Page 5 of These Pucking Boys

“So it’s my fault now?”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Can we not fight over this? So what if I’m wearing the Zodiacs’ colors? It isn’t like I’m wearing their jersey.”

“Might as well be,” he retorts. “Let’s go in. I’ll buy you a Titans shirt to cover that atrocity.”

He walks ahead, expecting me to follow. I’m so angry that I could cry. So much for not aggravating Bill tonight. Maybe I should call the whole thing off, but that would mean losing the money I paid for the Jumbotron time. It’s nonrefundable.

Maybe Bill will calm down once I cover my offensive dress and he gets food in his belly. He’s always cranky when he’s hungry.

The place is buzzing with euphoric energy. I don’t come to hockey games often, but I always feel invigorated when I do. There’s so much positivity around us, I wish it would affect Bill. He doesn’t say much on the way to the gift shop, but his mood is much better after he eats two hotdogs and has a beer in hand. He even cracks a smile at a random text.

I narrow my eyes. “Who’s that?”

“The office group chat. Someone made a joke.” He tosses his arm over my shoulder. “Come on. Let’s find our seats. The game is about to start.”

My Jumbotron slot is during the break after the first period. Suffice it to say, I haven’t paid any attention to the game. There’s less than a minute left on the clock, and neither team has scored. Our seats are in the middle of the last row of section one, giving us a perfect view of the ice. Bill has yelled so much that his voice is almost gone.

The buzzer sounds, and the players head to the locker room. My pulse skyrockets, and my hands are clammy. I might throw up.

Bill begins to stand, but I stop him. “Where are you going?”

“I need to pee and get another beer.”

Shit. I didn’t anticipate that. I’m such an idiot.

“Wait a second. They’re doing a giveaway on the Jumbotron, and I don’t want to miss it.”

His brows furrow. “Stay then.”

“It’s for couples only.”

“June, come on... don’t tell me it’s a kiss-cam thing.”

“It isn’t. Just wait a few minutes. Please?”

He sits down again. “Fine.”

Another minute ticks by, but it seems like an eternity. I’m on pins and needles when the camera finally points at us.

“Holy shit! It’s us!” Bill exclaims, then waves at the camera.

I take a deep breath, then grab his hands, making him look at me. “Bill, we’ve been together for a long time and survived so many obstacles that I can’t even count them anymore. But through all the curveballs life has thrown us, we persevered, and our love has grown stronger. I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”

He narrows his eyes. “June, what are you doing?”

I take a small box from my purse and open it, revealing the engagement ring I got for him. It’s a simple white gold band.

My heart is beating so fast, I can almost hear it. “William Patrick Richardson, will you marry me?”

The entire arena seems to grow quiet as they wait for Bill’s answer. I expect him to curl his lips into a slow smile and say a resounding yes right away, but as his silence stretches and his face becomes paler, a horrible feeling makes my heart shrivel in my chest.

“June... I can’t marry you.”

My pulse is thundering in my ears, and my face is hot as lava. “What?”

“I can’t marry you. I’m in love with someone else.”

I turn as still as a statue while my brain spirals, trying to process his words.

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