Page 72 of Rush

Our crowd has since moved out of the theater and is gathering at the main entrance.

“Boston Clovers newest defensewoman, Sam Campbell!” Luca cups his hands yelling. Everyone turns in our direction, cheering and clapping. Mr. Kane places two fingers in his mouth and whistles loudly. Giggling, I bend at my waist bowing before rushing over to my sister who throws her arms around my waist. I’m passed from person to person, hugs are exchanged and everyone gives their congratulations.

“Now, now!” My mom steps into the middle and calls for everyone’s attention. Her eyes meet mine and I can see the warmth, the regrets, and pride in her gaze. They fill with tears but she’s smiling.

“It took some finagling, and Jameson’s special brand of caveman tendencies,” she teases, and his friends rib him. Jameson’s eyes find my mom, and he smiles in return.

“Only the best for our girl.”

“Only the best,” my mom repeats. “We have a private seating room reserved down the block at Golden Rule.”

Everyone cheers again and my mouth opens in shock. Golden Rule has been featured in celebrity magazines. It was founded by the ex-wife of a former NHL player. Its name came from a part of his very public apology, when he almost gave up his career in order to get her back. The Golden Rule was that she was more important than the sport.

Dylan rides with Jameson and me to the restaurant, chatting happily the whole way there. She isn’t sad to be leaving Michigan. We tell her there’s an adventure we’re all going on together and that’s all that matters to her. Jameson grins at me across the console, taking my hand in his and kissing my wrist.

The back room reserved for our party is packed with everyone important in our lives. My mom, Aunt Paisley and Mr. Kane sit on one side of the table with Allie. Johnny, Luca and Braysen are around one end, and nestled between them is Emma, Hawke, Carter, Leif and Isla. I run over to my friends, hugging them tightly.

“Riley and Reign would have been here, but with Riley being drafted as well her man carried her out to have a private celebration,” Emma tells me, rolling her eyes teasingly.

“Understandable. I just can’t believe you’re here!” I tell her, giving her an extra squeeze. Hawke was drafted to an NFL team in Tennessee last year. Emma didn’t make it long before she left Michigan, transferring to be closer to him. Not that I blame her. I wouldn’t be able to leave Jameson, and I’m very thankful that he follows me everywhere.

“I hear congratulations are in order.” Kalai’s voice sounds behind me. I whirl around seeing both her and Romeo walking in, looking flashy and slightly dangerous in their matching, all black ensembles.

“What are you two doing here?” I’m smiling like a loon before hugging both of them.

Romeo’s eyes flick from me to Jameson and back. I’m sure part of their stay is probably related to business as well. “We had to help celebrate our friend. Congrats, Sammy.”

“Guess those box seats will come in handy, huh?” Jameson asks, his lips twitching.

Romeo grins before wrapping his arm around his wife’s waist. “Thankfully, Kalai is more dangerous than I am. We already got tickets for the Boston Clovers.”

My jaw drops and I would probably freak out if Jameson didn’t slide next to me, giving me a little shake. “You’re supposed to be inconspicuous when you learn how powerful your friends can be,” he whispers.

That snaps me right out of my stupor, and I look around, hoping no one notices. Jameson takes it front here, the rest of us sitting to eat, and he makes introductions. My meal tonight is probably the best food I’ve ever had, or it's just because more of my dreams came true and I’m on cloud nine. After dinner, my mom and Allie take Dylan with them to their hotel. Jameson and I say goodbye to everyone and make sure they all have rides to their respective places. On our way out the door, he grabs the last bottle of champagne on our table as we head across the road to our hotel. In the elevator, he gathers me close, my arms wrapping around his waist.

“Thank you for tonight. For working with my mom to get all our friends and family here. It was magical."

“I’m proud of you, Sam,” he answers, kissing my forehead. “Anything to make you happy, Pretty Girl. Now, we have one more thing to discuss.”

Our elevator stops at our floor, and Jameson produces a key card, letting us in. My jaw drops when we step inside. The first thing I notice is just how huge the room is. But it's the dramatic display on the bed that catches my attention. Red rose petals, candles on every surface and yet another bottle of champagne chilling in an ice bucket with flute glasses.

“Did you do this?” I turn to ask and find his eyes roaming over me from the heels on my feet up my body to my face. He nods his head like this isn’t a big deal.

“We didn’t know for sure I would be drafted. I could have walked out of this weekend as a free agent, trying my hardest to get signed anywhere.” I scoff, but it comes out more as a disbelieving laugh.

Jameson stalks over to me, placing the bottle on top of the dresser. His hands grip my hips tight. “Sammy, there is no way you walked out of today not as a first pick. You’re amazing on the ice. You skate like a fucking wet dream and you play with a vicious edge that every team was hoping to cash in on.”

“You say the most romantic things.” My hands wind around his neck, and I smile at him, a playful giggle on my lips.

Jameson rolls his eyes softly and leans down kissing me hard. Right as my lips open to him, he pulls back so fast, my eyes pop open in bewilderment. “What?”

He shakes his head and moves out of my hold. “Trust me, Pretty Girl, I want to get you on that bed and under me as much as you want it, but we need to talk about something first.”

“Let me guess, you want us to set a wedding date?”

His dark eyes flash and turn pitch black. “I want to know how soon I can make you Mrs. Kane, yes, but also because which name are you wearing on your first Boston Clovers jersey?”

Now it was my turn to look surprised. This was something I hadn’t even thought of. “Would you be mad if I wanted to wait a year before changing my name?”