Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
DECLAN
For the last two weeks, I’ve barely seen Alice. If she wasn’t at the shop provisioning supplies, she was buying flowers.
If I saw her, she was grabbing a quick bite before heading back to the shop.
I know what a big deal tonight is for her. Leon gave her complete control of tonight. Aside from one missing order of roses—which I heard about loudly at six in the morning—everything seems to have gone off without a hitch.
Adjusting the buttons on my cuffs, I slide into my jacket and give myself one final look in the mirror.
I decided on a navy suit with a light blue tie. Might be silly to wear Black Diamonds colors, but considering that my first season with them I won the Cup? I want a small nod to the team.
My hair is as good as it’s going to get. Even if I wanted it to stay in place, it would flop right back into my eyes.
Spritzing on a bit of the cologne that Alice got me ages ago, I head into the living room to wait for her.
Pouring myself two fingers of bourbon—something I’ve picked up from the guys—I wait.
Did it feel weird to ask my wife on a date? Maybe.
But I didn’t want her to come out of a sense of obligation. I didn’t want her to set everything up and then leave.
I wanted her to say yes to tonight because she wanted to be there with me.
Ever since she moved in, things have been changing. I don’t know if Alice feels them, but I want to spend all my time with her. Not that I didn’t before, but things have shifted.
Changed.
There’s a growing sense of attachment there that I don’t want to fight.
The door to her bedroom opens and my jaw hits the floor.
Holy. Shit.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Alice look…so stunning before.
I’ve always known my best friend is beautiful, but seeing her like this? She’s a bombshell. And couldn’t be more Alice if she tried.
The one-shoulder, dark green dress flows out from her waist. On the strap sits an oversized fabric flower.
Her normally unruly hair is slicked back into a low bun. Her fingers fasten big gold earrings to her lobes.
“How do I look?” She stops and does a spin for me. Painted toenails peep out from the low heels she’s wearing. “I wanted something I could move around in just in case there’s a flower emergency.”
“I…”
“What? Does it look bad?” She smooths a hand down over the skirt.
Gulping down the rest of my drink, I set it on the counter and walk over to her.
“You look gorgeous. You are going to be the most beautiful woman there tonight.”
“Really?” A blush reddens her cheeks.
I press a kiss to said cheek and watch it darken even further. “I would never lie to you.”
“You look quite handsome yourself.” She brushes a piece of invisible lint off my jacket. I would know. I rolled the thing over a dozen times to make sure it was pristine for tonight.
I have to look good for my first ring ceremony.
“We’ll make quite the pair tonight.”
She smiles at me. “Hey. Before we go, I have a surprise for you.”
“You do?”
Alice nods, holding her hand out to me. “C’mon. It’s in the basement.”
I follow behind her, taking in the way the dress flows around her. It’s like it was made just for her. It teases at the hint of the curves that are usually hidden under a pair of overalls.
Why am I suddenly studying the way she moves? I shouldn’t be.
Drawing to a stop, Alice points at the wall in front of us, and it takes me a minute to realize there’s a new addition there.
It’s my playoff jersey. The one with the patch on the front for the Stanley Cup finals.
“When did you find the time to do this?” On top of everything she’s been doing for these past two weeks, she managed to get my jersey framed for me? “I can’t believe you did this.”
“Do you like it?” she asks.
“I fucking love it.” I sweep her into my arms and breathe her in. “This is the best thing anyone has ever done for me.”
“You deserve it.”
Her arms squeeze me back and it’s the best I’ve felt since hoisting that cup over my head. I shouldn’t like this as much as I do. Shouldn’t like the soft feel of Alice’s curves under my hands. The way she fits perfectly against me.
This is all for show. For her to get what she needs and to keep me in the good graces of the league.
There’s no one around to see us right now—holding one another for longer than necessary.
“Thanks, Froggie.” I press a kiss to her forehead as I set her back down on the ground. “I love it.”
“Good, I’m glad.” She smiles up at me. “Now, let’s go. I don’t want to be late.”
“What do you think?” Alice stands in front of me, the ballroom behind her, hands clasped beneath her chin.
“Holy shit. You did all of this?”
You would have no idea what’s going on in here tonight based on how everything looks. I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere so…fancy.
The country club was rented out for the event. A large room with circular tables is spread out before us. On a small stage at the front of the room sits a clear podium, flanked by two large arrangements.
Every table is overflowing with bouquets. I couldn’t tell you what half the flowers are called, but I know Alice did an amazing job.
“You like it?”
“It’s incredible.”
Grabbing her hand, I walk us over to one of the tables. Sitting in a low vase is a bouquet, surrounded by tealight candles and loose flower petals.
“I wanted to keep everything low so you could see the stage. I know there will be speeches, and I didn’t want anyone not being able to see.”
Alice is beaming, and pride threatens to burst out of me.
“You’re amazing, you know that? Putting this together in two weeks? I can’t believe it.”
“Thank you, Declan. I wouldn’t have gotten to do this if it weren’t for you.”
“You could have done this without me.”
Looking at me, Alice rests her hands on my chest and kisses my cheek. Warmth spreads through me at the touch.
Fuck. That’s new.
I should not be feeling these things for Alice.
Voices start to filter inside. Walking over to the bar, I grab us each a drink and go to find our table. Alice makes her way there and is talking with Piper and Angie.
“This place looks great,” Cash tells me. “Alice did all of this?”
I nod. “She did.”
“Damn. Maybe we should get her to do our wedding.”
“I’ll get you her number, when you finally get around to asking Piper to marry you.”
“Are you excited for your first ring?” he asks.
“Fuck yeah. Hard to believe it’s finally happening.” It was what I dreamed about when I realized I was good at hockey and could make a career doing this.
Everyone mingles and sips on craft cocktails before dinner is served. A steak dinner. No expense has been spared tonight.
I’m loving every minute of this.
Before dessert is served, dishes are cleared and champagne flutes are brought out to everyone.
Along with the champagne, a large, black velvet box is set in front of each player, coach, and staff member.
The lights in the room go down and the stage lights up as Bexley steps up to the podium.
“When we started this season, going back-to-back was on my mind, but I didn’t want to say anything.
Doing that in this league is hard. In any sport.
But you proved to me the kind of team you are.
” Bexley’s gaze roams over the captivated audience.
“This team is made of grit and perseverance. Getting to stand up here as your general manager is the honor of my lifetime. To see you grow as men and players? It’s everything to me. ”
Nick is absolutely beaming at Bexley. Next to me, Alice has tears glistening in her eyes. Piper and Cash are whispering to one another, and Troy is absentmindedly running a hand up and down Angie’s arm.
“We would not be here without every single person in this room. Every one of you contributed to this team. To our win. You represent this team and this city with pride. You make everyone proud to be a Black Diamonds fan.” She grabs her champagne glass, and we all follow her lead.
“Now, cheers to this team, and time to wear those rings proudly!”
I clink my glass with everyone at the table before swallowing down the gulp. Grabbing the velvet box, I crack it open.
And wow. Just wow.
“This is your ring?” Alice asks, peering over my shoulder as I open the box.
“Fuck, is it ever pretty.”
Diamonds glint off every surface of the ring. Sapphires make up the logo of the Black Diamonds. Stanley Cup Champions is etched in gold around the edge of the ring. My number is on one side with my last name, and the Cup on the other with the mountains behind it.
“How many diamonds do you think it’s made of?” she asks.
“Almost three hundred,” Nick interjects from next to me. He’s staring at his own ring. His second since joining the team. “I may or may not have asked Bex about it. And that’s not including the rest of the stones.”
“Try it on,” Alice tells me, her head now resting on my shoulder.
Popping it out of the box, I slide it onto my middle finger on my left hand.
Sitting next to my wedding band.
“Wow. That looks pretty good on you.”
“Here. You try it on.” I take it off and hold it out to her.
She slips it onto her finger. It dwarfs her hand. “I don’t know if this is made for me.”
“Good thing it was made for mine.” I laugh.
She slides it back down my finger. “I wonder if this is what it was like when we got married.”
“I wish I could remember.”
Alice rests her elbow on the table and stares at me. “Me too. I bet it was a good wedding.”
“Of course it was. It was ours.”
“Hey.” Cash claps me on the elbow. “Celebratory shots. Let’s go.”
I stand up, unbuttoning my jacket and draping it over the back of my chair.
“Take it easy,” Alice tells me. “You know what happened last time.”
“Got it, wifey.” I wink at her and follow the boys to the bar.
The rest of the night is a happy blur. Drinks are flowing. Guys are sharing their favorite stories from the season.
The girls have taken Alice under their wing, and for that, I’m grateful. I love this family of guys that have adopted me into their circle and couldn’t be happier they’ve done the same for Alice.
Closing the place down, we get a ride share home. Alice is quiet, staring out the window as the city passes us by.
As we left, people were taking leftover centerpieces home. She has one sitting in her lap. By the time we’re pulling into the driveway, I’m ready to crash.
“Hey. Thank you for being there tonight.” I hold open the door for Alice and take the flowers into the kitchen. I know tomorrow she’ll work her magic to dry them out and save them.
She always does that after important events.
Alice drops her shoes in the entryway. Her smile is tired. “As far as first dates go, it was a pretty good one.”
“You know, if a date goes well, you know how they end…” I trail off.
Her eyes go wide. She knows exactly what I’m thinking. “You really want that?”
“I thought I was pretty obvious about that.” I step closer to her. The tips of my shoes touch her toes. “I want to kiss you, Alice.”
“Declan.” Her hand fists in my shirt. Whether to stop me or pull me closer, I don’t know.
“What do you want, Alice? Because right now, I want you.”
“I…I…” she trails off, biting into her bottom lip.
“I won’t pressure you into anything you don’t want to do, Alice. If you don’t want to kiss me, we can forget this ever happened.”
She doesn’t say anything, but based on her searching eyes, she doesn’t know what she wants.
“I think I’ve had too much champagne to give you an answer, Declan.”
That’s answer enough. At least for tonight.
“Think about it. Ball is in your court.” Stepping out of her hold, I walk backward to my room. “Night, Froggie.”
I leave her standing there, hoping she’ll make the next move.
Maybe not tonight, but she knows.
I want my best friend. I only hope she wants me too.