Page 51 of Pucks, Lies, and Sticktape

And then, beyond them, through the flurry of motion and emotion, she saw him.

Matthieu.

His bright blue eyes locked onto hers as he slowly pulled off his goalie helmet, setting it carefully beside his stick. He wasn’t just standing there—he was waiting.Waiting for her.Holding a bouquet, his grip steady, his smile soft and filled with something that made her knees weak.

He was the reason for this. The reason she had found this new home, this new love, this life she never thought possible. He had made her believe in something more.

A sharp, nervous breath caught in her throat. “I’ve gotta go,” she whispered, her voice a frantic mix of urgency and awe.

Her fingers scrambled to pull Ashley’s hands away, whether the veil was secure or not. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered except him.

Her steps were shaky, her body weightless yet heavy with the gravity of the moment. But she couldn’t tear her gaze from the man standing at the end of the carpet, the man who had changed everything.

The players formed a loose circle around them, both teams standing together in unity, in celebration. Every face she passed, every smile, every cheer—it was all for them.

And when she reached him, his hand extended toward hers, she placed her trembling fingers in his without hesitation.

His fingers curled around hers, warm, steady, grounding her in a way nothing else could.

“Hi there, beautiful…” His voice was thick and uneven, the telltale warble in his tone making her heart clench. Her breath hitched, her lips curving despite the tears in her eyes.

“Hey there, handsome…”

His thumb brushed over her knuckles.

Jeannie’s heart pounded so hard it felt like it might crack her ribs. Her breath caught in her throat as Matthieu’s fingers laced with hers, his grip warm, steady—yet trembling ever so slightly. The world around them blurred, softened into something distant and inconsequential. It was just the two of them now, standing in this moment, hearts bare, emotions raw.

Then, his voice, rough and quiet, shattered the silence.

“Wanna marry me?”

For a second, she forgot how to breathe. It was as if time, itself, had frozen, as if the universe had paused to wait for her answer. Her lips parted, but no sound came out at first, only the rapid rise and fall of her chest as she tried to steady herself. She searched his face, the soft lines of apprehension, the flicker of vulnerability in his eyes, the way his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. He was nervous, too.

And yet, in the midst of all that uncertainty, there was no doubt in her heart.

“Today, tomorrow, always,” she whispered, voice thick with emotion. Her fingers tightened around his, as if grounding herself in the reality of him, of this. “I love you, and I think Ialways have. From the first moment I looked at you… I think I knew.”

His breath hitched, his eyes glistening.

“I was scared,” Matthieu admitted, his gaze never wavering from hers. “From the moment I met you, I knew something was different, that my life was changing. I was scared that I would miss out on part of my life—on having fun, going to parties, meeting people, only to realize that I didn’t want to do any of that alone.” His voice cracked slightly, and he exhaled shakily before continuing, the words rushing out as if he couldn’t hold them back any longer. “I want those moments with you, to celebrate how beautiful life is with you at my side… because I love you too.”

Jeannie gasped softly, the tears she had barely been holding back spilling over as she clutched his hands tighter. “You do?” she wept, her vision blurring with happiness.

“Oh gosh, yes,” he said, his voice fierce with conviction. “I can’t imagine life without you, and you scared the bejesus out of me when you said you were getting a flight to take care of things. You never have to do any of this alone ever again—I will fight every fight, celebrate every win, and support you in everything you ever dream that you want to do. Because that is what love is, what family does, and I am so honored that you even gave me the time of day.”

A soft sob broke from her lips as she reached up, her fingertips ghosting over his cheek, memorizing the warmth of his skin, the way the faintest hint of stubble rasped against her touch. She traced the line of his brow, then brushed away the stray lock of hair that had fallen across his forehead. His eyes burned into hers, filled with so much love, so much devotion that it made her knees weak.

“I love you so much,” he breathed.

A shuddering sigh left her lips, a breath of a prayer, a promise. “You’re my soulmate,” she whispered tenderly. “My own miracle, my guardian angel, my heart, my heaven on earth, my love…”

Matthieu turned his head slightly, pressing a soft kiss to the center of her palm, his lips warm, reverent. She felt the way he trembled, the way he sniffed emotionally, and then?—

He hesitated.

His gaze flickered to the right, his brows lifting in mild surprise. “Oh…”

Jeannie blinked, then followed his line of sight, her dazed mind struggling to process the moment before the quiet rumble of laughter around them registered in her mind finally. The players surrounding them were smiling at how lost they were in each other’s eyes – and the minister stood nearby, grinning knowingly.

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