COLE
November, Six Months Later
My palms won’t stop sweating. I wipe them on my nice jeans for the third time in the last twenty minutes. The ring isn’t even in my pocket anymore and I’m still going through it.
Bauer senses my distress, leaving my mom’s side for the first time since my parents arrived back in Heston Lake for a visit. He leans heavily against me. I take a few breaths to steady my nerves while petting him.
Benson and David are the only ones that know the plan. This time I don’t want to keep them out of the loop. I took them out for drinks and showed them the ring I bought for Eve and broke the news that I’m planning to propose before we sit down for Thanksgiving dinner as a family.
I didn’t expect to be so nervous after I’ve spent months figuring out how I want to ask her to spend our lives together.
“Are you okay? You’re looking flushed.” Eve touches my forehead and cheeks in concern.
I clasp her wrist, sliding an arm around her waist. “I’m okay. It’s just warm in here with everyone over.”
“We’re going to need a bigger table soon. It’s nice we get to spend the holidays with your parents this year. I like having everyone together.”
“Me too.”
I wanted everyone important to us to be here when I ask her to marry me.
Eve’s mom calls her from the kitchen. She presses on her toes to kiss my cheek, then goes to help.
Benson comes up behind me, massaging my shoulders. “You good, man?”
“Hanging in there,” I mutter.
“Relax. You’ve got this.”
I nod, turning to him. He slips me the ring box and pats my chest.
“From the heart.”
“Right.”
He snickers with glee. “You look like you just took the biggest hit.”
“Thanks, asshole.”
“Do I need to get Dad to tell you to skate it off?”
I roll my eyes. “How did you survive this when you asked Jess?”
“Bro, I couldn’t remember a damn thing. She ended up asking me.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, shoulders shaking with amusement. “That makes sense.”
“Don’t worry. She’s going to say yes.”
I rub at the burn tingling my chest. “I hope so.”
“Say yes to what?” Eve leans around me from behind. “What are you two plotting? And before you say impromptu ski trip, no. I can’t hit the slopes until I finish my new collection for my Valentine’s Day launch.”
Benson shoots me the same look he used to before our hockey games in high school. It’s his way of silently wishing me luck.
This is it.
“I know. We’re not planning a ski trip. Come here for a second?” I draw her to the center of the room.
A slow smile stretches across her face. “What?”
“Just—this.”
I kiss her. She returns it. When I pull back, I’m overcome with how much I love her.
My gaze softens, eyes bouncing between hers. When I lower to one knee, her features slacken in surprise. She glances around, then refocuses on me with a shimmer in her gaze.
“Oh my god. Is this happening right now? Are you really—?”
A laugh huffs out of me. “I haven’t said a word yet. Can I?”
“Right, okay.” She mimes zipping her lips.
I offer a hand and she slips hers into it. My thumb sweeps her fingers and I bring them to my lips.
“Evie…”
Every word I practiced for this moment leaves my head. I’m always reminding her it’s okay to be imperfect and embrace it. I draw in a shuddering breath, then let my heart do the talking.
“Sweetheart, you’re everything to me. You make me want to be the best man I possibly can be, for myself and for you.”
“Yes,” she blurts.
My brows lift. “I’m not done yet.”
“Oh. Okay. Keep going.” She dances in place, grinning through the tears shining in her beautiful eyes.
“I love the life we’re building. I want to spend every day by your side. Taking care of you. Making you laugh. Wiping your tears. The good. The bad. All of it. I’m in, sweetheart. I’m in with you forever.”
“Cole,” she whispers, moved.
I lick my lips. “So what do you think? Want to marry me?”
She’s silent for a beat. My stomach ripples with unease. Then she jumps.
“Oh, you’re waiting. I already said yes.”
My head hangs with a relieved huff. “Yes. Yes.”
“Yes,” she repeats affectionately.
With a delighted noise, she crashes into me, taking both of us to the floor. Our family laughs. My arms lock around her, mouth meeting hers. When we climb to our feet, we hug everyone as they congratulate us.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Benson mouths ring at me.
Damn it. I pat my pocket, feeling the box I forgot to get out. A rueful smile crosses my face.
“Sorry, sweetheart.”
Eve winds her arms around my waist. “It was a perfect proposal in my book. Perfectly imperfect, just the way I like it.”
My lips twitch at the mantra I’m always giving her when she’s being hard on herself.
I drop a kiss on her forehead, then slide the engagement ring on her finger.
With Jess and her friends’ help, I found a custom jeweler to create something as unique as she is, setting her birthstone amongst a cluster of gold leaves to look like a bouquet.
“It’s gorgeous.” She admires it.
“You like it? The girls helped me pick it.”
“I love it.” She tips her chin up for another kiss, murmuring against my lips. “Love you.”
“Love you too, Evie.”
When we part, we pose for photos. Eve rests her hand against my chest to show off the sparkling engagement ring. I haven’t stopped grinning since she said yes. Bauer jumps up on us, making both of us laugh. She bends to give him affection.
“Did you want to be in the photo too, my sweet boy?”
“I texted it to you,” Jess says.
“Thanks.”
Eve leans into me. I tug her closer while I pull up the photo on my phone.
“Send it to me, too,” she says. “I want to text the girls.”
I run my hand up and down her back, marveling that she’ll be my wife.
Once I shoot the photo off to her, I pull up the group chat the guys on the team put me in. There are several messages of their backyards covered in fresh snow and their meals. I text our picture to them and moments later, responses from rookies to upperclassmen players flood the chat.
Easton: Holy shit, Kincaid. Congrats.
Noah: Yooooo! [confetti emoji]
Easton: Locking it down with Coach Lombard’s daughter.
Elijah: Nice.
Madden: Congrats.
Cameron: The man, the myth, the legend.
Noah: Did you use my suggestion?
Cole: No. Only sent this so you’ll stop sending me every viral proposal idea you see.
Easton: Don’t lie. You love us.
Cole: And I question why often.
Cameron: Fuck off, bro. Go enjoy the good news with your family.
Chuckling, I show Eve. “Everyone’s fired up for us.”
She tilts her head. “The guys are so sweet. Tell them me and their favorite rink mascot wish them a Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Who, you or Bauer? Because you’re my favorite mascot,” I tease.
She pushes my chest playfully, lowering her voice. “Meet me at the rink after hours and I’ll show you my team spirit.”
“What am I going to do with you, my naughty girl?” I mutter against her ear. “Feel like sneaking away?”
“Me? You’re the one that bagged the coach’s daughter, mister assistant coach,” she sasses. “I’d say you’re the naughty one.”
My stomach drops. I text the group chat with the guys, a laugh of disbelief slipping out.
Cole: Oh shit.
Easton: What?
Cole: I’m marrying Eve. That makes David my father in law.
The little fucker sends back a long line of laughing emojis at my realization.
Eve catches my eye and gives me the bright smile that wraps tighter around my heart every time. My hand finds the small of her back and she leans into me. Our future is only getting started. We have everything ahead of us.
This is where I’m meant to be. Where I was always going to end up.
Coaching in Heston Lake and loving her with everything I’ve got.