Page 28 of Charming Crosschecks

They looked… pleased.

Her breath hitched as the realization hit her. This wasn’t just a spontaneous outburst. This had been planned. The team had deliberately pushed him, cornered him, into making this stand. Gerry, with his quiet nature and calm demeanor, had gone along with it, knowing exactly what it would mean—not just for the team, but forher. They’d created this moment and coaxed it out of him, knowing it would push him to take that final step. The step that would change everything. And most importantly, it would show her just how much he cared.

She looked around at the faces of the team, piecing together what this moment had really meant.

Batiste a fighter on the ice, but with a heart of gold hidden behind his tough exterior. He was the first to crack a smile, the first to offer a supportive nod. Gerry had earned his respect, and Batiste wasn’t afraid to show it.

Giroux, who always acted like the big brother, the glue that held everyone together. He had a way of treating each member of the team like family, making them feel as if they truly belonged. His approval was quietly visible in the way his eyes softened, a knowing look passing between him and Gerry.

Lafreniere, the one who usually kept his distance, pretending like he didn’t need anyone, didn’t need anything from anyone. But here, at this moment, he was giving Gerry the quietest of nods, acknowledging the effort, the strength, the sacrifice it took to stand up for her. He might not say much, but when it mattered, he was there.

Boucher and Coeur, the inseparable duo, are the ones who always have a sarcastic remark at the ready, their mouths as quick as their hands. They were the firstto crack a joke, their teasing tone light but not malicious. They liked to poke fun, to stir the pot—but she could see something different in their eyes today. A quiet pride. They respected Gerry more than they let on, and this, whatever it was, had earned them both a deep respect for him—and for her.

These were the guys Gerry spent his days with, his teammates, his friends. The ones who knew him better than anyone. And though they were jokers and wisecrackers just like Gerry, there was a depth to them that she was only just beginning to understand. Gerry might be quieter, more reserved than the rest of them, but she could see now that his quiet nature was an anchor. He wasn’t someone who needed the spotlight. He made cracks and jokes not to perform but to make the people around him smile, to keep the mood light, and to bring the team closer together. He didn’t need a stage for his antics. He didn’t need the whole world to see. He did it for the people who mattered.

And right now, he was doing it forher.

Her chest tightened with emotion. This was bigger than any gesture, bigger than any grand declaration. This was about respect. About loyalty. About standing firm in the face of everything that had tried to tear them apart. Gerry wasn’t backing down. Not from her. Not from the team. Not from his own heart.

And in that moment, she knew, deep down, that she wasn’t just important to him. She was everything. Every part of her—her hopes, her fears, her dreams—was wrapped up in this single, overwhelming truth. The weight of it settled in her chest, pressing against her heart, filling the empty spaces she hadn’t even realized were there. No more pretending. No more doubt.

She was everythingto him.

“Does anyone have any questions?”

“Nope.”

“Bout time…”

“You be good to her…”

“Don’t smash his heart – go for the nuts first. Hurts less, ya know?”

“We’re ‘appy so long as you are ‘appy,mon frere…”

“We went on one date,” Molly interrupted, her voice catching, disbelief creeping in as she looked at the group like they’d all suddenly lost their minds.

“One date,” she repeated, feeling the weight of their expectations pressing on her chest. She couldn't understand why they looked at her as if everything had already changed, like some proclamation had been made, setting the course for the rest of their lives. It was all so sudden. So overwhelming.

“One or twenty,” Lafreniere shrugged nonchalantly. “Up to you two, but that doesn’t change the lay of the land.”

“Come,” Gerry said softly, his voice a quiet plea as he still held her hand, tugging her gently toward her office. He was leading her there almost numbly, and she could feel it, the disconnect between what had just happened and what was about to come.

What justdidhappen?

His declaration.

The way they’d all accepted her without hesitation; like she’d already been a part of the group all along. She wasn’t just the outsider anymore. She wasn’t the third wheel. She was... something more. Something real.

The two of them stood there in the quiet of her office, his hand still wrapped around hers, but everything felt different now. Waiting. The silence hung heavy in the air, thick with anticipation, like everything was poised to shift. Time seemed to stretch in that moment, long and uncertain, until finally, Gerry spoke.

“The cookies were for you,” he said, his voice soft but filled with a quiet intensity. “From me.They’re Italian cookies, and I wanted them to remind you of our lovely dinner.” He let the words linger between them like an offering. His gaze never wavered from hers, and she felt it deep in her bones—the care, the sincerity, the affection.

Molly swallowed, her throat tight, unsure what to say. How could she respond? What could she say when everything she’d just learned about Gerry was so overwhelming, so unexpected?

“Molly,” he said her name so gently it made her heart ache. “Would you give me another shot? Would you go out with me this weekend?” His voice was barely above a whisper now, the weight of his words pressing in on her, the vulnerability in his eyes so raw, so open. “I think you’re amazing. And if you say ‘no’ or that I blew it, I will step back and figure out another way to earn your trust someday. But I’m not giving up.”

Molly opened her mouth, but the words caught in her throat. Her heart raced, beating out a rhythm she couldn’t ignore. She wanted to saysomething—anything—but she was caught in the wave of emotions that swelled between them, too tangled in the moment to find her voice. He was asking for a chance. He was asking for something real.

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