Chapter 27 Winnie #4
Winnie swallows, suddenly nervous as Ty grabs her fingers, then pulls her closer.
She glides over the ice, sailing smoothly into his arms, and braces her hands against his chest to stop herself.
His palms settle at her hips, holding her close.
He traces the edge of her lace corset with his thumbs, sending a wild thrill down her spine.
She shakes her head, completely overwhelmed.
“This is insane,” she whispers with a laugh, not sure what else to say as she looks to the lights, the flowers, the candles, before finally meeting his burning blue eyes, her happiness so potent she’s dizzy.
“Maybe a little,” he concedes, his smile widening as he feeds on her joy.
“How did you even do this?”
“Well, I don’t know if you know this, but I’m sort of a big deal. Hometown hero and all that.”
“Wow. I’m glad to see you haven’t let your paycheck go to your head.”
“Never.” He grins. But then his brows furrow, as if he’s suddenly unsure. A serious edge roughens his voice. “Do you like it?”
“Ty.” She reaches up to brush her fingers across his cheek. “I love it.”
“Good. Because I meant what I wrote. I don’t want to wait another second.” He tightens his fingers around her waist as the whole room seems to collectively hold its breath. “Marry me, Win.” He leans close, pressing his lips to her ear, whispering this next part just for her. “I dare you.”
A wide, toothy smile gives her away, but she can’t stop herself from teasing him just a little. “Like, right now?”
He snorts and shakes his head. “Yes. Right fucking now.”
“What’s in it for me?”
“How about forever?”
“I think I’m willing to take that deal.”
They stare at each other like two happy idiots in love, because that’s exactly what they are. Keith takes advantage of the opening.
“I guess that’s my cue,” he says with a laugh that probably sounds charming through a television screen, but in reality, edges on smarmy.
“Twenty-seven seasons, and this is our first surprise wedding. You certainly know how to keep us on our toes, Tyler. Now I have to apologize. This is my first time officiating, and I just put this script together on the flight over, but I think we should start with the traditional opening. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…”
Winnie takes Tyler’s hands in hers, holding on tight, unable to look away as they promise each other forever.
And okay, yes, she may get slightly distracted just for a moment when he takes a massive princess-cut diamond out of his pocket and slides it over her finger—it’s so sparkly!
—but this isn’t about the ring or the money or the fame that comes with being on his arm.
It’s about the man himself. If any other person even tried to give that jewel to her, she’d feel like an imposter.
But Ty makes her feel as though she’s worth every penny of it and more, as though the sun rises in her eyes and the day wouldn’t be worth waking up to without her in it.
And it’s the easiest promise she’s ever made—pledging to fight for him, to be that beacon for the rest of his life, the light that will chase away his darkness.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Keith declares as thunderous applause ripples across the arena. “You may kiss your bride!”
Ty wraps his arms around her waist and dips her low, capturing her surprised shriek with an earth-shattering kiss that leaves her clutching at him for dear life as every muscle in her body goes weak.
An explosive bang has her rearing back. She looks up in fright.
It takes a moment for her to realize the white flurries in the air aren’t ash—they’re confetti.
It’s so ridiculous and over the top, so Hollywood, she can’t help but hold her hands up and laugh, giving in to the moment, because as absurd as it is, somehow, it’s perfect.
Tyler lifts her off her feet, taking advantage of the skates to twirl her around, faster and faster, as the glittering papers continue to fall around them like snow.
They lose it together, sharing a look that whispers, How the hell did we end up here?
while at the same time feeling as if here is exactly where they were always meant to be.
“That’s a wrap!” Nina calls.
“Halle-fucking-llujah!” Tyler cheers.
“We did it!” Winnie shouts, grabbing his cheeks in her palms. “We survived!”
“No, baby.” He shakes his head, kissing her softly. “We thrived.”
“I have to ask, was any of that legal?”
“Legal? No.” He trails a series of kisses up her neck before he pulls back with a grin. “But real? Yes. At least to me. Just say the word and we can go to city hall to sign the papers. As far as I’m concerned, you’re mine.”
“And you’re mine,” she says, running a hand through his hair, looking deep into his eyes so he can see the soul bared within hers.
“Always. I’m not going to get scared. I’m not going to run.
I’m here. I’m with you. Forever. Because you’re the most amazing man I’ve ever met.
You’re so kind and so strong, not because of your muscles, but because of your heart.
The things you’ve experienced, they would break a lesser man.
But you let them hone you, let them drive you to be more, to be better, and you are.
You’re so incredible. So accomplished, not despite the odds, but because of them.
And more than any of that, Ty, from the very first day we met, you’ve always given me the confidence to be myself, which is so much harder than it sounds, but it’s true.
With you, I don’t have to question. I don’t have to second-guess.
I feel safe and protected and comfortable just the way I am, which is such a privilege, Ty.
It’s such a gift. You have no idea how much it means to me.
And I love you for it. I’ll never stop loving you. ”
“I know.” He tugs her hand from his cheek and presses a soft kiss to her inner wrist, making one last promise. “Always.”
“Always.”
Winnie looks around at her mother and father, her brother and her best friend, everyone she adores gathered in one place, and she’s so happy she could burst. Not sure what to do, she watches as the last lingering bits of confetti drift slowly onto the ice.
After fourteen hours of travel, she should probably be exhausted, but she’s so high on adrenaline, sleep is the last thing on her mind.
Maybe she’s gotten too used to production bossing her around, because she’s at a complete loss, as if part of her is just waiting for Nina to step out of the shadows and start barking orders.
When that doesn’t happen, she looks up to Tyler instead.
“So, what now?”
“You’re the reader.” He shrugs. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“Isn’t what obvious?”
He presses his lips to her ear. “We live happily ever after.”
“Oh, is that all?”
“Yeah,” he says so matter-of-factly she grins. Then he grins too. “But first, we party.”
“Party?” She laughs. “You hate parties.”
“Just this once, for you, I was willing to make an exception. Besides, I always secretly wanted a birthday party here, but my mom could never afford it, and I was too afraid to impose more on your parents. But now, I figure—fuck it. They’re my in-laws.
And if I’m going to make my dreams come true, I might as well be thorough about it. ” He turns around. “Alex!”
“On it!”
Her brother rushes across the ice and vaults over the edge of the rink, then disappears into the shadows.
A second later, music blasts over the speakers and a disco ball drops from the ceiling.
On the far side of the rink, the concession stand lights up, revealing the usual cast of employees watching on with matching grins as they start to line up little cups of food all along the counter.
Waiters emerge carrying trays of champagne.
The doors on either side of the rink open, and people start to stream inside—friends, family, teammates, loved ones from all different stages of their lives.
Most are locals who could make it on short notice, but some came from farther away.
Winnie spots Sam’s fiancé, Cooper, in the crowd, his cowboy hat and flaming red hair hard to miss as he rushes across the rink, getting to Sam just in time to catch her before she face-plants on the ice.
Five-inch stilettos would never take her down, but the girl is an absolute disaster on skates.
They went one time during their first Christmas together in New York, and Sam spent the entire hour clutching the wall for dear life, watching with murder in her eyes as Winnie zipped around her. Suffice to say, they never went again.
“Looking good, bestie!” Winnie can’t help but taunt.
“I did this for you.” Sam arches a brow and points a sharp finger in her direction. “Never question how much I love you.”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
Cooper kneels down and Sam climbs onto his back like a monkey, glancing at Winnie with a little wink before she yells, “Yeehaw!”
Tyler snorts. “Did she just—?”
“Yup.”
More friends call out congratulations. More people flood the ice. Winnie practically squeals when Charlotte and Harper race over and wrap her in their arms.
“I’m going to murder Cynthia at the reunion,” Harper growls.
“Not if I get there first,” Charlotte says.
Winnie jerks back in surprise. “Charlotte!”
“What? I’m not always nice,” her friend replies with wide eyes. “I can be mean when I want to be.”
Winnie and Harper share a look, smothering their smiles. It’s like watching a golden retriever try to be pissed.
“I’m serious,” Charlotte adds. “I can be.”
“Sure,” Harper drawls, then turns to Winnie with a suddenly sharp expression. “The camera guys told us what happened—that little bitch. I promise, we had no idea what she was doing. If we had, I—”