Page 141 of Icebound

A few people in the crowd chuckle, but there’s only one laugh I want to hear. Another journalist raises a hand, and I nod in their direction. “I’m sure you’ve seen all the messages from your teammates on social media, but one that stuck out was from Wyatt Patterson, who said, ‘What you’ve built here is something that can’t be broken. We’ll take care of your legacy.’ When you hear that, what does that mean to you, Rhode? What’s your legacy?”

Across the room, Patty’s rubbing his eyes with the heels of his palms. I yank my gaze away. Patty and Cruz got the team to film messages for me and compiled them into a video they played before the press conference.

Terrible timing.

I only had ten minutes to pull myself together before I had to get in front of the cameras. They better cry when I give them the Puck Buddy cross-stitches I made.

“My teammates are my legacy,” I say to the crowd. “People always talk about my stats, but I hope I’m remembered for more than just my save percentage or the games we won. I hope people remember all the moments off the ice just as much as the ones in the rink. These guys are everything to me.”

Cruz and Patty look down at their feet, but Nina reaches out to hold both of their hands. My eyes start to burn because she might’ve come for me, but she’s also here for my boys.

Another journalist raises a hand. I field questions for the next thirty minutes until my water is as drained as my body. Nina’s stare never leaves my face, and when it’s all done, there’s nothing but relief. The conference ends, but I still have a lot of hands to shake.

I push back from the table, take photos, make dinner plans with my family, and thank everyone in the room, all while trying to get to one girl in the back.

My girl.

Nina watches from the corner, waiting patiently like I’ve been waiting for her my whole life, and my lips tilt up because I know when the room clears out and the lights turn off, Nina will still be there—scowling, chuckling, grinning—I’ll take her every way.

After hugging nearly everyone on the team, I weave my way through journalists and meet her in the back. She lifts her chin, eyes zoning in on my grin.

I grip the curve of her waist, pulling her against me. “I’m really glad you’re here. I was worried you weren’t going to make it.”

She lightly slaps my chest. “I’m very mad at you. You should’ve told me this was a press conference for your retirement. I kind of want to yell at you for this.”

“You’re right. I should’ve.” I tug her closer. “You can yell at me all you want as long as I’ve got you in my arms.”

“I’m serious.”

“Me too.”

“This isn’t funny. Why the hell didn’t you tell me, Rhode?”

“I was trying to be all romantic with a surprise, and it didn’t work out that way…”

“That’s sweet, but if we’re going to be together, I don’t want you keeping things like this from me. From here on out, you tell me everything. I want to know the big things and the small things and everything in between. I never wanted you to give up your dream for me.”

I cradle her cheeks, forcing her to look me in the eye so she knows how much these words mean. “This was my choice, and I didn’t want you to feel the pressure. I didn’t give up my dream. I just found a new one. You.”

Her eyes fill with water, and I lift her glasses, swiping away the mascara smudge. “Hey, this is a good thing, Nina. I’m happier than I ever thought I’d be. This wasn’t just a snap choice. I’ve been thinking about this all season, and I didn’t want to burden you because I’m doing this for me.”

She wraps her arms around my waist. “Okay, then I can be happy for you because I’m sure this couldn’t have been easy. I’m proud of you, for what it’s worth. Making this type of decision is really brave.”

This girl.

She’s bodychecked my damn soul.

She smiles. “I guess you’re not icebound anymore. You’re free.”

I’m free.

“You’re right. I’m Argentina-bound.” I kiss her forehead. “This is the last thing I’m doing for me because now I’m yours. From here on out, I’ll help you catch whatever dream you’re chasing. It doesn’t matter if you’re climbing a mountain or dragging yourself out of a ditch, because I belong with every version of you. So, go chase those dreams of yours. Let’s be wild together.”

She smiles, slow and bright. It’s breathtaking. She’s breathtaking. “Okay, but no more secrets.”

I’m not going to tell her that I already have a ring picked out for her, but she’ll know one day when I get down on one knee. Whenever she’s ready. That’s the last secret I’ll keep.

“Alright, no more secrets.” I press my lips to the tip of her nose. “Can I please kiss that gorgeous mouth I can’t stop thinking about and show everyone in this room who I belong to?”