Epilogue
Dax
I love seeing my girl in my jersey.
That’s right, I finally met the woman of my dreams, and we’ve had the best time together the past six months.
Who knew my cousin would be our unintentional matchmaker and be the one to bring Charlie and me together?
I owe Vivi a debt of gratitude that I’ll probably never pay off, according to her standards, but it’s all worth it.
Especially if Vivi gets Charlie down onto the ice tonight like I’d asked her to.
The Bobcats just made the winning goal to go to the playoffs, and the crowd in the arena is going wild.
I’ve never heard this place so loud before or seen the fans so excited.
The air feels electric like someone shook a huge bottle of soda, then uncapped it and all this adrenaline shot out.
My own heart is pounding as I weave around my teammates and skate to the edge of the ice.
Normally, I’d be celebrating right beside them, but there’s something more important I need to do and someone more important I need to see…
There she is!
The only woman I care about runs along the dasher boards toward me, looking gorgeous as always.
She wears our team colors with pride and even has matching ribbons tied around her ponytail.
Her dimples flash as she smiles and waves.
I barely have time to drop my stick and remove my gloves and helmet before she’s standing at the open door.
“You guys did it! I’m so proud of you, Dax!”
“Thank you, Char. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“That’s so not true, and you know it,” she says with a giggle, “but thanks for making me feel special.”
“It is true.” I offer her my hand so she can join me on the ice. “Come on, I’ve got you.”
“Are you sure? I don’t have skates on. Not that it’d be much safer if I did,” she adds with the cutest wrinkled-nose expression.
Charlie was right. Even after all the hours of practice she put in on the ice to learn how to skate, she’s still not that steady on her feet. But I love that she tries. I motion for her to come closer. “You’ll be safe with me. I promise.”
“Okay! Here goes nothing!” She grabs onto my hand, then throws herself into my arms. With all her strength, she holds onto me, squeezing me the hardest she can with all the padding I’ve got on.
After a moment, she pulls back just far enough so she can look into my eyes.
“See? I can hardly stand on my own. I definitely didn’t do anything to help you win. ”
“You do on and off the ice, in more ways than you know. You’re my secret weapon.” I swallow hard as I speak from my heart. “I hope you always will be.”
“Of course I will.” Blushing, she looks around us at all the cameras pointed our way. “Although, I don’t know how much longer I can stay a secret.”
Per Coach Kessler’s request, we’d kept our relationship on the down-low before tonight to not distract from the game, so it’s no surprise that both the fans and news crews have their eyes on us.
It’s just as well because I want everything that happens next to be caught on camera for the world to see.
Keeping my gaze locked on hers, I say, “That’s not a problem because I don’t plan on keeping us a secret any longer. I want to tell everyone how much you mean to me.”
Her brows shoot up as she watches me drop to one knee. But her surprise grows when she realizes I’m no longer holding onto her. “Uh, Dax, what are you doing down there? It’d be nice if you could stand back up.”
“For goodness’ sake, Charlie!” Vivi appears about ten feet behind Charlie, with one hand on her hip. “Just hang on a minute. Don’t you want Dax to propose to you on one knee? That’s what your leading men always do.”
“Pro-propose?” She covers her hands with her mouth and gasps. “Oh, by all means, please continue!”
The crowd gathered around us laughs. I’m pretty sure this will be the top news story on The Morning Skate tomorrow, mainly for how adorable Charlie’s reaction is.
I can tell the fans love her already. I’m also relieved to know that she wants me to pop the question.
I’ve stopped a thousand pucks before, but this time I’m the one taking the shot, and I know without a doubt that I’ll score.
But first, the ring!
“Cuz!” I call out to Vivi. “Do you have it?”
“Have what? Oh yeah!” She digs in one of her jacket pockets and produces a small black box. “Catch!”
All eyes, including mine, are on the ring box as it travels through the air like a baby bird taking its first flight.
We’re collectively holding our breaths, just praying and hoping for it to catch air and fly gracefully like it’s supposed to…
But if there’s anything I know about my cousin, it’s that her will is more powerful than her arm.
The box goes up, soars for a split second past Charlie’s head, then promptly takes a nosedive.
Time seems to slow down as she and I watch it lose its battle with gravity.
I lean over to the right to catch it, but before I can, a hand reaches out and swipes it from my grasp.
My eyes blink in shock as the crowd cheers.
“I got it!” Charlie shouts. Her face lights up with awe. “I actually got it!”
“I think you missed your calling to play softball,” I joke. “That was some catch.”
“Maybe I’m more athletic under pressure. I mean it’s not every day that your boyfriend’s about to propose to you in the middle of a packed stadium with dozens, maybe hundreds of people watching.”
“Make that thousands of people!” Vivi chimes in. “Way to go, guys! This is great publicity for the team.”
Charlie gulps. “Thousands of people?”
“Eyes on me, babe,” I direct her. “Just keep your eyes on me.”
She nods and chews her lower lip, looking more adorable than ever. “Eyes on you—right.”
“May I?”
“Huh?”
I hold out my hand. “The ring, Char.”
“Oh, yeah!” Smiling sheepishly, she hands me the box. “This is my first proposal, if you can’t tell.”
“Mine, too. My one and only because you’re it for me.
” I open the ring box and take out the diamond solitaire.
Holding it up to Charlie, I start my speech.
“What I have to say isn’t as good as what that Romeo and Juliet guy could write, but every word is true.
You’ve changed my life, Charlie. I used to think hockey was all I had, but that’s not the case anymore.
I have the love of the most wonderful woman in the world.
You make me want to be better in so many ways.
A better goalie, a better teammate, and a better man.
I want to be the best for you. I hope you’ll agree to be on the same team with me from now on. ”
Charlie narrows her eyes and asks, “When you say the same team, do you mean the Bobcats?”
I laugh. “No, babe, I’m talking about our own team.”
“Oh! You mean you and me!”
“Yes,” I answer with a firm nod. “Charlotte Porter, will you marry me?”
“I do! I mean I will!”
As soon as I slip the ring onto her finger, she tries to pull me up.
Her sneakers have a mind of their own, though, because the next thing I know, Charlie’s slipping and falling backwards.
I lunge forward and catch her right before she lands on the ice.
She wraps her arms around my neck, and we share a smile of relief.
A wild cheer erupts again around us, and I feel like I just made a last-second save.
The adrenaline rush comes on fast and strong, but it’s nothing close to the feeling of Charlie’s mouth on mine.
She kisses me with all the passion you’d expect from someone who writes kissing scenes for a living.
I get lost in her scent and taste as the kiss deepens.
For a moment, it’s just the two of us in our own world until I hear Charlie’s sweet voice say, “Nice catch. That’s the second time you’ve stopped me from falling. I hope you’re not tired of it yet.”
“Of course not.”
“Good.” She gives me a smile that lights up her whole face. “Because I plan on falling every single day, Dax. Falling more and more in love with you.”
My heart swells with joy and pride to have this amazing woman in my arms and by my side for the rest of my life. I look her in the eyes and make a promise that I can’t wait to keep: “I’ll always catch you, Charlie. You can count on that.”
Ready for more? Return to Briarwood in Love and Other Penalties , the next book in the Meet-Cute Match-Ups series.
When a figure skater on the brink of her Olympic dream gets her ice time stolen by Briarwood’s secret softie, sparks fly.