Chapter 40 Joelle
JOELLE
Pierre is pacing, back and forth in the hallway outside the locker room. His pre-game ritual is usually calm and focused. But tonight, he's wound tight, nervous energy radiating off him in waves.
“She is going to say yes. Just concentrate on the game,” I tell him.
“I know but …”
“Everything is going to be perfect,” I reassure him, especially because we have Camyrn Starr, Harper’s bestie and event coordinator extraordinaire, organizing it all so nothing is going to go wrong, unless he injures himself in the game, which is the only thing that could derail this proposal. “That woman is crazy about you.”
He stops pacing and looks at me. "You think so? After everything.”
“Yes, because of everything.”
He exhales slowly, and some of the tension leaves his shoulders. "Okay. Okay, we’re good."
"Now go play. Win this game. Then go propose to your girl."
He grins, pulling me into a hug. "Thanks, Jo."
"Anytime.”
He heads into the locker room, and I make my way to the family section.
Collette is already there, bundled in her Mavericks scarf.
Issy is next to her, looking beautiful and completely unaware of what's about to happen tonight. I’m sitting with the family tonight because it’s a special night, otherwise, I would be down in the medical section.
The game starts, and the crowd is electric. It’s New Year's Eve and the Snow Classic, the energy in the arena is insane. I watch Emmett on the ice, he's playing hard tonight, aggressive, taking hits and dishing them out.
First period passes.
Second period starts.
Then it happens.
Emmett goes into the boards, hard. I gasp as I stand up. No. No. No. The hit is clean, but the angle is wrong, his shoulder takes the brunt of it.
He goes down.
Doesn't get up.
My stomach drops.
The ref blows the whistle.
He doesn’t get up.
Mike is on the ice, rushing toward him.
Play stops.
I'm on my feet. “I’ve got to go,” I tell Collette as I rush out of the suite.
I’m not thinking about anything other than him.
Please do not let this be a season-ending injury, please.
I rush down the stairs, through the labyrinth that is the back of the area, and make it to the tunnel, past security who know me, and into the medical room.
Emmett is sitting on the exam table, his jersey is off, and Mike is gently probing his shoulder. Emmett grits his teeth, trying not to show how much it hurts.
"How bad?" I ask from the doorway.
“Jo?” Emmett calls my name before wincing in pain.
Mike looks up. "Grade 3 AC joint separation. Maybe worse. We won't know until we get imaging."
My chest tightens. "How long?"
"Four to six weeks minimum. Could be longer."
This is going to kill him. If he had a tantrum over missing one game, he is not going to deal well with missing weeks of them.
Emmett's jaw clenches. "Fuck."
"I need to get back out there," Mike says. "Can you get him into a sling? Ice it. We'll do X-rays after the game."
"Yeah. I've got him," I tell him.
Mike leaves, and it's just the two of us.
“Hey there, Trouble.” He chuckles, but coughs through the pain.
"Don't," I say. Walking over to him, I cup his face with my hands. "Don't tell me you're fine. Don't tell me it doesn't hurt. Don't be Captain Black right now. Just be Emmett. My Emmett.”
His eyes soften. "It hurts like hell."
"I know." I press my forehead to his. "I'm sorry."
"Not your fault."
"I hate seeing you hurt."
"I know, Trouble." His good arm comes around me and pulls me closer. "I'm okay. I promise."
I pull back just enough to look at him, his stormy green eyes, the pain in them, the vulnerability he only ever shows me.
"I love you," I whisper.
His breath catches. "What?"
"I love you." The words come easier the second time. "I'm in love with you, Emmett Black. And I hate that you're hurt. And I hate that I can't be out there taking care of you publicly. And I hate that we have to hide. But I love you. And I needed you to know."
He stares at me. Silent. Stunned.
Then he kisses me. It's desperate. Urgent. His good hand tangles in my hair. Mine grips his uninjured shoulder. We pour everything into it. All the fear. The relief. The love. When we finally break apart, we're both breathing hard.
"I love you too," he says. "So fucking much."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." He kisses me again. Softer this time. "I've been wanting to say it for weeks."
"Why didn't you?"
"Scared." He laughs. "Turns out getting hit into the boards was good for something."
I smile despite everything. "Idiot."
"Your idiot."
"My idiot." I kiss him one more time. Then I force myself to step back. "Let me get you in a sling."
I grab the sling from the supply cabinet and help him get his arm positioned. He winces as I adjust the straps. "Sorry," I murmur.
"Worth it." His eyes are on mine. "For you? Always worth it."
My heart is so full it might burst.
“Oh shit, the proposal.”
“I’m not going to miss that,” Emmett says.
“But we have to get you checked out.”
He nods. “I don’t think an hour is going to hurt, do you?”
I smile. “Yes, but …”
“Give me some drugs for the pain, and I’ll push through. You know not to question my loyalty to my team.”
“Fine.” Giving in, I find him some heavy-duty pain meds and we walk back out to catch the third period with the rest of the team.
We watch the third period from the tunnel.
Emmett won't sit. Won't rest. Just stands there, arm in a sling, watching his team play without him.
The Mavericks are up by two. Pierre scores in the final minutes and the crowd goes wild.
When the buzzer sounds, the team erupts.
They've won the Snow Classic. Emmett's jaw is tight.
I know what he's thinking. He should be out there, celebrating with them.
“Go enjoy this win with them. I’ll see you later,” I tell him, he gives my hand a squeeze, and walks off toward the locker rooms.
I head back up to the family suite. Collette is already there with the dress bags for us to get changed into.
We went shopping last week for a dress for tonight, and I spotted this stunning emerald green dress and thought it would blow Emmette away as we celebrated New Year’s together, but it looks like we won’t be spending it together now.
"How's Emmett?" she asks.
"Out for a month. Grade three separation."
"Shit. That's rough."
"Yep. He’s taking it well, considering.”
“Considering last time you tried to bench him, he had a full-on meltdown.” Collette laughs.
“That feels like a million years ago.”
“Time flies when you’re having fun.” She winks.
We all change quickly, do our makeup, fix our hair, and by the time we're done, we look ready for a New Year's Eve celebration.
"Okay, let's go," Collette says.
We head down, and the team is gathering near the outdoor rink. Pierre told everyone to meet there before heading to the Rose Hotel. I spot Emmett standing with Sully, he's changed into dark jeans and a sweater. His face is tight with pain, but he's here.
When he sees me in the green dress, his eyes darken, and I wish I could go to him, stand beside him. But I can't. Not yet.
Collette finds her way to my side. "Wow, wasn’t expecting Emmett to be here.”
"He won't miss this."
"He's loyal. I'll give him that."
"Yeah. Come on, let’s get into our places.” We follow Harper and Camryn and meet up with Issy’s sisters and mom.
“How’s the captain?” Mom asks.
“In a lot of pain, he’s going to go get tests done after this,” I tell her.
She nods. “Does that mean you have to go?”
I still. I want to be there for Emmett, but this is also my brother’s big night.
“I think Mike is going to take him.”
Felix appears on the other side of the area from us, he's talking to Issy and leading her toward the outdoor rink attached to the arena. The guise of getting her down here was looking for Pierre’s lost glove. You can see it on her face, she is annoyed by the request, but is following Felix anyway.
Then she sees it, the outdoor rink, all the lights are off, just candles, hundreds of them, lining a red carpet that leads to the center of the ice.
Issy gasps, her hand flies to her mouth.
Pierre is standing in the middle of the rink, surrounded by candles, dressed in a suit, looking nervous and hopeful, and so in love it makes my chest ache. Tears well in my eyes. Issy starts walking, her red evening dress flowing behind her, and tears are already streaming down her face.
Halfway down the red carpet, Pierre drops to one knee.
We are far enough away that we can’t hear what he is saying.
Then she starts nodding, and fireworks explode into the sky, the crowd erupts as Pierre slides the ring onto her finger, then kisses her just as the snow starts to fall.
It's perfect. I'm crying. Collette is crying. Everyone is crying.
I glance at Emmett, he's watching Pierre and Issy, a soft smile on his face despite the pain. When he catches me looking, his smile widens. I wish I could go to him, wish I could take his hand and stand beside him.
But I can't. Not yet.
Everyone rushes toward Pierre and Issy. Hugging. Congratulating. The energy is electric.
I make my way to Pierre and hug him tight. "I'm so happy for you."
"Thanks, Jo." He's beaming. "I can't believe she said yes."
"I told you she would."
Issy pulls me into a hug next. "I'm getting married!"
"I know! I'm so excited for you!"
The team is heading to the Rose Hotel for the after-party.
I find Emmett near the edge of the crowd. “I’m off to get those tests.”
I nod. “I want to come.”
He shakes his head. “Your brother just got engaged, it’s New Year’s Eve. Go to the party and have fun. I’m just going to go home and pout on the sofa.”
“You shouldn’t be alone.”
“I won’t be for long. Come visit me when you get home.”
“You’ll be asleep. I don’t want to wake you,” I tell him.
“Here,” he says, holding out a key card. “I should have given this to you sooner, but I think now is a better time than never.” He hands me the keycard. “It’s the key to my apartment.”
“Emmett …”
“Nope. No taking it back. You told me you loved me earlier.”
“I did.” I smile.
“And so did I. And I want to see my woman any time she wants.”
“You do?”
“Fuck, yeah, I do, Trouble. Come find me when you’re done,” he says.
“Happy New Year, Captain.” This makes him smile.
“Happy New Year, Trouble.”
The party at the Rose Hotel is in full swing.
Music. Dancing. Champagne flowing. Pierre and Issy are the center of attention.
Everyone wants to congratulate them, see the ring, hear the story.
They're wrapped around each other, lost in their own bubble of happiness. I stay. Smile. Hug people. Toast to the happy couple. But my mind is elsewhere, with Emmett, alone in his apartment, in pain. At eleven, I grab my coat. I can’t do it any longer.
Collette catches me. "Where are you going?”
"I have to leave.”
"You can't. You'll be missed.”
"Look at them." I gesture to Pierre and Issy on the dance floor. They're swaying together, foreheads pressed close, completely oblivious to everyone else. "They're in their own world tonight. No one's going to notice I'm gone.”
Collette studies me, then her eyes soften. "You're going to him.”
"Yeah."
“Go. I’ll cover you,” she says, rolling her eyes.
I slip out before anyone else can stop me, the cold New York air hitting me as I step outside.
I hail a cab, and luckily, it’s only a couple of blocks home.
The city is alive with New Year's Eve energy.
People everywhere. Heading to parties. Counting down to midnight.
Singing as they walk. But all I want is him.
The cab drops me off, and I take the elevator up to our floor and use the keycard he gave me.
The apartment is dark except for the TV, the countdown show is on, fireworks from around the world lighting up the screen.
Emmett is on the couch, arm in a sling, ice pack stuck in it, guess he does listen.
He looks up when he hears the door. His eyes widen. "Jo?"
"Hi," I say as I shed my coat and shoes.
"What are you doing here? I thought you'd be at the party until after midnight.”
"I left.”
"Why?"
I cross to him and drop to my knees in front of the couch so we're eye level. "Because I want to spend New Year’s with you. With the man I love."
His breath catches. "Jo, it’s your brother’s engagement.”
“He is too wrapped in Issy to notice me.”
He stares at me, then he smiles, that soft, vulnerable smile that's just for me. "Come here.” I climb onto the couch beside him, careful of his shoulder. He shifts so I'm tucked against his good side, his arm around my shoulders. "I can't believe you're here," he murmurs.
"I'm exactly where I want to be."
On the TV, the countdown starts. Times Square. The ball is dropping. Ten. Nine. Eight.
"Happy almost New Year, Trouble," he whispers.
"Happy almost New Year, Captain."
Seven. Six. Five.
Four. Three. Two. One.
The screen explodes with fireworks. Cheers. Confetti.
Emmett turns his head and kisses me, softly. It’s the perfect New Year’s kiss.
"Happy New Year," he whispers against my lips.
"Happy New Year."
We stay like that, wrapped around each other. This isn't how I expected to spend New Year's Eve. But I wouldn't trade it for anything.