the spotlight, as good as he is at talking to people, our relationship has always been something we’ve kept private. Partly because of Juno. Alec has a big online following, and we decided to be very intentional about how much of our personal lives we share in his feed. But also because this thing we’ve built together has just felt so special, I think we’ve both had the impulse to hold it close. Cherish the magic of it without really needing it to be a big thing we celebrate with everyone.

At least, I thought that’s how we both felt.

Megan loops her arm through mine. “Come on. Don’t stress. Just trust him. He loves you, and he knows you. I’m sure whatever happens tonight, it’s going to be amazing.”

And it is amazing. Entertaining and hilarious and a true celebration of the magic that is the Appies. The team really is special, largely because of the relationship they have with their fans, and everything about tonight is geared to celebrate that support. Like one giant hockey-themed thank-you card. Alec is dressed out with his team, and it feels good to see him in uniform one last time. He looks so happy, his smile wide as he interacts with teammates and fans.

Finally, it’s time for the jersey retirement ceremony. When members of the Summit staff start rolling out the walkway Parker mentioned, Megan and I jump up from our seats. Parker is waiting for us as soon as we step into the concourse, and she hurries us down to the tunnel, where we find Alec already waiting. He’s changed out of his Appies uniform and is wearing my favorite of his gameday suits—navy blue with a pale pink pinstripe—and he looks good enough to make me cry. There’s a band around his arm, marked with a Captain’s C and his jersey number, forty-four.

I step up beside him and slip my hand into his, reminding myself that this moment is about him, and if he does propose at some point in the next half hour, I will be happy about it, and I will say yes.

“Hi,” I say as I squeeze his fingers. “Fancy seeing you here.”

He looks down at me and smiles. “Hi,” he says, but then his eyes narrow as he studies me. “What’s wrong? Why do you look nervous?”

I scoff. “What? I’m not nervous. I’m totally fine.”

He looks over at Megan, who is standing on his other side. “Why is she nervous?”

Megan grimaces in my direction, then, like the total traitor she is, says, “Because Parker made it seem like there was something big happening tonight, besides all this jersey stuff, and Evie is worried you’re going to propose in front of all these people.”

If I could shoot actual daggers out of my eyes at Megan, I would, but when I look up at Alec, he only looks amused.

“It would be totally fine if you did propose,” I say, suddenly feeling very sheepish. “If that’s the plan.”

He lifts his hands to my shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze. “Have you no faith in me?”

I breathe out a sigh of relief. “So that isn’t the plan?”

“I mean, not in the next half hour. What I’m planning in the future is an entirely different story, but don’t think I’m giving you any spoilers.”

I bite my lip, suddenly feeling so overwhelmingly proud to be standing next to him. I lean up and kiss him softly. “I really love you. And I’m so, so proud of you.”

Seconds later, the event announcer calls Alec’s name, and the three of us walk onto the ice to an eruption of cheers and applause. Alec waves to the crowd, then we stand in a small line in the center of the arena, and the entire Appies team moves into a line behind us. They tap their sticks on the ground as the cheers around the arena grow louder and louder. I’m suddenly extra glad I didn’t bring Juno with me tonight, and not just because the noise would overwhelm her. Mostly, I’m just glad that right now, I get to watch Alec’s face as he takes in the crowd. As he hears them cheer.

Finally, the lights in the arena dim, and a video compilation of all of Alec’s best moments on the ice plays on the jumbotron. By the time it finishes, all three of us are crying, some more stoically than others.

The tears continue as Coach Davis and several of Alec’s teammates pass around a microphone to pay tribute. Some comments are funny, some are a little more serious, but all demonstrate just how much Alec means to the Appies organization.

When Theo takes the microphone, I’m not sure exactly what to expect. But then he runs a hand through his hair and looks right at Alec. “When I first came to the Appies,” he says, “I was already a pretty good defender. But that’s about all I had going for me. In every other way, I was lost. Until my captain found me. Thanks, man.”

It’s the simplest tribute, but if the tears in Alec’s eyes are any indication, it’s the one that impacts him the most. At the end of the ceremony, we all watch as Alec’s jersey is lifted into the rafters of the Summit, guaranteeing that no other Appie will ever wear the number forty-four.

After lots of hugs and handshakes and interviews and photo ops, Alec makes Megan drive my car back to his house so he can drive me home, just the two of us.

“You realize you’re stranding yourself at my house, right?” I ask.

He only grins. “I did think of that.”

I narrow my eyes, noticing the gleam in his expression. Something is happening here. Something more than just Alec driving me home.

“What’s happening?” I ask, and Alec grins as he slows his truck to a stop.

“Close your eyes for me?” he asks.

“Why are we stopped a block away from my house?”

“Evie,” Alec says, a smile in his voice. “Just close them. I promise it’ll be worth it.”

I breathe out an exaggerated sigh. “Fine, fine. They’re closed!”

“You aren’t peeking?”

“If you didn’t want me to peek, you should have gotten a blindfold.”

“Excuse me for being slightly preoccupied by everything else that was happening tonight,” he says dryly. “Please? No peeking.”

I turn my head to face him, eyes squeezed shut. “No peeking. I promise.”

“Okay. Give me just a second,” he says.

The truck starts moving again, and we drive for a few seconds before he makes a turn and parks in what I’m guessing is my driveway, but with my eyes closed, I can’t actually be sure.

“Don’t move,” he says before jumping out. Seconds later, my door opens, and his hand slips around my waist. “Okay. Just hang onto me.”

I do just that as he leads me over grass, the sidewalk, then finally up a set of steps. “Is this my house?” I ask.

“No questions,” Alec says.

A light spring breeze brushes across my face, and the wind chimes hanging by my door play their familiar song. “It is my house!” I say.

“Just a few more steps,” he says as I awkwardly shuffle behind him. “Okay, now sit.”

I do as he asks, and then…I’m swinging.

My eyes pop open.

I’m on a porch swing…on my own front porch.

Alec sits down beside me. “Remember when you first moved in?” he asks. “You mentioned the house had a porch swing in all the pictures. You were sad it didn’t have one.”

“You remembered that?” I say. “I barely remember that.”

“I decided right then I’d get you one.” He gives me a sheepish grin. “I just had to wait until it wouldn’t scare you off.”

“You wouldn’t have scared me off with a porch swing,” I say. “Never.”

“I don’t know. Felt like a pretty big gesture for a first date.”

I roll my eyes. “I was so far gone for you by date one, I promise it wouldn’t have mattered.”

He picks up my hand and tugs me closer, wrapping an arm around my shoulder as we gently swing forward, then back.

“What about an engagement ring?” he says gently. “Would I scare you off with that?”

I sit up, flailing with the motion of the swing and practically dumping myself out. As soon as I’m steady, thanks to Alec putting down his feet and holding us stationary, I fix him with my most intimidating look. “Alec Sheridan, so help me, if you are only proposing right now because of what happened at the Summit, I will…” My words trail off because I have no idea what I will do. “I don’t know,” I finally finish. “But it won’t be good.”

He grins. “I swear on my retired jersey number that I was always planning on proposing tonight.”

I bite my lip. “Really?”

He nods. “I’ve had the ring in my suit pocket all night long.”

“And you were never planning on asking me during the ceremony?”

“Absolutely not,” he says. “Though I do know what Parker was thinking of if she made you think something big was happening.”

“Really?”

He nods. “It’s a job. The Appies want to hire me as a player development coordinator.”

My eyes widen. “Really?”

“I would mostly be focused on helping players transition into professional hockey, filling the gaps in their training both on and off the ice.”

“So, just like what you did for Theo and Carter.”

“Partly. And more stuff too. The best news is I wouldn’t have to travel with the team. So my schedule would be a lot more flexible than it was when I was playing. Assuming I actually take the job.”

I lean forward and press a quick kiss to his lips. “Why wouldn’t you take it?”

“Because I wouldn’t be able to keep Juno,” he says.

“Okay, but…do you want to do it? Would it make you happy?”

He shrugs. “Probably, yeah. But that’s not the only part of the equation here. I like Juno being with one of us. And I love her being with me. When I think about the time I’d miss out on, that just makes me sad.”

He has no idea how much it means that we’re even having this conversation. That he’s giving our daughter’s needs equal weight against his career goals.

“Alec,” I say, a surge of love for this man pushing against my ribs. “We can figure out the childcare stuff. But remember, once we get married, you won’t just be with Juno during the day. We’ll be together all the time. Nights, weekends. Whenever you aren’t working. We’ll be a family.”

He closes his eyes for a brief second, then leans forward and kisses me. “I really like the sound of that.”

“Besides, my apprenticeship is over in July, and then everything will shift for me. I have no idea if Victoria will even offer me a job. Maybe I’ll be home with Juno for a while. I would love that, actually.”

His expression turns thoughtful. “I bet the Appies would give me flexible hours at least through July. Something part-time, so Juno wouldn’t have to be with Ruth five days a week.”

I grin. “I love that you’re thinking like this. And we can absolutely sort out all the details. But can we go back to talking about the ring that you’re hiding on your person somewhere? Because I am seconds away from going on a scavenger hunt to find it.”

“A scavenger hunt?” Alec says, eyes dancing. “That actually sounds like a good idea.”

It’s possible I take an intentionally long time exploring Alec’s body in search of pockets. You’d think I have zero clue how suits are constructed based on my search across biceps and abdominal muscles, glutes and thighs. But how else can I make sure he doesn’t have a secret ring-concealing pocket stitched on somewhere?

“You’re killing me here, Evie,” Alec finally says.

With one final smirk, I dip my hand into his left pants pocket, the only one I haven’t yet searched, and pull out a tiny velvet bag. Alec drops to one knee—the good one—in front of the porch swing, then tugs the bag from my hands and pulls out the ring.

“Promise me you’ll tell me if you don’t like it,” he says. “Megan helped me pick it out, and she swore you would, but I want it to be perfect, so if it isn’t, just tell me.”

I force myself to ignore the fact that Megan already knew he was planning to propose when she pulled that little stunt at the Summit because the ring is right in front of me, and it really is perfect. If that’s because of her influence, I can absolutely forgive her.

I hold out my hand and let Alec slide the ring onto my finger.

“Marry me, Evie?” he says simply. “I can’t think of anything I want more than to be your husband and Juno’s dad.”

I pull him to his feet and kiss him long and slow before murmuring a quiet yes into his ear.

If I could go back and tell fourteen-year-old Evie Thomas that all those scribbles in her journal were more prophecy than daydream, I think she’d probably laugh.

Alec Sheridan. Her best friend’s much older, far too sexy, much too perfect brother? Never.

But maybe it’s better that I had no idea what was coming. Half the magic of falling in love with Alec was how unbelievable it all seemed. How perfectly improbable.

I expect that at some point, I’ll grow used to this new reality in which I get to love someone so good and honest and lovely. But a part of me hopes I never do. I hope I spend every day feeling a little hint of the marvel. That I never stop seeing the magic of Alec Sheridan.

“You know,” I say, after a kiss that almost unravels me, “we should probably go pick up our daughter.”

Alec nuzzles his nose into my neck, his lips pressing a trail of kisses across my skin. “You know she’s already asleep. Ruth won’t care if we take a few more minutes.”

My breath catches at how easily he says this, and not because I know exactly how he’d like to spend those minutes. I said our daughter, and he didn’t even pause. That’s just how he thinks of her.

I slip my hand into Alec’s and tug him toward the front door. “In that case, we’d better take advantage.”

As soon as we’re inside, Alec presses me up against the closed front door, hands tangling in my hair as he kisses me with an intensity he kept banked when we were sitting on the front porch, out where any of my neighbors might have seen.

“Promise me you’ll always kiss me like that,” I say, a little breathless. “Even when we’re fighting for alone time. When Juno is old enough to climb into bed with us or when I’m pregnant again and the size of a house. Don’t ever stop kissing me just like that.”

Fire flashes in Alec’s eyes before he leans in one more time. “I’ve never been so happy to make a promise,” he says.

And then his lips fall on mine, and he proves every single word.