Page 44 of Your Biggest Downfall (Ravens Hockey #3)

austin

We had spent hours in that small, warm living room, shouting answers at the television as Jeopardy played on repeat.

The air was filled with our laughter, our competitive banter, the playful jabs at missed questions, and triumphant cheers when we got them right.

Nova and I were slowly inching closer to each other on the couch, the space between us shrinking with each passing round.

Cecilia didn’t join in much. She watched us with a soft smile, her eyes full of warmth and a deep, quiet happiness. It was as if she was soaking in the sight of her daughter finding a moment of joy and normalcy.

In the middle of one of the episodes, Cecilia reached for the remote and paused the show.

“Mami,” Nova said in protest, her voice rising in surprise, “it was just getting to the good part.”

But Cecilia wasn’t looking at the television. Her eyes were on us, filled with a mixture of love and something more, something bittersweet.

She turned to Nova, her voice soft yet firm. “You two,” Cecilia began, her voice carrying the weight of all the things she had seen and felt, “are the good part.”

The room fell into a gentle silence, the kind that spoke louder than any words could.

Nova looked at her mom, her eyes wide and glistening, understanding the unspoken message.

This wasn’t about the game or the show—it was about the moments we were creating, the memories we were building together for the time Cecilia had here.

“Stop,” Nova whispered, wiping at her cheeks. “Let’s put on the show.”

But no one dared to move. Everyone sat there, including me, while Cecilia stared at us. Out of pure instinct and the need to protect Nova, I wrapped my arm around her waist.

Nova didn’t stiffen at my touch. In fact, she put her hand around mine and pulled me closer to her. She looked up at me, glassy eyes and all, before looking back at her mom, who had tears rolling down her cheeks.

“You worked it out?” Cecilia asked.

Nova nodded.

“Good. I told you, mija, he’s one of the good ones. I can see it.”

I cleared my throat. “I’m not, Ms. Thatcher. I’m as flawed as anyone else out there, but I love your daughter with everything in me. I...” I hesitated, then leaned down and kissed Nova on her curls. “I’ve been in love with Nova for a year.”

Cecilia barked out a laugh. “She was too stubborn to see it.”

I shook my head. “No. I was the stubborn one. I was scared I was going to drag her down.”

Cecilia held up a hand. “I don’t need to hear your story.” She pulled at one of the wires coming from her nose. “Look at me?—”

“You look beautiful, Mami,” Nova said quietly.

I wrapped my other hand around Nova so she was fully in my embrace.

“No,” Cecilia scoffed. “I’m old and I have terminal cancer.”

“Cecilia,” Mae said in a scolding tone.

“Stop it,” she said. “It’s the truth.” Cecilia paused and then pointed to me.

“You need to take care of her. Even when I’m gone, it’s important for me to know she’s taken care of.

I don’t mean financially either, I mean with love.

She has Luna in her life, but she needs someone steady and solid. You need to be that for her.”

I nodded as tears welled up in my eyes.

“I don’t have much longer here. I want to see her be happy.”

Nova kept nodding, her voice soft as she said, “I’m so happy, Mami.”

I glanced around the room, noticing the tears glistening in everyone’s eyes. The afternoon light filtered through the windows, casting a gentle glow over the room.

I shifted off the couch and knelt in front of Nova, taking her hands in mine. “I promise you, Nova, with everything I have, I’ll take care of you and love you until I no longer can.”

She nodded, squeezing my hands as more tears slid down her cheeks. “Promise me you’ll take care of yourself too? I can’t love you unless you love yourself.”

Her words were clear, even if she didn’t spell it out completely. She was telling me I needed to stay sober, to keep working on myself, because she needed me to be strong, to be on my own journey of self-improvement for us to have a future.

“I promise,” I whispered, knowing this was more than a vow—it was a commitment to her, to us, and to the path I needed to stay on.

I reached up to kiss Nova, but she pulled away and swallowed.

Hesitation lingered in her eyes as she bounced her gaze between her mom, Mae, and me. “Austin?” she asked.

“Yeah, Supernova?”

“Will you marry me?”