Page 45 of Your Biggest Downfall (Ravens Hockey #3)

nova

I had officially lost my ever-loving mind. This was something Austin would do, but when I looked at Mami, tearful satisfaction crossed her face as she watched Austin on one knee. Knowing it would probably be the only time she’d ever see it, I couldn’t stop the words from coming out.

Austin looked at me, blinked once, and got off his knee. I wouldn’t blame him or be upset if he said no, but he gave me a smile, lifted me off the couch, and kissed me. “Are you sure?” he whispered in my ear, and I nodded, eyes still glued on Mami.

“Let’s get married right now.”

“What?” I exclaimed.

This would be a process that took more than a few days. I would have to tell Luna, get a dress?—

“Yeah. It’s only the afternoon, the courthouse is open for a few more hours.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I’ll call them now.”

“Your parents?” Mami managed to say.

“I’ll tell them next week. We haven’t been on the... best terms lately, but it’s no problem.” He gave my mom a smile, but it was obvious it hurt him deep down inside.

Austin excused himself and made a few calls.

Mami grabbed my hand, pulling me onto the couch, and Mae slid over to us.

“Are you sure?” Mae asked me before my mom could. Mami nodded as if asking the same thing.

“Yes,” I said without thinking again. “I’m sure. He’s it for me. There is no one else.” I gave them both a smile. “I want you both to be there for me. I want Mami to be there.”

“Don’t get married because I’m dying, mija,” Mami said earnestly, but I wished she wouldn’t.

It’d be better if I could live in my bubble where my mom wasn’t sick and time didn’t continue to tick.

“I’m not.” I stood up quickly. “I want to marry Austin.”

“Just yesterday, you were running away from him,” Mae added.

I shrugged. “That was yesterday. This is today.”

“What if tomorrow he hurts you?” Mami asked.

Truthfully, he probably would. He’d probably hurt me so deep the wound would leave an everlasting scar, because that’s who Austin was, but he was trying and working on himself, so I had to believe we’d have the tools to work through it.

As long as he stayed sober, I could stay with him.

It was the one thing he had to promise me.

“I’ll figure it out, but right now, I need to go look in my old closet to see if I have something to wear, and I need you to do my hair.”

Mae’s smile grew. “I can do that.”

I looked in the kitchen where Austin was on the phone. “Give me a second.”

I walked toward him as he hung up. He had the stupidest, largest grin on his face.

“Good news, we can do a same-day marriage license and ceremony. I have an appointment in a few hours right before they close. I figured you?—”

I leaned in and pressed my lips to his. “Are you sure?” I pulled away from him.

“More than anything in my life.” He wrapped his hands around my waist.

“Your mom is going to be so upset when she finds out this is how it happened.”

He shrugged. “She’ll get over it.”

He always had a comeback for everything.

“You know what marriage means, right? You’ll have to be my partner through thick and thin. You’ll have to take care of me even when I’m sick and puking and shitting at the same time?”

He chuckled, but I shook my head. “I’m being somewhat serious, Austin. Marriage is hard, and this is stressful, so I don’t want to impact your sobrie?—”

He held up a hand. “Stop, Nova. I told you in the car last night. You do not stress me out. This does not stress me out. Is it a wild idea? Absolutely, but I’ll have you moved in tomorrow.”

I froze. I forgot about my apartment with Luna. She couldn’t afford it without me. I’d still have to find a way to pay rent.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I can’t leave Luna high and dry. It’s not that I’m choosing her first, but I can’t do that to her.”

He nodded. “I agree. I’ll cover your rent until the end of the lease.”

I huffed out a laugh. “You can’t do that, Austin. It’s not like I can afford your apartment and mine.”

“No.” He grabbed my chin, tilting it up so I was looking right at his baby blues.

“You need to understand. After today, everything is in your name. What’s mine is also yours and forever will be, Nova.

I’m paying for my apartment and not taking a dime of your money.

I’ll pay for your lease with Luna through the remainder of the year. ”

“Are you sure?” I asked hesitantly. I wasn’t used to asking for help from anyone.

“Yes. You need to lean on me too, though. Your mom needs a ride to an appointment and Iris is keeping you late? Then you call me first. You need someone to make dinner after a long day? I’ll do it. I want to do it all... for you.”

“Okay. Let’s do it.” My eyes were wide as a grin lifted my cheeks.

“Let’s do it.”

He pressed his lips to mine and then smacked me on the butt as I ran into the other room. Mae was already in my childhood bedroom, riffling through my dresses.

I was getting married.

Today .

Aunt Mae, my mom in her wheelchair, and I were walking through the courthouse to get to Austin. We drove separately since it was easier with my mom’s machines.

“Room four, right?” I asked them, smoothing out my dress.

I’d chosen a simple yellow sundress with small flowers imprinted on it.

It was tight on top and then flowed a little.

I didn’t own much white, so this was the lightest color I’d get.

I found a pair of my mom’s nude heels she used to wear and slipped them on.

My mom gave me the diamond earrings she bought after she got her first job.

It was the only time she’d ever treated herself, and I cried when she put them on me.

Mae was in charge of taking photos, because even though it was rushed and last minute, I’d want something to hang on the walls of our house to memorialize the day.

Mae insisted we stop at a jewelry store on our way, and I grabbed whatever band they had in stock, which happened to be a small gold ring.

“Yes, this is it.”

“Are you ready?” my mom asked.

I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek, then I looked at Aunt Mae and gave her a hug. “My hair looks beautiful. Thank you.”

She had twisted my hair into a little braid so it looked like I had a crown above my forehead. She’d pulled some pieces out, and my curls sprang free in the front.

“I am so happy for you,” Aunt Mae whispered before gently pushing the door open.

My breath caught in my throat. Austin was standing at the front of the aisle in a sleek black suit, looking even more breathtaking than I remembered.

I’d seen him in a suit before, back when he came for some content at his away games, but he was something else entirely.

The suit hugged his broad shoulders perfectly, highlighting his strong, athletic build.

His bright blue tie popped against the dark fabric, bringing out the vibrant blue of his eyes—eyes that were locked onto mine the moment I stepped into the room.

His hair was styled just right, the blonde waves swept neatly back.

“Hey, Supernova,” he said, his voice filling the room, yet it felt like a whisper meant only for me.

“Hi,” I whispered, feeling like I was floating as I walked toward him.

“Last chance?” He raised an eyebrow playfully in my direction, but there was no way I’d back out—especially not now.

I glanced over my shoulder to see Mami and Aunt Mae taking their seats in the front row. The officiant stood before us, his presence almost fading into the background as I focused entirely on Austin.

“Please hold hands,” the officiant instructed.

We both smiled, stepping closer and taking each other’s hands. I wasn’t fully aware of what was being said or what expressions crossed my face. The moment I saw Austin standing there, I was completely wrapped up in him and the excitement of it all.

“This is wild,” I mouthed to him.

“It is,” he mouthed back, his lips curling into that irresistible smile. “I love you.”

I sighed contentedly.

“The rings.”

There was a long pause, and I realized the officiant had spoken.

“Sorry, what?” I asked, snapping out of my daze as Austin chuckled.

“We don’t have rings?—”

“I do,” I said, excitement bubbling up inside me. “I have a ring.”

I fished it out of my pocket, pulling out the small green velvet box from the jeweler. “I stopped by on the way here to pick this up. You told my mom your ring size.”

“I did,” he said, a touch of surprise in his voice as he turned to give my mom a wink. “I didn’t realize she was asking for today.”

His grin widened, and my heart swelled, knowing that this spontaneous, wild moment was exactly what we both needed.

I pulled out the ring, my heart pounding with anticipation.

The officiant cleared his throat and began to speak. “Repeat after me,” he said.

I took a deep breath, my gaze fixed on Austin’s. “With this ring, I promise to love you, honor you, and cherish you, for all the days of my life,” I repeated, my voice trembling slightly with emotion as I slipped the ring onto his finger.

Austin’s eyes softened, his thumb gently brushing my knuckles as I finished. He held my hand for a moment longer, as if savoring the significance of what we had just done.

Then, the officiant turned to Austin. “Your turn,” he said with a smile.

Austin’s lips curled into that familiar grin, and he reached into his pocket, pulling out his own box. I gasped as he opened it, revealing a beautiful emerald-cut diamond set in a simple, elegant band.

His voice was steady as he repeated the officiant’s words. “With this ring, I promise to love you, honor you, and cherish you, for all the days of my life.” He slipped the ring onto my finger, and it fit perfectly, as though it had always belonged there.

The ring was stunning, the emerald-cut diamond sparkling brilliantly in the light. “When did you get this?” I asked.

He shrugged. “I also had a few things up my sleeve.”

The officiant smiled warmly at us, then said, “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Austin leaned in, his lips brushing mine in a kiss that felt like the final seal on our vows, binding us together.

When I pulled away, I whispered, “I love you too.”