Page 72 of Slap Shot at a Second Chance

“Please, Brian. Please!” I begged as I brought my hands together and he chuckled as he scratched his head.

“Even if I say yes, the choice is hers. So go ask her,” he said as he pointed to her and my eyes widened. “We’ll fight later,” he said repeating my words from the locker room and skated away to the other teammates.

I shakily skated toward Avery where she stood celebrating with the coach, they were locked in arms as they screamed out their excitement.

Why’s the coach touching my wife?We’ll need to have a conversation in the changing room.

“Congratulations, Nate!” she squealed as she leaned against the railing.

I stood in front of her, only separated by the annoying railing between us but it wouldn’t stop me from asking the gorgeous woman in front of me to be in my life forever.

“Were you scared?” I teased as I leaned in closer to her and she smiled, shrugging lightly.

“Yeah, how could I not?” she asked and I chuckled as I looked at the coach and he nodded as he walked away. “So, did you and Brian make up?”

“Not yet, he said we’ll fight later, but first I have a question to ask you,” I whispered and she raised her eyebrows. “Forgive me for not doing it correctly, but I can’t wait.”

“What is it?” She spoke softly and I looked into her mesmerizing blue eyes, my lips lifted in a smile even though I wanted to cry.

“Avery, marry me.”

The words slipped out of my mouth before I could even think of saying them how I had practiced before. A whole paragraph gone and summarized in three words!What the heck is wrong with me?

“What?” she gasped and I licked my lips again.

“Please marry me. I’m begging you,” I clutched her hands against my chest and I mentally kicked myself in the ass. I had another opportunity to tell her how much I loved her, and all the reasons I wanted to spend my entire life with her and yet I messed it up again.

“Check your jacket,” I whispered as I let go of her hand and she slipped her hand inside the pocket of her jacket. She took out the box, her hand shaking as she looked down at the ring.

“I had prepared an awesome speech of how much I love you and why I would be the greatest husband to you, but I’m too nervous right now and the adrenaline is cutting my sentences short?—“

“You love me?” she whispered as she opened the box, staring at the sapphire engagement ring I bought for her. “You want to be with me?” Her voice broke as she pointed to her chest. “Forever?”

“If you’ll let me, please let me,” I begged, trying to gauge her answer from her reaction, but she was crying. Crying because she was glad or crying because she was going to reject me?

Lord, please don’t make her reject me.

“Yes, yes, yes!” she squealed as she slipped on the ring on her finger and threw the box away. She threw her hands around my shoulders and pulled me close to her, hugging me tightly.

“Yes?” I asked shocked, as I squeezed her waist and she giggled, nodding.

“Yes, I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Nate!” she said in my ear and I hugged her tighter, unable to control all of the emotions I was going through. “Don’t squeeze so tight, you’ll hurt the baby.”

She whispered and I froze in my place. She laughed as she kept her hands on my shoulders, looking at me as I stared into her eyes shocked.

“Baby?” I murmured and she nodded as she brought my hand to her belly.

“Baby,” she confirmed and my lip trembled as I stared at her belly. This time, I was going to be there for her and get to experience it all.

A shout tore from my throat as I skated away from her, throwing my hands up unable to contain the joy I was feeling. This was an abundant blessing.

“I’m going to be a husband, and a daddy to two children!” I screamed and Brian yelped before he covered his mouth and looked at me surprised.

“I’m getting a niece? And a brother-in-law?FUCK YES!” he roared and our teammates roared as they surrounded us, I could genuinely feel their excitement all around me. Brian broke through from the circle and skated to Avery, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and I watched her break down in his arms.

Thank God, they made up.

“Hmm, so this is how this love story ends?” Andy snickered as he skated away and I could barely keep in my shout of joy as I skated toward my wife and brother-in-law.

Yes, this was how this love story ended.

As us being a family,forever.

The End.