Page 99 of Second Shot

He lovingly cleans me off, and then lays the dry towel over the wet spot my release made on the sheets. Then we go back to cuddling on his side of the big bed. The sound of his heart beating beneath my ear is reassuring. He strokes my hair, and I close my eyes.

I don’t think I even realized how miserable and lonely I was until I fell in love with Gabe. I remember thinking hockey was all I had in my life, and that was true. I never fully loved anyone the way I do Gabe. I never before felt that someone was mine and only mine, but I feel that with Gabe.

“The beginning of August might be a perfect time for a wedding, don’t you think?” Gabe’s voice is soft in the dark room.

I go very still.

He continues. “We have no games, no camps, optional training. Yeah, it seems like the ideal time for a wedding.”

“What are you talking about?” I mumble.

He takes my hand that rests on his chest, and I feel him slip something metallic and cool onto my ring finger. My heart begins to beat so fast, I feel like I can’t breathe. I sit up on my elbow, and in the moonlight through the window, I see a gold band shining on my finger.

“What are you doing, Gabe?” I ask breathlessly.

There’s a smile in his voice as he says, “Asking you to marry me, Ry.”

“But… but,” I sputter. “You said we should wait.”

“Yeah, then I thought about it and decided why the hell would we wait?” He sits up too, peering at me in the dark room. “Do you like the idea?”

“Like the idea?” I squeak in a decidedly unmanly way. “Yeah, I love the idea. If you’ll recall, it was my idea.”

He laughs, and there’s relief in his voice when he says, “You scared me there for a minute. You were so quiet at first.”

“I was just surprised.” I smile. “Shocked as hell, if I’m honest.”

“You’ll have to meet my parents before we can tie the knot. My mom would have a stroke if her only son got married without letting her meet you first.”

I grimace, anxiety eating at me. “Okay. God, what if they don’t like me? They know what I was like in middle school, right? I mean, the whole fucking world knows thanks to Freddy.”

“Yeah, they know. But they don’t care because you’re not that boy anymore. And they know I love you.”

I swallow loudly. “Still, will they be happy for you? I’m sure they’d rather you married someone who didn’t make your life a living hell growing up.”

He laughs gruffly. “Well, luckily, they’re not in charge of who I love.”

“But you wouldn’t want to go against their wishes, right?” I ask hesitantly.

He takes a moment to respond, but when he does, his voice is gentle. “I wouldn’t want to make them unhappy, but I’m more concerned with my own happiness. You make me happy, Ry. That’s just a fact. I’m not going to give you up because someone else doesn’t approve. What we have, it’s pretty fucking special.”

“I agree.” I lean in and I kiss him. He responds, his lips caressing mine. When I pull back, my eyes are stinging. “Ask me properly, Gabe.”

His teeth flash white in the dim light. “Ryan Caldwell, will you do me the honor of being my husband?”

My heart clenches with emotions so strong, it’s almost painful. “Yes. Absolutely, positively yes, Gabe Jacobs. I want to be your husband.”

He grins and we hug.

“Niko’s going to fucking flip out that we got engaged on this trip,” I mumble against his shoulder.

He laughs. “Jesus, he’s going to try and plan our wedding for us, isn’t he?”

“Maybe we shouldn’t tell him until we’re back in the States.” I sit up. “Or maybe we shouldn’t tell him until we’re already married.”

“No way. I can’t keep our engagement a secret.”

“I know, I’m just kidding. I want the world to know.” I smile, spinning the ring around on my finger. “You really surprised me, Gabe.”

---