Chapter 36
THIRTY-SIX
We just got back from a two-day tournament.
We lost our first two games, but ended up pulling out a win on our last game for seventh place.
I should be happier, maybe, but it still feels like there’s so much potential we aren’t realizing yet.
I want them to win more than ever. I want their hard work to pay off in ways mine didn’t and I want them to have what I didn’t—not only love for the game but success.
“You’re still here,” Grady says when he spots me sitting in the locker room.
“Yeah. I’m too tired to move.” I haven’t been sleeping well anyway, but it was worse in a hotel room. And Conrad is out of town for a game until late tonight so there isn’t much motivation to hurry. “I have some ideas for next week’s practices.”
“Already thinking about next week?” His mouth hitches up on one side. “Enjoy your day off. You need your rest.” He smiles as he glances at my stomach. “We’ll talk about the schedule Monday.”
“Okay,” I relent, but then think of something else. “Wait. I keep meaning to ask about Landon. How’s he doing?”
“Good.” Grady smiles. “He’s a great kid. It’s fun having him around. You should see him eat. We can’t keep enough food in the house. You’ll see for yourself someday, I guess.”
It’s so weird to think that I’ll have a child someday, let alone a teenager. But I suppose Grady is right. The visual makes me smile. “It’s a really nice thing you’re doing for him.”
“Nah. It’s nothing. I’m happy to have him. Mary and I tried for a baby for a few years, then gave up. The disappointments got to be too much for her. I never thought I’d get the chance, and while he’s not ours, it’s a glimpse into a future I didn’t think I’d get.”
I smile at the big, burly head coach. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so joyful. Especially considering our place in the tournament. “Any word on another family in the school district?”
“Not yet, but they’re still looking. No one wants to pull him out during the middle of the school year. Or hockey season. I’m going to need him come the playoffs.”
I laugh softly. I do love having him on the team, but more than that I want him to have all the support and love he needs to thrive. He’s already this amazing kid, but he’s taken on way more than anyone his age should.
“Okay. I’m out of here.” Grady gives me a salute. “Enjoy what’s left of the weekend.”
I nod, but as he turns to leave, I can’t help but say one last thing. It’s been weighing on me since our first tournament loss. “I’m sorry if I was too hardheaded about trying to incorporate some fun and games into practices. I think I might have been wrong.”
He studies me, hands on his hips. I like Grady. I respect him. I should have listened to him. What the hell do I know? It’s my first time coaching. Whereas, he’s been doing it for almost ten years.
“Anyway. I wanted you to know that I won’t fight you on the practice plans from now on.”
“Come with me.” Grady motions for me to follow him and heads out of the locker room.
I do but my heart isn’t really in it. My steps are purposely slow.
I’m rethinking Grady’s plan to get more game-time scenarios into practice and trying to figure out how I can help.
I was so busy with my own agenda, fueled by my bad experiences, when I could have been brainstorming ways to add on to his ideas.
As we get farther from the locker room down the tunnel to the rink, Grady glances back. It’s then that I realize there are people out on the ice. The noise of skates and sticks moving across the ice, voices echoing in the rafters, and the puck hitting the boards.
We creep up slowly and stay out of sight. Landon, Pepper, and three varsity players are on one end. They’re laughing and talking, but I can tell they’re working too.
It brings a smile to my lips to see them out there, carefree and having fun.
Grady stands beside me, watching them as well. “The tournament didn’t go how we wanted, but these boys can win. I’m more certain of that than ever.”
“How?”
“They’re here, aren’t they? They could be home or out partying with their friends. Instead, they’re fighting to improve. They’re hungry for it. They remember why they started playing and what it’s all about. That’s your doing.”
“Our doing,” I correct him.
“Sure.” He chuckles as his lips part into a wide smile. “I’ll take the credit if you don’t want it.”
Landon shoots the puck into the net around the other players and when it goes in, he lifts his arms up over his head and lets out a whoop. Hockey should be fun. If it isn’t, then what’s the point?
“Trust your judgment as a coach,” Grady says. “You’re good at it and you’ll only get better.”
I’m too stunned to speak, but pride zips through me.
“They’re lucky to have you. I am too.” Grady squeezes me on the shoulder, then steps out of our hiding spot and calls out to Landon on the ice. “Five minutes, gentlemen. I have a date with my recliner.”
Grady turns back and heads away from the rink. “See you Monday, Coach.”
The following weekend, Conrad invites me to the Moonshot Hockey arena.
The doctor recommended that I limit my skating so that I’m not putting myself at risk of falls.
It’s been harder than I thought. I’m so used to lacing up and being out there with my team all the time, but Conrad assured me that tonight he would hold my hand and throw himself in front of me, if necessary, to keep anything from happening to me or our baby.
I haven’t seen him in forty-eight hours, so I was fully prepared to walk out on the ice in my sneakers to kiss him if necessary. He was gone Thursday night for a game, then last night my team traveled. I’ve reached my limit of missing him. I hope his friends are prepared to watch us make out.
“Are you taking vitamins? And what about caffeine? I heard you’re supposed to limit your intake.” Victor’s voice comes through the car speakers with such genuine concern, I’m not sure how to respond.
“Where did you hear that?” I park my car outside the rink.
“Alexis. One of her sisters just had a baby. Oh, and I sent you something in the mail.”
“What?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“Is it Bella?” I joke. I miss that dog.
“As if.” He huffs a laugh.
“Yeah, don’t mail her. Book a flight and I’ll pick her up.”
“It’s something I found at Dad’s house.”
“Ominous.”
“It’s nothing. I saw it and thought you should have it.”
“All right, but if it’s Dad’s copy of The Art of War, I’m tossing it.” I kill the engine and open the door. Conrad’s truck is here, so I know he’s inside already. “I have to go. Call you this week sometime. Good luck in Nashville.”
“Should be an easy win with all their injuries,” he says. Despite his words of confidence, it’s his first game back after the suspension, so I have to imagine he’s feeling some pressure to come back strong and prove his worth to the team and stop the media coverage of his game misconduct.
After we hang up, I get out of my car and head inside the arena. It’s quieter than I expected, but there are lights streaming out from the rink.
I unlock my phone with the intent of texting Conrad, but Danny appears first.
“Hey,” I say as he walks toward me.
He’s dressed casually in athletic pants and a T-shirt. “You made it.”
“Yeah. Not hard to find with the bright purple glow of this place.”
He lets out a quiet chuckle.
“Where’s Conrad?”
“He sent me out here to make sure you found it.”
“O-kay.” It’s unclear why he didn’t come himself.
Danny tips his head toward the ice. I follow him down several flights of stairs, then to their locker room, where I can change into my skates.
I keep waiting for Conrad to appear or for some sign of his other friends supposedly meeting us here, but so far, it’s just me and Danny and his ever-present smirk.
“Ready?”
“Yeah,” I say, suddenly feeling a little nervous.
It’s a short trek to the ice, but before it comes into view, Danny turns and faces me, stopping me from going farther.
He pulls out a black silk blindfold from his pants pocket. “Do you trust me?”
“No,” I deadpan. “What are you, a magician? Are you going to pull out a rabbit next?”
His grin stretches wide. It’s a smile that I’m sure gets him exactly what he wants most of the time. “Would you feel better if I told you it’s Conrad’s request and I’m just the messenger?”
“Maybe.”
He extends his hand and, reluctantly, I take the blindfold. I give him one last leery look before I pull it on.
“Now what?” I ask, butterflies swarming in my stomach.
“I’m going to take your hand and lead you out onto the ice, okay?”
“Alright, but if you’re fucking with me, I feel pretty confident that Conrad will kick your ass.”
“No doubt.” He laughs again, then his big, warm hand engulfs mine. It’s an odd feeling having another man’s hand linked with mine. I’ve gotten so used to Conrad’s, and in the past, new would have been fun and exciting, but now it’s just different and a little strange.
We take a handful of slow steps, then Danny says, “Careful now. We’re stepping onto the ice.”
It’s smoother than at the high school rink, not surprisingly. I’d say it’s been cleared recently, but it’s probably always been recently cleared.
I’m about to ask what’s next when the first note of a song plays over the arena’s speakers.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me.” A giggle follows as “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” continues blasting around me.
“Don’t move.” Danny lets go of my hand. The music is too loud for me to hear anything else, but I know Conrad is here somewhere. This can only be his doing.
“Where are you, Charming?” I call out, probably not loud enough for him to hear me.
“Right here, baby.” His voice comes from behind me, closer than expected, at the same time that his arms move around my waist to steady me.
With the blindfold I can’t see anything, but somehow, I know he’s smiling as he takes both of my hands in his. Goose bumps rise along my arms as he skates, pulling me with him.
“What are you up to?” I ask.
“You’ll see.”
“Actually, I won’t. Not with this blindfold on.”
“Almost there,” he says, skating me a little farther, or in circles, or who knows where because I’ve lost all sense of direction, before he stops. “Okay. Ready?”
“Yes.” My nerves are bouncing all over the place, but beyond anything else I’m so curious.
“Okay. You can look now.”
He doesn’t need to tell me twice. I lift the blindfold from my eyes. It’s darker than I expected. Most of the overhead lights are off, but the ice is lit up all around the edges. There must be a thousand candles surrounding us.
“Conrad!” I gasp. “What did you do?”
I turn in a circle, taking it all in. I skate toward the edge to check out his handiwork.
Little tea lights are frozen inside jars and placed inches apart, several rows deep.
I glance back at Conrad. He lets me lead but doesn’t drop my hand.
I’m on the verge of tears all the time now, so I’m not surprised at all when my eyes start watering.
“This is so beautiful.”
“I had a little help from my friends. They’re hiding somewhere.” His gaze briefly leaves mine as if searching for them.
“You did all this for me?”
“I wanted to show you how much you mean to me.” His expression goes ashen and his shoulders lift and fall like he’s taking deep breaths.
It takes me a moment to realize he’s nervous.
This is the Conrad I first met. The one who sat across from me on our first date. The one who was scared to talk to me.
“I know,” I tell him, skating forward another foot so there’s barely any distance between us and staring directly up at him.
“Do you?” His voice cracks. “I’ve never been good at expressing myself. You’ve always been great about it. I can’t tell you what that means to me, but right now I just want to be the guy who isn’t tongue-tied and scared to death. You deserve that.”
He turns to face away from me. Even now he won’t let go of me like he’s fully prepared to hold me up even as he’s breaking down. He reaches into his pocket with his free hand and pulls something out, then mutters a string of curses under his breath. My heart squeezes in my chest.
I skate around and back in front of him. He’s holding a small black box and looks like he’s seconds from puking or racing out of here.
“Hey.” I place my hands on either side of his face. “It’s just me.”
His hands move to my hips. “Don’t you get it? You aren’t just anything. You’re everything to me.”
“Ask me.”
He blanches.
“Ask me. There’s no universe where my answer is anything but yes. I’m a sure thing, Charming.” If it isn’t an engagement ring in that box, then I might be the one to make a hasty exit.
“Marry me?” he asks quietly.
Relief whooshes through me, followed by a giddy tingling sensation. I nod before I speak. “Definitely.”
“Yeah?” He seems so genuinely surprised that it drags a laugh from my lips.
“Yes.” I shout a little louder over the chorus of the song. It’s really blasting now, and I want to make certain he knows. I’ll happily be his wife. A million times yes.
Finally, he smiles. It’s like the weight of the world lifts from his shoulders.
“Thank fuck,” he whispers as his mouth descends on mine.
From wherever they’re hiding, his friends whoop and cheer.
I feel his lips curve into a smile. I wrap my arms around his neck, and he spins us in a circle, almost like we’re dancing to the music.
When we break apart, he says, “I’m better on skates. ”
“Me too.”
He opens the ring box and takes out the gorgeous oval-cut yellow diamond.
“Conrad Shepard!” I gasp as he puts it onto my left ring finger. It’s the most stunning thing I’ve ever seen.
“You like it?”
“No, I’m obsessed with it.” I lift my gaze to him. “And with you.”
His lips pull into a boyish grin.
“We’re getting married!” I yell, deliriously happy.
He kisses me again, then his friends’ voices grow closer. We’re interrupted by them crowding around us. Danny, Travis, Nick, Penn, and even Hannah and Ruby are here.
Each one congratulates us. I’m wrapped in hugs, and Danny dips me, showing off his dance skills before Conrad steals me back with a glare.
“I wouldn’t let her fall,” Danny says.
“You planned a proposal on ice, and now you’re terrified I’m going to fall, aren’t you?” I ask my new fiancé.
“Yeah. It felt romantic, but I think we should find you a seat over there.” He motions with his head to the bench.
I chuckle as I let him skate me off the ice. He kisses me again, then makes sure I take a seat.
“I won’t be long.”
“Take your time.” I lift my left hand. “I’m going to have a private moment or two with this ring.”
He chuckles and yells out to his friends, “All right. Who’s ready for a friendly little relay game?”
“Relay game?” I ask.
“Of course,” he says like there was no other option. “They’re your favorite.”
He thought of everything.
“And also . . .” He skates backward, eyes on me. “I’m really fast. Need to look good for my girlfriend.”
“Fiancée,” I yell back.
He shakes his head. “Fiancée. I like it. Almost as much as I’m going to like calling you my wife.”