Page 195 of Only Ever You

“Yes, yes, yes,” I yell, jumping to my feet.

The jumbotron flashes with the updated score. With only three minutes left, I’ve practically forgotten all the anguish my dad and Uncle Colton put me through. I wrap my arms around Dad’s neck and hug him tight. Then, I do the same to Uncle Colton. At the end of the day, I married the man I love, and that man just sent his team skyrocketing toward a win in Game Seven.

The goal might be my favorite of the season. It’s symbolic. It’s his seventh goal in the series. In Game Seven. And there’s a good chance it’s what the Phantoms need to win the Stanley Cup.

I spend the next three minutes on my feet, zeroed in on every pass, every block, my heart in my throat. When the buzzer sounds, signaling the end of the game, the cheering in the arena is deafening.

Michael throws his arms into the air, his stick landing on the ice.

Tears stream down my face, my skin warm and buzzing. Accomplishing my lifelong dream was incredible, but seeing the guy I’ve loved since I was ten achieve his dreams is possibly even more exciting.

I need to get down there. I cannot wait to join him on the ice and congratulate him properly.

I want to be there for him, because by his side is where I belong.

“Isla,” Michael calls my name the moment I step onto the ice, our parents in tow.

The ice is covered in confetti, and families and friends are gathered around the players. Yet, my husband is all I can focus on.

I jump in his arms, and he catches me with ease. Arms wrapped around his neck, I pepper his face with light kisses. Cameras flash nearby, but I don’t care. Let the media make a spectacle of us. I’m usually more of a ‘happiness loves silence’ person, but tonight, I want to scream from the rooftops and tell the world how proud I am of Michael.

“You were absolutely unreal,” I tell him as I rear back.

Eyes glimmering, he tightens his hold on me. “Did you enjoy the game?”

“One hundred percent.” As I’m nodding, I catch sight of our parents a few feet away. “Though I’m afraid our dads have plans to organize a wedding, and they won’t take no for an answer.”

“If it means I’ll finally be on your dad’s good side, then I’m down for it.” He grins. “Besides, I’d never say no to seeing you in a white dress.”

I search his face for any trace of pretense, but I find none. Then, I press my forehead to his. “I love you, Michael. You’re the best husband in the world.”

“I love you too, and it’s easy to be the best when my wife is so incredible.” He kisses me on the lips. “An Olympic gold medalist and a Stanley Cup champion. We make quite the team, don’t you think?”

I laugh. “We do.”

He sets me on my feet but keeps me close. “When I was sixteen, I would’ve given anything for this.”

“For the Stanley Cup?” I ask.

With a shake of his head, he bends so our eyes are level. “For you.”

My chest constricts, and a flood of emotions nearly knocks me over. The biggest of them is love, overwhelming and fulfilling. The one that makes me feel like everything is possible, even winning the Olympic gold and the Stanley Cup.

So, I put my hand on the back of his neck and pull him in for a kiss.

Because I can’t get enough of him.

epilogue

ISLA

Twenty-four years old

“Hurry up, we’re going to be late.” I check the time on my phone and sigh. “Correction: we are late.”

The door of the guest room opens, and Meg rushes out. Dressed in dark blue jeans and an oversized hoodie, pulling her hair up, she screeches to a stop in front of me. “We still have twenty minutes.”

I wiggle my finger, motioning for her to turn around. She does, but only after she lets out an annoyed huff. I stand on my tiptoes and quickly braid her hair the way she likes it since she can’t seem to do it on her own. Or maybe she just likes it when I do her hair. I always loved it when Mom or Elena would braid mine.