Chapter 12
Dash
I asked Oakley to stay with me since my place is bigger and has an actual office. We’ve both waited so long to be with each other we don’t want to wait any longer. Oakley’s parents took her to her apartment where she’ll pack up some things to bring over. I know it was important for her parents to have private time with her to make sure that this is what she wants.
We’re all going to dinner tonight, including Gordy. I need to have a talk with him beforehand. I tried to call him then texted to ask him to stop by but he hasn’t responded.
There’s a pounding on the door. I check security and it’s a furious looking Gordy.
I open the door. He takes a swing grazing my chin and bumping my shoulder. It hurts, but no damage. I’ve been in fights with him before, this was more for show than attack. My tension eases.
“You’re fucking my baby sister!”
“I’m loving your sister and I’m going to marry her if she’ll have me.”
“You took advantage of the situation.”
“I’ve loved your sister for years. I stayed away because she was too young.”
“So you were sniffing around my sister while pretending to be my friend?”
“Can we sit down and talk about this, or do you want to continue to shout it in the halls for the neighbors to hear?”
He brushes past me, heads to the fridge and grabs two beers. Twisting the caps off, he hands one to me and leans against the counter.
Taking the seat across from him I take a swallow and start. “You’re my best friend. In a lot of ways my only friend. It was always just my gramps and I and I never had a need for a lot of people around me. You’ve said it yourself. I’m a loner.
“That first year when I gave you the ride to your family home after the season ended and you introduced me to them was the first time in years that I’d felt included. I liked working with you and your dad on the farm. You became my friend that summer. Your parents are great, and your little sister was cute.
“As the years and seasons went by, I grew to love you as a brother and your family as if they were my own.”
“And my sister?” He scowls.
“She was a cute kid, thoughtful and smart. She’d make me laugh.”
He doesn’t look at me. “And you wanted to fuck her.”
“Don’t make this something it’s not. She was in college before I ever saw her as a woman. And I made damn sure to stay away from her after that. But I’m not going to lie to you. I’ve been in love with her for years. Because of our friendship I knew it couldn’t work.
“When Trevor pulled his shit, you weren’t there and there was no way in hell I was going to let her be hurt. I didn’t know until then that she’s had a thing for me for quite a while.
“None of that matters. And all of that matters. I love her. She loves me. I’ve asked her to marry me when she’s ready. I’ll love her and support her in every way possible.”
He leans over the counter and uses his half empty beer to point at me. “Bullshit. You took advantage of her, of the moment.”
“What did she say when you asked her?”
He looks away, takes a draw on his beer, then smiles. “She said if I messed this up for her she’d make sure I’d never be able to procreate any little monsters like me.”
We both laugh. Yeah, that sounds like our Oakley.
We did it. We won the Stanley Cup.
Actually, Trevor won it for us. Instead of trying to take an impossible shot, he handed it off to Gordy who buried the puck for a win.
Trevor has grown a lot the last couple months. He broke up with Sabrina and after a few slams in the press, he started acting like a teammate not a player.
Tonight is something I’ve worked years for but there was never a guarantee. It’s also my last night as a player, although only Oakley knows. Once the celebration of tonight’s win dies down, I’ll make the announcement.
I’ve loved every minute of my career, but I’m not going to miss it. Oakley fills my life and heart now. We’ve bounced a lot of options around, but we’re going to take a month’s vacation before we decide anything. The team wants her back and I’ve toyed with being an assistant coach so we can travel together.
I have the ring in my pocket and later when we’re with her family I’ll get down on my knees and ask her the most important question of my life.
“Will you marry me?”