Page 116 of Shutout
“Hey!” Max laughs.
My brother grouches. “We’ll see about that next year.”
Slowly, Brooke tips me to one side until my feet touch the floor. He doesn’t let go, though, and I’m in no hurry to go anywhere else. “I mean, we still have to travel tomorrow but I definitely couldn’t miss this day. Especially when I may have already tattooed it on my side.”
“What?” My eyes bulge. “That’s only supposed to be for important dates.” That, I learned at a certain cabin in the woods. The numbers I’d seen tattooed on his ribs were the date he was drafted. Since, he’s added the day we officially became a couple and the day he scored his first goal in the NHL. That day he broke a franchise record of youngest offensive defenseman to do so, too.
“Today’s an important date.” He pushes my short hair behind my ears, and slides his hands down my arms until he joins our hands. “It’s not just your graduation or what would’ve been mine.”
I rack my brain, trying to think what else could be a big deal. “Are you getting a raise? Surely not getting traded sosoon. Or did you land that massive sponsorship deal your agent’s been negotiating?”
“Nope.” He pops thepwith gusto. “Today, I’m going to win by shutout. And so will you.”
“Huh?” I glance around, but clearly no one’s going to help. My family and friends watch this bizarre conversation with entirely too blank expressions. When I turn back to my boyfriend, he’s in one knee.
I freeze.
Brooklyn’s eyes glint like pure emeralds under the sun. There’s a soft smile on his face, like he’s not nervous at all. Like he’s not doing something completely shocking.
“Aceituna.”
“Brooklyn.” I growl. “What are you doing?”
“You know what my job is, right?” His voice is gentle but unwavering, his hands warm around my cold ones. “I have to do whatever I can to prevent goals, and see if I score some as well.”
“Right.” I blink hard.
“But there’s only one game in my life where it’s not about scoring goals. It’s about both sides winning, together.” His eyebrows rise. “I’m talking about us, in case it wasn’t clear.”
“Yeah, I’m following.”
Someone snickers behind me.
“‘Kay, good. Just checking.” Brooke pauses to grin. “That’s why it’s the only game where both of us can win by shutout, you see, where it’s not about scoring points against each other at all. We protect each other. We push each other to succeed. We catch each other when we’re down…”
I swallow hard. “You don’t need to stop, I’m still following.”
Brooke rakes his teeth on his bottom lip and releases it to a little smile. Maybe he’s more nervous than I thought.
He shifts his hold to take both of my hands in one of his.The free one rummages in his pocket. My heart kicks and roars to a full throttle. Everything around us disappears from my vision. My mind records this moment for replay the rest of my life. There’s only sweetness in his eyes as he brings forward a ring. The gasp that comes out isn’t mine. I’ve become a statue.
Only when his eyes lower to the offering do I tear mine from his. The ring is a white band, simple but sleek. And atop sits a shiny black rock. I have no idea what it is, but immediately a thought pops into my head.
Wow, that is so me.
Next thing I know, everything’s blurring because my eyes are raining.
“That year and a half when you shut me out was the worst of my life,” Brooke continues saying in a soft, low voice. “And the past year and a half away from you has been the hardest. Now, I don’t want to waste a single second more.”
“B-Brookie…”
“So, Liv. Aceituna. Oliva. Olive. Bestie.” I hiccup a laugh and he places a kiss on my hand. “Olivia, will you marry me?”
I drop to my knees, burying my face in the crook of his neck and hugging him tight. And in front of my entire family and friends, I say in my best Spanglish, “Sí. A thousand times sí!”
EPILOGUE
BROOKLYN
