Page 109 of A Scoring Chance

I come to the edge of the stage and lean down, beckoning my beauty closer with my finger. “Are you ready?”

Ramona tried everything she could to get out of coming today, but she needed to be here for this or my entire plan would fall apart. She was discharged from the hospital late last night after getting a clean bill of health. The minute we stepped through my door, the mothers descended, fussing over both of us. Momma didn’t say anything about the bandages on my arm when she saw them, just cleaned and redressed them like the doctor instructed to do. I want to tell her everything, but I don’t know if I’m ready yet. It was hard enough telling Ramona. I’ll tell Momma, I know I need to, but not yet.

Remy and I had everyone else have their own private viewing of what was going on in here. They’re safely tucked away in another room. We wanted to make this press conference as believable as possible.

“I'd be more prepared if you told me what you were going to say.” She fidgets with the maroon wrap dress I insisted she wear. I knew there would be more than a few photographers in the room, and there was no way she’d have wanted to be caught in any photos wearing her usual jeans and an oversized sweatshirt.

“Everything will be fine. I promise.” I plant a kiss on her forehead, letting my lips linger there for a few moments before standing to my full height.

She takes her seat to the right of the stage, out of the way of everyone, flanked by her guards. This was another thing I insisted on. I needed to know she was safe with Annamarie in the same room. I’d never make it through this if I didn’t know she was safe. She reluctantly agreed, but not without making me promise they’ll be gone afterward. I made no such promise, much to her dismay, but hopefully, this will make it up to her.

Just as if I thought her into existence, Annamarie strolls into the room, draped over her father’s arm. Her hair is styled perfectly in some type of updo, and she’s dressed in a bright green fitted dress with nude-colored pumps. Now that I see her on the arm of the team owner, I’m noticing their similarities. Henry is about 5’8”, with broad shoulders and the same bright red hair as his daughter’s. Their eyes are the same, not only in color, but in the way they scan the room, analyzing every person they pass for weaknesses.

“How are you doing today, Cooper?” Henry holds his hand out to me, and I grasp it in mine, shaking it firmly.

“I’ve been better, sir. Thank you for putting all of this together on such short notice. I want to set the record straight about my relationship.”

“No thanks necessary, son. I just gave you the room. That agent of yours did all the heavy lifting.” Annamarie clears her throat loudly, tugging softly on her father’s arm. “Oh, I almost forgot. I wanted to introduce you to my daughter, Annamarie.”

“We’ve met, Daddy.” She giggles softly, looking at me from beneath her lashes. “Hey, Cooper. I can’t wait to hear what you have to say.”

“I’m sure you’ll love it.” I force a smile before moving around to the podium and tapping the mic with my finger. “Good afternoon, everyone. I don’t want to keep you long. I’m sure you’re all eager to get to the game.”

Beau stands behind me to my left, and Remy is on my right, both men offering me their silent support. “I’m sure you’ve all seen the news calling into question my relationship with Ramona King. I wanted to take a few moments to set the record straight. Ramona and I are very much in love with each other. She has never had any type of romantic relationship with my brother, Beau. They love each other like siblings. What you saw in the photos was Ramona giving my brother his birthday present after the game. The fight pictures were a squabble between Beau and another teammate. I just happened to be in the frame.”

Beau takes a step forward, throwing his arm around my shoulder and leaning down closer to the microphone. “My brother is the best man I know. There’s no way we’d fight on the ice, let alone over a woman. No offense, Ramona.”

“None taken!” she yells, causing everyone but Annamarie in the room to laugh.

Gone was the calm and collected owner's daughter that she usually presents to those around her. The façade is slowly cracking. I watch as her knee bounces up and down rapidly as she fidgets in the chair. Annamarie’s eyes are locked on Beauty sitting in the corner.

“There’s no relationship between my brother and Ramona. Never has been and never will be, but I understand your confusion.” I stroll toward the edge of the stage where my beautyis sitting. Her eyes widen in surprise as I come down the stairs toward her, pulling the small box free from my pocket.

“Cooper.” Her hands fly to her mouth as tears collect in her eyes, following my movements as I slowly lower myself to the floor. “Are you doing what I think you’re doing?”

“Kind of.” I wink at her, flipping the box open. The two-carat white gold solitaire diamond ring sits nestled in the box, the light reflecting off the stone. “This was the ring Dad proposed to Momma with. He eventually got her the new, more flashy one that she wears to this day, but this one was always meant to be mine.”

I pluck the ring from the box, the band pinched between my thumb and pointer finger as I hold it out to her. “He told me to give this to the woman I planned on spending the rest of my life with. The person I know will stick by me through thick and thin, no matter what. That woman is you, Ramona King.”

A tear trails down her cheek as I grab her other hand, the ring hovering over the finger that I’m hoping will be its final resting place. “I have a long way to go before I’m a man worthy to call you my wife, but I want to give you this ring as a promise to be better. To work every day of the rest of my life to be a man you’d be proud to call yours.”

Beauty slides out of her seat, dropping to her knees in front of me. Her hands frame my face as she smiles. “You already are, Cooper Hendrix. You already are.” Her lips come crashing down on me as waves of happiness and hope spread through my veins. My lips part, allowing her to deepen the kiss. I can feel her love pouring into me, lighting up the darkest corners of my soul and giving me hope for the future. And I give it back to her tenfold, wanting her to know how much I love her and need her in my life. Wanting her to know she’s the piece I was missing, the last piece that will allow me to finally heal.

The room erupts into thunderous applause as we break apart. “Yes,” Ramon whispers against my lips before leaning back. Her eyes focus on the ring as I slide it onto her finger.

But the sound of Annamarie’s screeching immediately ruins the moment. “No. No. No. That fucking dirty bitch is ruining everything!” Annamarie picks up the chair she was sitting in and throws it onto the stage, barely missing Beau’s legs. “Why won’t you just fucking die already?”

Her face drains of any type of emotion as she pulls something out of her purse and charges toward us. Everything happens so fast. I grab Beauty, covering her body with my own, as Ramona’s two bodyguards spring into action. Everyone is screaming around us, but I don’t move a muscle. The need to protect Beauty from Annamarie overrides everything else in my mind. I knew Annamarie was going to lash out when she heard my declaration of love for Ramona, but I didn’t count on her being so overtly antagonistic toward us. Maybe Henry will finally believe the things we told him his precious daughter had done.

“You can’t have him you, you fucking monkey. You think because you look more like me than your own kind and can speak proper English, you can have him?”

I turn to respond to her vile words but snap my mouth shut. This isn’t my fight. This is between Ramona and her tormentor, something that has been bubbling under the surface since we were in high school.

My eyes scan the room, searching for Beau and Remy, but they’re both gone, probably on their way to check on everyone in the other room. The two bodyguards I hired are holding Annamarie back, her arms pulled behind her back as she struggles to get free. The more she struggles, the wilder she looks. Her perfectly groomed hair is now sticking out in different directions, making her look as wild and out of control as she is on the inside.

“He’s too good for you, and you know it.”

Beauty pushes out of my arms and moves at lightning speed toward Annamarie. She stands a few inches out of her grasp, her eyes focused on Annamarie as she struggles to get free. “He may be too good for me, but he is mine.”

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