Chapter 22
Zane
The rink is quiet in a way it never usually is, like everyone can sense what’s about to happen. We’ve just beaten the Vipers and secured the semifinals, but none of that matters right now. All I can think about is the final play I still need to make.
By now, I can feel my heartbeat rising into my throat, pounding heavily in my neck. My palms are damp, and my jersey clings uncomfortably to my body.
I block everything out.
We’ve won, but I don’t let myself feel it. No announcer’s voice. No music thumping through the speakers. No crowd roaring in celebration. Just the low hum of the lights above and the faint scrape of skates cutting across the ice.
“It’s time,” Blake says, skating up beside me.
The entire team knows what I’m about to do, and they’ve been nothing but supportive. Surprisingly, Holt was the most enthusiastic of all. He even spoke with his sister and helped arrange a statement. I’m not sure if it was his conversation or Leo’s team behind the scenes, but either way, it worked.
Suddenly, the noise of the arena rushes back in.
The crowd’s energy fills my ears, and then I see her.
Lisa is guiding Gwen onto the rink, her eyes still covered with a blindfold, and the earmuffs Tess suggested are still in place.
“You think it’s going to work?” I ask Blake, my voice tight with nerves.
“You two are made for each other,” he says calmly. “Show her you’re willing to fight for her.”
I don’t hesitate; I pull him into a quick hug.
“Thanks for everything,” I tell him as we part.
“We’ve got a special celebration tonight, everyone,” Greg’s voice echoes through the stadium. “One of our own Grizzlies is in love, and he’s here to show it.”
The crowd responds with laughter, this time warm and supportive.
I watch as Lisa gently removes Gwen’s earmuffs. Confusion flickers across Gwen’s face as the blindfold is untied. The moment her eyes are free, they find mine immediately.
There’s so much in her gaze.
I see fear. I see happiness. I see the weight of the crowd, the uncertainty, the consequences she’s worried about my career, our future. And that’s exactly why we planned this.
“Gwen, are you in the house?” Greg calls out through the speakers.
Gwen instinctively looks upward, even though Greg is seated just a few rows away. I can’t help but smile.
“This one is for you.”
Greg lowers the microphone, and “Cardigan” by Taylor Swift begins to play.
As discussed in the locker room, the team takes position. One by one, they skate into formation behind Blake, who leads them across the ice.
At first, they had laughed at the idea. But once I explained what Gwen meant to me, it became something bigger, something we all believed in together.
In sync, they begin tracing a heart shape into the ice around me.
Lisa leans in and says something quietly to Gwen. I can’t hear the words, but whatever she says makes Gwen smile, and a tear slips down her cheek.
I glide toward the edge of the rink and motion for Gwen to come closer.
The shock is still there on her face, but beneath it, I see something stronger than her courage. That fearless part of her that I’ve always loved.
And as she stands there, looking at me, I know she sees it too.
Gwen slowly makes her way down to the rink, and this time the crowd cheers. No one is yelling boo or anything negative.
I wait next to the gate, and when Gwen reaches it, I hold out my hand.
“Follow me,” I tell her. She doesn’t say a word, but she does it. She steps onto the ice. Her grip tightens around my hand, and I notice she’s afraid of falling. I squeeze her hand back to reassure her.
“What are you doing?” she asks with a soft laugh when she reaches the center of the heart. The boys are on the side now, so it’s just Gwen and me. The light crew even shines a spotlight on us.
“I needed you to see something,” I begin. “I needed you to see that I’m proud to be seen with you. I want the entire world to know you’re mine. I want everyone in this room to know your name and to know that you’re my girlfriend,” I tell her, and another tear rolls down Gwen’s cheek.
“You could’ve just told me that,” she laughs softly.
“Isn’t this what they do in books?” I retort, making her laugh even harder. “You’re my girlfriend, and I’m proud of that. I’m proud that a woman like you would want to be with someone like me. Tell me you hear me.”
She nods as I wipe another tear away with my thumb.
“I need you to know that I love you, Gwen. I love everything about you inside and out,” I say as I pull her closer. A cheerful reaction rises from the crowd as I do.
“A lot of people are watching,” Gwen laughs as she wraps her arms around my neck.
“Well then, let’s give them something to watch,” I smile, then lean down and kiss her deeply. I’ve missed her lips every minute she’s been away, and I don’t want this moment to end. I keep her close and don’t let go until she does.
“I love you too,” she smiles softly, looking up into my eyes.
Poetically, just as she says it, the song ends, and the entire crowd rises to their feet in cheers. Gwen looks around in awe and starts laughing.
“I think he told her something really special, folks. We’ll see you at the finals, wishing the lovebirds all the best,” Greg’s voice echoes through the stadium.
“I can’t believe you did this,” Gwen says, a big smile spreading across her face.
“It was the only way I could show you how much I want you,” I chuckle.
“It’s a little dramatic, but I’ll forgive you for that,” Gwen teases.
Slowly, we skate back toward the gate as the team leaves the ice. The crowd begins to filter out of the stadium when Gwen steps off the ice.
“Did you see?” she asks proudly. “I didn’t fall on the ice this time.”
“I did. I fell for you,” I tell her just as Lisa suddenly appears.
“Ew, so cliché,” she complains, making Gwen and me laugh.
“I’m going to get changed real quick. Shall we meet at the apartment afterward and have a proper celebration this time?” I ask, and they both nod.
I skate back onto the ice toward the tunnel. Blake is still there, waiting for me.
“And?” he asks, anticipation written across his face.
“I love her, man,” I tell him as I slap a hand on his back. “It worked.” I let out a sigh of relief.
“I’m starting to understand more and more what it feels like,” Blake says softly, standing still.
“What do you mean?” I ask, and Blake seems nervous. It’s unlike him.
“I’ve been seeing this girl. She’s special, you know?” he says, and I nod. “She makes even the worst days better somehow. I don’t know how she does it.” He shrugs.
“Do I know her?” I ask, and Blake starts walking.
“Tonight is about you and Gwen. I’ll tell you more some other time,” Blake smiles.
“Whenever you want. I’m here,” I reply as we head toward the locker room.
We both change as quickly as we can and make our way back to my apartment. Lisa mentioned that Leo and Tess would be joining as well, so of course, Blake decided to come too.
“I missed you,” I say as I walk into the living room and immediately kiss Gwen.
“Hi,” she smiles in return.
“Ok, you weren’t kidding. They really are obnoxiously in love,” Julian comments from the kitchen, and I’m surprised to see him here.
“You’re here,” I say as I pull him into a hug. “How have you been?”
“All good, man. Let’s catch up later,” he replies with his signature Julian-style wink. There’s something oddly comforting about it.
“I propose a toast!” Blake suddenly calls out across the room. “Cheers to love,” he says as he hands everyone a glass. We all raise our glasses before taking a sip. “And to smashing the Hawks in the finals,” Blake adds quickly.
“To winning the semifinals,” Gwen replies. “And smashing the Hawks,” she adds, making everyone laugh.
Tess takes control of the radio, and Megan Moroney begins to play.
“Dance with me,” Gwen says excitedly, and I do. I dance with her in front of our friends, right in the middle of my living room.
Before I know it, everyone joins in, and the party kicks off.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I check it quickly and see it’s my dad calling, but I don’t answer.
I’m not in the mood to deal with him right now.
Whether he agrees with my choices or not, it doesn’t matter at this moment.
All that matters is being here with my girl and my friends.
“Not to make things weird,” Lisa says after Tess and Leo leave, “but I got a hotel for tonight,” she adds. “I wanted to give you guys some space, so I packed a bag. I’ll be back tomorrow evening or so. I’ll text you ahead of time.”
I’m pretty sure my face has gone through every shade of red in the past few seconds, but I don’t care.
“I’ll make sure she gets to the hotel safely,” Blake says, being the only other guest left.
“Blake Evan Saxon, I didn’t know you were a gentleman,” I joke.
“Your name is Evan?” Gwen asks, surprised.
“Yeah, my middle name is. Why?” Blake replies.
“Nothing. I just didn’t know, that’s all,” Gwen says.
We say goodbye to Lisa and Blake, and when the apartment finally falls quiet, I’m able to show Gwen my last surprise of the day.
“I got you something,” I say excitedly. She’s sitting on the couch, checking her phone, and immediately drops it.
“What did you get?” she asks with a wide smile.
“Follow me,” I tell her.
Gwen stands and takes my hand. I lead her down the hallway toward the bedroom.
“It’s your bed,” she chuckles.
“No, that’s not the surprise,” I laugh. “Look,” I say, pointing to the wall.
I’ve set up a shelf and placed the books I saw in her apartment on it.
“I noticed the stack of books you were reading at your place, and I wanted you to be able to continue reading them when you’re here.
So I got copies for my apartment too,” I explain.
“You didn’t,” Gwen says in shock as she walks toward the shelf and runs her fingers along the spines. “Thank you,” she adds softly as tears begin to roll down her cheeks.
“I didn’t want to make you cry,” I say, pulling her into a tight embrace.
“They’re happy tears,” she tells me. “It’s happiness.”
Relief washes over me.
“So… you like the shelf?”
“I love the shelf,” she sighs into my chest. “I can’t believe you remembered all the titles.”
“Not all of them,” I laugh. “You have way too many books for that.”
“You had this set up before the game today,” Gwen says, and I nod. “You were really confident that your big ice moment would work, weren’t you?” she asks with a laugh.
“I wasn’t certain,” I admit, “but I was hoping it would. These past few days without you have been too painful. I don’t want to go through that again.”
“Me neither,” Gwen sighs, burying her face into my chest again.