Page 70 of Shot to the Hart

“I love you, Mav.”

“And I love you, Darlin.” That nickname still gives me butterflies, and I imagine it will for many years to come.

EPILOGUE

KODI

6 months later

It’s been six months since Mav and I gave into our feelings, Lily made her surprise appearance and the guys won the cup, and I’ve settled into this new life with ease. I love caring for Bella and being by Mavericks side for all the ups and downs of parenting and hockey.

Firm footsteps cross the threshold onto the porch behind me as I listen to Bella’s little snores through her monitor. Gentle hands lifting my gaze to his as Mav places a kiss on my lips.

“I missed you,” he says from above me.

“I missed you, too.” I smile up at him.

He wanders over to the edge of the porch looking up at the stars. “Come here, baby.”

I walk over, squeezing myself in between Mav and the railing. I lean my head back on his shoulder looking up at the stars with him.

“How was the game?” I ask him, knowing they lost by a point but checking in anyways.

“It was fine. Collins and I could have done better, but it is what it is. I’m glad to be home with you and Bella now.” He sighs.

“I’m glad you’re here now, too. I don’t like sleeping alone.”

“I know, I don’t either. How has this week been?”

“Well, like I told you, Bella is loving preschool. She’s such a little social butterfly. She didn’t even cry when I dropped her off. It kind of hurt my heart.” I chuckle. “Other than that, same old, same old. Just wishing you were here with us.”

“Sounds like our girl.”

We stand in silence, just soaking up this moment in each other's arms, when he breaks the silence.

“Darlin’.”

“Yeah, Mav.”

“One question.” He sounds a little nervous, which is odd. We play this game all the time. It’s become a staple in our relationship.

“One answer.” I smile, even though I know he can’t see it. His body heat has suddenly disappeared from behind me. I turn around to see where he went, and he’s still there, just on one knee.

I gasp seeing an oval diamond with marquise diamonds jutting out the sides sitting on a rose gold band in his shaky hands. The tears are already sitting in my eyes as he begins to speak.

“Kodi Roscoe. When Bella ran into you all those months ago, I didn’t think that you would be the woman I ended up falling for. I regretted not asking for your number that day, but fate brought you back into my life.” He swallows, his own tears falling with mine. “You’ve brought so much joy and love into not only my life, but also Bella’s. I need to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

“Maverick, yes! This is perfect!” I squeal, tears rolling down my cheeks as he places the ring on my left hand. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you so much.”

“I didn’t think I would ever get this, and I’m so glad I get it with you Ko. I love you.”

I didn’t think that Maverick and I would be on a joint bach trip so soon after his proposal, but he is of course ready to get married tomorrow, so we join our friends on a private plane bound for a week in Bora Bora . I convinced him that he at least needed to let me have a bach trip and plan the wedding I’ve been dreaming about since I was a little girl. And because that man is literally perfect, we settled on six months from the proposal. When I say settled, I mean that I attempted to bargain for a year, but he tricked me into agreeing while he had his tongue on my clit and two fingers working me over.

“Are you ready to drink Sex on the Beach and watch these gorgeous men attempt to throw a football on the beach?” Sin asks as she plops down across from me, the floppy matching bridesmaids hats that Darcy bought the girls abandoned in the seat beside her. Harley promptly picks up said hat and plops it back onto Sin’s head so she can take a seat beside her.

“Hey! I’ll have you know that I played football in high school and am very well adept with my hands.” Dom winks at Sin as he walks by, throwing his duffle into the overhead compartment and taking a seat with Mav, Nik, and Collins at the back of the plane.

“God, he is insufferable.” Sin groans once Dom is out of ear shot.

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