Page 47 of Pucking Christmas Triplets Surprise

“Of course, I do.” A small smile spread across my lips. “I love you too. More than anything.”

His smile is soft, almost wistful, like there is something weighing on his heart. He takes a deep breath, his fingers lacing through mine. “I’ve been thinking about something,” he murmurs quietly.

My stomach flutters with anticipation. “What is it?”

He holds my gaze for a long moment, then reaches into his pocket. My eyes widen when he pulls out a small, velvet box, and slides off the couch onto the floor, on one knee. My breath catches in my throat, and my heart leaps into a frantic rhythm.

“Christopher… what…?” I start, my voice faltering.

He gently shushes me, his thumb brushing over my knuckles as he opens the box to reveal a delicate diamond ring. The stone sparkles, catching the firelight in the most dazzling way that I can’t look away from it.

“Josie,” Christopher begins, his voice trembling slightly, even though he's trying his best to stay steady.His eyes are locked onto mine, intense and unwavering. “I need you to know something.” He takes a deep breath, and I can see the way his chest rises and falls, as if he’s gathering every ounce of courage which makes me want to giggle because the answer would never be no. “From the moment I first saw you, I’ve been obsessed. You walked into my life, and everything changed. I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Hell, I still can’t.”

His fingers tighten around mine. “But it wasn’t just about how incredible you are on the ice or how beautiful you are. It was everything about you. Your strength, your laughter, the way you make every room feel brighter.”

I swallow hard, my heart racing in my chest as he continues, his words weaving a spell around me.

“I want to spend the rest of my life with you,” he says, his voice growing steadier with conviction. “I want to be there for you through everything, every moment. And I want to be your partner in every way, for as long as we both live.”

He pauses, his eyes glistening with an intensity that takes my breath away. “You are it for me, Josie. You always have been. And I don’t want to waste another second without you knowing that.”

I can’t breathe. I’m speechless, overwhelmed by the emotions coursing through me. My eyes fill with tears, and all I can do is stare at him, my heart pounding.

“Will you marry me?” he asks, his sincerity shining in his eyes. His hand shakes slightly as he holds the ring up, waiting for my answer.

“Yes,” I choke out, tears streaming down my face. “Oh my fucking god, yes. I’ll marry you.”

He jumps up pulling me into a kiss that starts off soft but quickly deepens into a kiss full of love and promise. I melt into him, my hands sliding around his neck, pulling him closer as my heart soars.

CHAPTER 20

JOSIE

Five months later

My water breaks right in the middle of my graduation dinner, sending a shockwave of panic through the restaurant. At only 28 weeks along, I’m nowhere near ready. We’re nowhere near ready.

The doctors had warned me about the risk of early labor, but I hadn’t imagined it would happen like this, so suddenly and violently.

The world tilts sideways as contractions start crashing over me, each one stronger and more relentless than the last. Everything around me blurs into a flurry of movement: the sharp gasps from my friends and family, the clatter of silverware dropping onto plates, Christopher’s frantic voice, the drive to the hospital with my mother walking me through deep breaths. The doctor rushing me into the room and saying I’m almost there.

“Okay, Josie, focus on me,” Christopher's calm, steady voice breaks through the haze of discomfort. His hand is in mine,his fingers gripping with a force that makes my chest ache. He isn’t leaving my side, just as he promised. His eyes never stray from mine, even as I grip the sheets, groaning with the intensity of the contraction that seize my body once again.

“Chris, it hurts... it hurts so much,” I whisper, my voice trembling as I bury my face into the pillow, and turn away from her.

“I know, baby, I know,” he whispers back, his voice low and soothing. “You’re doing amazing, you’re so strong.”

My heart swells with reassurance, but it is quickly overtaken by the new wave of panic.What if something goes wrong? What if we can’t do this?I feel the overwhelming weight of uncertainty creep in, and I squeeze his hand harder.

“She's doing great,” Dr. Mason, the obstetrician, says, her voice sharp but kind as she prepares for the next step. “We’re going to be okay. Josie, remember to breathe. Just like we practiced, okay?”

“Okay…” I gasp, trying to steady my breath. But no matter how hard I try, the panic keeps building, and I feel myself starting to lose control. My heart races in my chest as I look around the room, taking in the worried faces of everyone gathered there.

Abby is pacing by the door, her eyes wide with worry. “Josie, please be okay,” she whispers under her breath, wringing her hands together. Her voice is soft but filled with terror, and I want to reach out to her, to tell her it’s going to be okay. But I’m too caught in the whirlwind of pain to do anything but breathe.

Marissa is there too, as usual, cooing at her phone. “Hi babies! It’s Aunty Mari. This is going to beamazing footage of you coming into this world,” she jokes, trying to ease the tension in the room, but her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “But seriously, you’re doing awesome, Josie. Isn’t your mother doing great?”

“Stop recording, Marissa!” I bark, my voice sharp with a mixture of pain and frustration. "This is not a damn movie!"

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