Page 220 of Pucking Strong

“We will,” Teddy says with a nod.

I squeeze Karolina’s hand, smiling at them both. “I will.”

The officiant nods, raising her hands. “Then, by the power vested in me by the State of Florida, I now pronounce you husbands. You may kiss, sealing the bond of your marriage.”

With a squeak of excitement, Karolina steps back. Teddy trembles, his smile wide, as I pull him into my arms and kiss him soundly. No word of my vows was a lie. Tasting him on my lips is like coming up for air. I was drowning, and he saved me. I was lonely, and he brought joy and laughter into my life. I was lost, set adrift, and he found me. He reeled me in and moored me to him. We are bound now. Irrevocably. Teddy is my life and my love. To the end of my days, he is my home.

“I love you,” he says, the words a brand on my lips.

Smiling, I kiss him again.

Five Years Later

Henrik and I make our way into the crowded auditorium. He has the flowers, and I have Karolina’s coat. Before I can worry about trying to find our seats, a shrill whistle has us both turning. Ryan Langley stands about ten rows down, waving us forward. He looks dapper in a grey suit with no tie, his beach-blond hair flopping across his forehead.

“This way, babe,” I say over my shoulder.

Henrik follows me down the aisle, where we’re greeted by what looks like half the Rays. The Langleys are here, obviously. Tonight, Emma and Karolina are debuting as flower dancers in the Jacksonville Ballet Company’s holiday production ofThe Nutcracker. Karro’s been practicing hard for months. I feel like I have the steps memorized at this point too.

Paulie and his wife Maribel are here. Their daughter Beatriz is one of the Russian candy cane dancers, I think. Next to them are Rachel and Jake Price and their son Jamie.

“Where’s the rest of the fam?” I say, patting her shoulder as I pass.

She smiles up at me. “Split efforts tonight. We wanted to be here to support the kids, while the others all went to watch Tuo’s hockey game.”

I grin at Jake. “Does it gall you at all? Your kiddo choosing to be a forward?”

He just shakes his head. “Not at all. Heck, I was a forward until I was fifteen. He’s got time to change his mind.”

“Maybe he’ll be a goalie,” I say with a shrug.

Jake smiles. “He’s certainly got the genes for it … though his mom has two left feet.”

She elbows him and he laughs. But Jake’s not kidding. The older Tuomas Price has gotten, the more it’s become clear exactly who his father is. The boy is only seven, and he’s already the spitting image of Ilmari.

The St. James-Novikov-Morrows are here too. Poppy sits in the row one below Rachel, her daughter Fiona snuggled in her lap. Bennett sits between his dads, his eyes locked on the glowing screen of his tablet.

“Hey, Teddy.” Poppy gives us a wave. “Oh, Henrik, those are gorgeous!”

He glances down at our bouquet of twelve long-stem red roses with a smile.

“We got flowers too,” says Colton, pointing to the seat next to him where I see a pretty bouquet of winter florals.

I slip into the row in front of them, setting my coat on the seat the Langleys saved for us. “That’s right. Grace is dancing tonight too, right?”

Novy leans back in his seat, arms folded across his chest in his sport coat. “Gracie is a snowflake. Act One. She’s so fucking good. Our girl can arabesque like anything.”

Poppy laughs, rolling her eyes. “She only demanded to audition because Emma and Karolina were auditioning. And she’s complained every night we’ve taken her to rehearsals.”

He narrows his eyes at her. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying you may have to face the fact that, after five years, our daughter has fallen out of love with ballet. Now, all she talks about is wanting to be a drummer in a band.”

I chuckle, sinking down in my seat.

Henrik sits next to me, leaning in. “There are many things I will abide in the name of Karolina’s happiness, but a drum set—”

“I know,” I soothe, patting his knee.

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