Page 37 of Your Love (Merrimack Mavericks Hockey #3)
“Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)” Landry - Age 25, 1995...
2 year later
“ I still can’t believe you’re the first one of us to get married,” I say, looking over at the beautiful brown-haired woman next to me. She currently has a scowl on her face, but I don’t think it’s directed at me necessarily. If I had to guess, I would say it’s directed at her new husband, who is currently on the dance floor doing some sort of pop-and-lock routine to a song by Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch.
“Do you think I married an idiot, Landry?” Sash asks with a sly smile, gesturing towards her husband.
“I think you made the perfect choice for yourself, Sash,” I reply, trying not to laugh. “And not just because he knocked you up. Although, he did manage to do that quite successfully.”
Sash lets out a snort of amusement. “Thanks for that, Captain Obvious. I had to get my dress altered last week just to fit into it.” As she speaks, she lovingly rubs her growing baby bump.
She looks absolutely radiant. Her once jet-black hair, now tinted with natural shades of brown, frames her face perfectly and complements her emerald-green eyes.
True to her unique style, Sasha has chosen a light purple dress instead of the traditional white for her wedding day.
Taz chose to wear a white tuxedo with lilac accents to match her dress. I don’t have the heart to tell him he looks like a pimp. We all know it, but the truth is he would consider it a compliment if someone said something, so we’re remaining quiet on the issue.
As if on cue, Taz strolls over from the dance floor with a glass of champagne in hand. He placed a kiss on Sascha’s cheek. “How’s my beautiful wife?” A warm smile spreads across Sasha’s face as she looks at him with love shining in her eyes, momentarily melting away any annoyance she had there a few minutes ago.
“I’m fine. I just wish we didn’t have to do these ridiculous traditions,” she says with a sigh.
Ivy interjects, “There’s nothing ridiculous about throwing your bouquet. It’s a lovely tradition.”
Rolling her eyes, Sash retorts, “Why can’t I just hand it to you and be done with it? You’re probably the next one in line anyway.”
Smiling sweetly, Ivy replies, “Oh, I don’t plan on getting pregnant for a few more years.” The group winces at the awkwardness because we all know that’s not what Sascha meant.
“Well, I didn’t plan on getting pregnant either,“ she snaps. “But apparently, Taz’s sperm carry power tools. They macheted straight through my sponge.” She glares at Taz, who looks proud of himself.
“It’s true,” he boasts with a smug grin. “They’re pretty impressive little guys.”
“This is all way too much information,” I mumble.
“I’m sorry, Sash,” Ivy apologizes with a sad smile. “I just meant that it’s tradition to throw the bouquet. People are expecting it. Even Natalie and Paisley seem excited about it.”
Natalie looks up from the massive slice of cake she’s devouring. “No thanks, I’ll pass,” she says with a dismissive wave. “Have you seen the guys at our school? Total waste of time.”
“I coach some of those guys on the hockey team,” I interject. “They aren’t all bad.”
“I would never date a hockey player, Landry,” Natalie declares confidently. Her words only serve as an assurance that she will probably fall for one at some point, just like my sister did.
“Hockey players are the best,” Kerri whispers beside me with a dreamy sigh. She looks absolutely radiant tonight, her dress a deeper shade of purple that matches Sash’s perfectly. The color compliments her blue eyes and brings out the freckles on her face, making her look even more beautiful.
Sascha rises from her chair, looking both annoyed and amused. “Fine,” she barks, brushing off imaginary dust from her dress. “Let’s get this over with. I’ll throw this bouquet to someone so I can finally go to the bathroom. This baby seems to think my bladder is a trampoline.”
Delzy rolls his eyes playfully. “Well, you’re the one who got pregnant with Michael Tazman’s baby,” she teases. “I’m sure your body will be in chaos for the next four months.”
I lean in and whisper urgently. “Good God, man, don’t anger her.”
A sly grin spreads across his face as he throws his hands up in mock surrender. “I’m just kidding,” he says, laughter bubbling in his voice. “This baby is going to be amazing. A wonderful athlete. Strong-willed. Maybe a little scary.”
“Just stop talking,” Sascha says dryly. “Single women to the center of the dance floor. We’re doing this,” she announces.
“Come on, Ivy,” Kerri says, trying to tug Ivy along.
“Oh, I’m already engaged,” she says. “I don’t need to catch the bouquet.”
“Yeah, but you’ve been engaged forever,” I say and then turn to Delzy. “When are you going to pull the plug on that thing, man?”
“Look, things have been really busy with hockey, the foundation, and Ivy’s writing career. We have plans. It’s going to happen soon.”
I lean in and whisper. “Twenty bucks says I will get married before you.”
He raises an eyebrow in defiance. “I’ll take that bet,” he says. “You’re not even engaged yet.”
I simply nod.
Fifteen single women huddle together behind Sasha, forming a sea of eager smiles. Among them stands Kerri, her posture relaxed but her eyes betraying a hint of intensity. She chats with the other women next to her, but as Sasha begins the countdown, a fierce determination takes hold of her. Her usually calm blue eyes ignite with a fire that reminds me of her fearless stance when wrestling the animals on our farm. I can’t help but feel concerned for any woman in her immediate vicinity.
“Three! Two! One!” Sasha yells, her voice echoing across the room. With a graceful flick of her wrist, she tosses the bouquet of wildflowers over her head.
My girlfriend, my sweet and loving girlfriend, transforms into a skilled hockey player, checking women left and right in pursuit of the bouquet. Delzy, Taz, and I can’t help but burst into hysterical laughter at the sight.
With a triumphant smirk on her face, she rips the bouquet out of another woman’s hand and struts over to us, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
“Wow, Wildflower,” I tell her breathlessly. “That was...Baby, I’m not gonna lie. That was both thrilling and terrifying.”
She simply giggles in response. “I just really like this bouquet,” she says coyly.
Delzy scratches the back of his neck thoughtfully. “Didn’t those come from your grandparents’ farm?” he asks innocently. “Seems like you could have easily gotten some there. ”
Kerri’s piercing gaze shuts him up quickly, and he wisely stops talking.
“Now, maybe there’s a reason why I had to catch these flowers,” Kerri declares confidently, looking directly at me.
“And what would that be?” I ask eagerly, knowing exactly where she is going with this. Kerri and I have talked about marriage before; it’s something we both eagerly anticipate and are not afraid of. In fact, it’s the one thing I am looking forward to more than anything else. So it comes as no surprise to me that she pursued this bouquet with such fervor.
As the group gathers in a circle, Ivy and Sascha exchange a knowing look. Kerri takes my hand and drops to her knee in front of me, causing a stir among our friends. I shake my head, trying to protest, but Kerri squeezes my hand tightly, determined to go through with this.
“Landry, please let me do this,” she pleads with tears shimmering in her eyes. She takes a deep breath and continues, her voice shaking slightly. “Our time apart was my fault. From the moment we met, and even after my accident. We lost precious moments that we can never get back. But I don’t want to go another day without knowing that I will wake up next to you every morning for the rest of my life. That we will work together on our farm and care for all those animals. And maybe one day, we will have little people to help us.”
“Like midgets?” Taz says from behind me. We both turn to see him grinning from ear to ear. “Please continue,” he says with a watery smile. “Don’t mind me.”
Kerri looks around the group. “For this group of people,” she starts, “all of you have stood by Landry and I as we’ve gone through some rough times. And I know we’ve all been there for one another when we’ve all needed it. So, in front of everyone, I need to know-”
I swiftly drop to one knee, grasping her trembling hand in mine. I can’t let her say it first, not when I’ve been planning this moment for months.
“Kerri, I know what you’re about to do, and I love you so much for it, but I was already prepared to do this.” With a small, nervous smile, I retrieve a small velvet box from my pocket and open it to reveal a sparkling diamond ring. “Permitted the bride and groom, of course, I have a question for you.”
Kerri’s eyes widen in shock as she covers her gaping mouth with her hands.
“I’m grateful for every moment we’ve shared since we met, even the tough times because those struggles led us to this moment. Kerri Ann Thatcher, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Tears glisten in her eyes as she breathlessly whispers, “Oh my God. Yes, Landry, Yes!”
With shaking hands, I slide the ring onto her finger, and she jumps into my arms with a joyful cry. I stand with her, held in a tight embrace, before finally setting her back down on the ground and placing a soft kiss on her perfect lips. As we stand entwined, our friends watch with beaming smiles.
“Wait, so you all knew that I was going to propose to him, and he was going to propose to me?” Kerri asks incredulously.
“Yep, we knew,” Sascha confirms with a mischievous grin. “One of these days, you two really need to get your act together.”
The six of us wrap our arms around each other in a tight group hug, overcome with pure love and gratefulness for this ragtag group of friends who have been through so much together since our high school days in Merrimack. From heartache and pain to finding true love and happiness, everything has led us here.
As we look ahead, we know there’s going to be more weddings and children in the future. Definitely more hockey. And above everything else, love.
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