Page 89 of Tempting the Goalie
We break apart a few minutes later. “I was regretting not coming with you to Punta Cana. I was missing you like crazy. I love my family, and they will always be my family but you’re my home, Luc. I want to be wherever you are. We can always come back here to visit.”
He takes a step back from me and then he is on one knee.
“Luc, what are you doing?” I ask him.
“I’m going to need to apologize to your father for not asking permission first,” he begins.
“No need,” Daddy says from the entrance to the kitchen. I notice Becket, Asher, and Eric are standing beside him.
Tears fill my eyes.
“I know this isn’t some grand romantic gesture but I know with my whole heart this is right. Isabelle Thorne, I have loved you all my life. We have been through some tough times together and we have a friendship that lasts, but it’s my love for you as a woman, as a lover, as my best friend that makes me know you’re my soulmate.”
Asher makes a barfing sound when Luc says lover, and I look up in time to see Eric elbow him in the ribs.
“Will you do me the honor of being my wife?” Luc asks and then he reaches into his pocket and produces a red velvet box in the shape of a rose. He opens it up to a huge diamond ring.
I gasp.
“Luc, that’s too much,” I say to him.
“Baby, that’s not the answer I was looking for here,” he replies with a chuckle.
“Sorry, yes, I’ll marry you,” I say to him. He finally stands and places the ring on my finger. I hug him so hard it’s like I’m scared he’ll up and disappear.
My brothers cheer and then we’re all hugging and everyone is congratulating us.
Daddy pours champagne and toasts our engagement and we all hang out in the kitchen. I notice Luc speaking with Daddy. He says thank you to him and apologizes to him once again for not asking his permission first.
Daddy’s response to him chokes me up when he says, “I knew when you asked me to date my daughter that you were really asking for permission for forever. I watched both of you grow and I watched that love grow. I knew when she followed you to Riverside, she would follow you anywhere.”
Those words bring tears to my eyes but it’s when Luc hugs Daddy that I full-on start bawling. “Thanks, sir.”
“Luc, you’re my son. You always have been, but welcome to the family,” Daddy replies and pats his back. When I look at Luc, his eyes are tear filled and my heart is so full it feels like it almost bursts.
EPILOGUE
Luc
The following summer
It’s crazy how winter in Val-Du-Lys can be so cold and summer can be so scorching hot. It’s our wedding day and all our friends and family are staying on the Thorne property.
The guys are all helping to set up the large tents for the event, while a truck delivery arrives with more items and food.
Everyone is helping Izzy’s brothers, Elyna, the team from Riverside, and my new team members from Philadelphia. In the end Izzy was accepted to a combined program in Clinical Psych at the University of Philadelphia, and I signed on with the team in Philly. She was happy with the program there, and I was getting an excellent contract for a rookie goalie. It was a much better offer than Montreal with almost a million dollars per year for two years, with a signing bonus and performance bonuses that could push my salary to 3.5 million dollars per year. It was an offer we couldn’t refuse. It would give us enough money to start our life off and allow me to finally help Elyna. My papa lost his property when he went into tax payment arrears. The bank had taken it over and put it for sale. Izzy and I were the highestbidders and won the property. Even though it wouldn’t be our main home, we thought it would be nice to build a nice cottage to come home to a few times a year, even if we’d be living in Philly.
“You need to go shower and get ready,” Elyna says to me as she chases Braden around.
I look at my watch. “You’re right. How is my bride doing?” I ask since Izzy refused to see me for the last twenty-four hours. I spent the night at the loft in Phoenix’s house and Izzy stayed in the main house in her room, where she has Priya, Yuna, Ruby, Briar, and Annie getting her ready.
“She’s gorgeous and she can’t wait to marry you,” Elyna says. “Now, head over to the loft and take your friends and get ready.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I say. I laugh and take off. I see my friends along the way and get their attention. Usually, the Thorne property is open to the public, but today it’s closed for a private event. Because the days have been so warm we opted for a late evening wedding.
I head back to the loft with Aaron, Finn, Cade, Macklin, and Hayden. Aaron is my best man and the others are my groomsmen. We take turns showering and getting ready.
“So, who’s your date?” Macklin asks Hayden, my old teammates who grew up together and are best friends.
