Chapter 49
49
CHUCK
As I pull into my garage, I can't help but smile. For the first time in weeks, I feel hopeful. Excited. Ready to take on whatever challenges come our way.
Because now I know. Ruby loves me too. And that changes everything.
I start with a call to the library. Then, a florist. And finally, a bookstore.
Operation Win Ruby's Heart is officially underway.
And failure? Well, that's simply not an option.
Because a love like this? It doesn't come around every day. And I'll be damned if I let it slip away without a fight.
I've faced down opponents twice my size on the ice. I've played through injuries that would sideline most people for weeks. I've even stared down the barrel of potential suspension and fought my way back into the good graces of the team.
But nothing has ever terrified me as much as the thought of losing Ruby Brooks.
It hits me like a blindside check as I'm mindlessly going through drills at practice. The puck slides past my stick, and Coach bellows something about keeping my head in the game. But how can I, when my heart is somewhere else entirely?
That's when it sinks in. None of this—the ice, the game, the roar of the crowd—means anything without Ruby. She's become my center, my true north.
As soon as practice ends, I'm on the phone, calling in every favor I can think of. First, Ruby's boss at the library. It takes some convincing, and a promise of a generous donation to their children's reading program, but she finally agrees to help.
Next, a rare book dealer I know through a teammate. He owes me for introducing him to his wife at a team event last year. It's time to cash in that favor.
Finally, Vince Vincent, who looks at me like I've lost my mind when I explain what I need. But he sees the determination in my eyes and sighs, agreeing to run interference if necessary.
It takes two days of planning, sneaking around, and more close calls than I care to admit. But finally, everything is in place.
I arrive at the library early, my heart pounding as I slip inside. Ruby's boss gives me a conspiratorial wink as she hands me a staff badge. "You've got an hour before she arrives for her shift," she whispers. "Make it count."
I nod, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. This is it. My last shot. If this doesn't work...
No. I can't think like that. This will work. It has to.
I make my way through the stacks, placing clues in the books I planned on. Each one is a memory, a moment that led me here.
In Pride and Prejudice , I leave a pressed orchid, a reminder of the flowers that grew outside our bungalow in Costa Rica.
In The Old Man and the Sea , there's a ticket stub from the first Aftershocks game I ever played in, which was also the first time I met Ruby.
To Kill a Mockingbird holds a photo of us at Tyler and Lucy's engagement party, when she spilled her drink all over my shirt.
With each clue, my resolve strengthens. This isn't just about winning Ruby back. It's about showing her that I see her, really see her. That I've been paying attention all along.
Finally, I take my place at the end of the Classic Literature section, Ruby's favorite spot in the library. In my hands, I hold a bouquet of her favorite flowers and a leather-bound, first edition of Sense and Sensibility . My palms are sweating, and I'm pretty sure I'm more nervous now than I've ever been before a playoff game.
I hear the library doors open, and a voice rings out. "Oh, Ruby! Before you start your shift, could you check on something for me in the fiction section?"
My heart leaps into my throat. This is it.
I can't see Ruby from where I'm standing, but I can hear her footsteps. I can almost feel her presence as she moves through the library. There's a pause, and I know she's found the first clue.
"What the..." I hear her mutter, and I have to suppress a grin. That's my Ruby, always curious.
I listen as she moves from section to section, following the trail I've left. With each clue, her footsteps become more hurried, more eager. She's figuring it out.
Finally, I hear her approaching the Classics section. I take a deep breath, straighten my shoulders. Game time, Newcomb.
She rounds the corner, and for a moment, time stands still. She's beautiful, her cheeks flushed with excitement, her eyes bright with curiosity. When she sees me, she freezes, her mouth forming a perfect 'O' of surprise.
"Chuck?" she says, like she can't quite grasp seeing me out of context.
I step forward, my heart pounding so hard I'm sure she hears it. "Hey, Ruby Brooks."
She laughs, the sound a mix of disbelief and joy. "What... what is all this?"
I hold out the flowers and the book. "This is me, fighting for us. The way I should have from the beginning."
Ruby takes the offerings, her hands shaking slightly. "Chuck, I..."
"Wait," I say quickly. "Before you say anything, I need you to know something. Ruby, these past few weeks without you... they've been hell. Nothing feels right. Hockey, the thing I've built my whole life around, it doesn't mean anything if I can't share it with you."
Tears gather in her eyes, but I press on. I need to get this out.
"I know we're different. I know it won't be easy. But Ruby, I love you. Every bit of you. Your brilliant mind, your sarcastic wit, the way you scrunch up your nose when you're thinking hard about something. I love how passionate you get about books, and how you're not afraid to call me out when I'm being an idiot. I love that you challenge me, that you make me want to be better."
I take a deep breath, reaching out to take her hand. "I'm not asking for forever right now. I'm just asking for a chance. A chance to show you that we can make this work. That our differences don't have to define us—they can make us stronger."
She’s quiet for a long moment, and I feel my heart sink. But then she squeezes my hand, and when I meet her eyes, I see a smile there.
"You know," she says, her voice thick with emotion, "for a hockey player, you're pretty good with words."
I laugh, relief flooding through me. "Well, I may have practiced that speech a few times in the mirror."
She grins. "A few times, huh?"
"Okay, maybe more than a few," I admit. "So... what do you say, Brooks? Willing to give this meathead hockey player another shot?"
Instead of answering, she rises up on her tiptoes and kisses me. It's soft and sweet and full of promise, and I pour everything I'm feeling into it.
When we break apart, we're breathless. "I'll take that as a yes?"
Ruby nods, her eyes shining. "Yes. God help me, but yes. I love you too, Chuck. Even when I was trying not to, I couldn't stop."
I pull her close, burying my face in her hair. "I'm not letting you go again," I whisper fiercely.
She laughs. "Good. Because I don't think I could walk away even if I wanted to."
We stand there for a moment, just holding each other. Then Ruby pulls back slightly, a mischievous glint in her eye. "You know, this is all very romantic, but... aren't you worried about being seen? I mean, a big tough hockey player, spotted in the library? Your reputation might never recover."
I grin, pulling her close again. "Screw my reputation. I'll shout from the rooftops, see if I give a shit.”
She turns thoughtful. "Actually... maybe we should keep this quiet for a bit. Just until after Tyler and Lucy's wedding. I don't want to steal their thunder, you know?"
I nod. "I like that. I like that thinking. We'll keep it on the down-low for now. But after that? All bets are off, Brooks. I want the whole world to know you're mine."
She raises an eyebrow. "Yours, huh? Pretty presumptuous, Newcomb."
I lean in, my lips brushing her ear. "You love it."
She shivers slightly, then pulls back with a grin. "Maybe. But don't let it go to your head."
As I leave the library to let her get on with her work day, feel fucking awesome.
We’re doing this.
Chuck and Ruby against the world. I like the sound of that.
And as for keeping it quiet until after the wedding? Well, let's just say I've never been very good at hiding how I feel.