“Nicolette,” he whispered, taking my hand in his. “You’re perfect.”
I rested my hand on his shoulder. “So are you, Chase. I love you so much.”
He cleared his throat. “I love you too, and our little nugget.” He put his hand on my belly before leaning down. “Daddy, loves you, and I am so glad you’re here to witness this.”
Chase shifted off the bench onto one knee in front of me. “Nikki, I know this might be cheesy and cliché, but your first kiss was in this spot and it is only fitting that it be the place where our lives change again. I will love you until the second I take my last breath. I promise to be the best man and father I can be.”
Tears were streaming down my face as I stared down at the love of my life kneeling before me.
“Nicolette Jennings, will you marry me?” He pulled a ring box out of his pocket and opened it to reveal a simple solitaire princess cut diamond glistening atop a white gold band.
“Of course!” I yelled, throwing my arms tightly around his neck.
Chase jumped to his feet with me in his arms, twirling us in a circle. “You have made me the happiest man alive, Nik.”
I kissed his neck. “That feeling is mutual, Chase.”
Epilogue
Nikki
“Way to keepthat glove up!” I yelled from the stands as I watched number eighty-six defend his goal perfectly. My little man was all smiles through his face cage as he dropped the puck he’d saved onto the ice and skated it around to the back of the net to hand if off to one of his teammates.
“Your son is a natural,” one of the dads called over to me.
“Thanks!” I yelled down at him, not even looking at who it was. The voice was really familiar, but I was too engrossed in the game.
The man got up and sat next to me. “He probably gets a lot of his grace and speed from you.”
I looked over to see the beard-covered face of my husband, who I wasn’t expecting to see for another day. I jumped into his arms. “What the hell?”
“I rented a car and drove down right after the game.” He crushed his lips to mine as the buzzer to signal the end of the first period blared.
“Connor is going to be so excited to see you here.” I waved to our son, pointing to his father.
Throwing his mask up and his gloves onto the ice, he skated to the boards. “Dad!” he yelled.
Chase and I trotted down the steps to get closer to our boy.
“Hey son. Crosby would be proud.” Chase high-fived Connor. “I know I am.”
“Did you beat the Lightning?” Connor had been pretty upset that his game overlapped with his father’s and we weren’t able to watch most of it.
“What do you think, kid?” Chase beamed down at him.
“Yes!” He jumped a little.
“Harding!” his coach yelled after blowing her whistle.
“Better get back over there. Remember, you’re the most important dude on that ice. You have to stay sharp, and always listen to your coach.” Chase patted Connor’s shoulder pad.
“Thanks for making it, Dad.”
“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world, son.”
Chase laced his fingers in mine, leading me to an empty bench. “We have some kid there, don’t we?”
“And he won’t be the only one for long.” I couldn’t keep my secret for one more second.