Page 56 of SlapShot Sweetheart

“You brought the roses at the same time you were in the car with me?”

“Aimee,” he sighed, smiling tenderly at her as she unlocked the door and Theo scooped her up, yet again, carrying her inside. She was starting to get used to this sweetness that was warming her heart, and she was so relieved that he wasn’t upset anymore. “Lafreniére was supposed to leave the roses with the gift bag on the porch – out of sight. I texted him from the restaurant to tell him we were on the way.”

“You did?”

“Yes.”

“And you were mad he put the roses in the wrong place?”

“I was mad because I thought someone had been disturbing the surprise I had planned for you,” he said softly, putting her down near the couch. “Sit,mon âme sœur… please?”

“This has been a night for the record books,” Aimee began quietly, collapsing onto the couch as Theo crouched beside her.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m fine. It’s just sorting all this in my head… and realizing that every time I thought something was happening, even though you had mentioned it wasn’t you – it actually was.”

“It was,” he smiled softly, reaching up to touch her cheek. “Are you mad?”

“Not at all,” she replied, laying a hand atop his and meeting his smile. “A little dizzy from all the mental spinning, but it’s terribly sweet. I love that you wanted to surprise me.”

“I loveyou,” he whispered tenderly, holding her gaze. “And that is whatje t’aimemeans.”

“Je t’aime…”

“You pronounced it perfectly,” he replied approvingly, brushing his thumb against her cheek as he swallowed. She saw his throat work as his eyes dropped away, almost like he was scared or concerned.

“I meant it,” she admitted quietly in the silence of the house as his eyes slowly traveled back up to meet hers. Those dark brown eyes she would never get tired of looking at, never tire of telling him how she felt, because she loved this strange man with every fiber of her being. He had taken her by storm, kept her on pins, and managed to worm his way into her heart. “Je t’aime,Theo.”

“Je t’aime, mon âme sœur,”he breathed reverently as his eyes searched hers, before pulling his hand away from her cheek. She was about to protest slightly, only to see him quickly reaching in the bag… and her heart stopped in her chest as she realized what he was doing. He gave her a nervous, shaky smile that melted her very soul as he pulled from the bag a black velvet box.

“Is that…” she managed to choke out and didn’t even miss a beat as something crashed noisily in the other room.

“Do we need to get that?”

“It’s the cats and the whole place could burn for all I care right now.”

“You think that…”

“Theo, don’t you dare move,” she gritted out, halfway between tears and sobbing like a crazy person. “You were about to say something?”

“Oh?” he chuckled and hesitated, holding up the box. “This is my medication.”

“If there isn’t a ring in there, you might need medication.”

His face fell… and she nearly passed out from the stress of it all – only to catch his glittery eyes and that soft little smirk that drove her nuts.

“Were you ‘oping for a ring from me?” Theo managed to whisper, his voice emotional and hoarse. He slowly opened the box, and a tear escaped the corner of his eye, melting every bone in her body. She realized he was handling this in the only way he knew how just to keep from falling apart, too. There on the velvet was not what she expected… and blinked.

“Do you like it?”

“Um, unicorns are a thing, I suppose.”

“Eh?” Theo balked and looked down at the box, before closing his eyes and muttering wildly under his breath. A panicked laugh escaped him. There, in the expensive jewelry box, was a plastic pink unicorn ring for a child. “That’s not what I bought you.”

“I figured,” she giggled, realizing that someone had played a joke on him. “I’m glad you aren’t angry.”

“I’m really ‘appy that you aren’t,” he blurted out nervously. “I feel bad asking you to marry me with this… but do you think, maybe, that you can put up with me being your partner, knowing that life will be like this? A bunch of jokes with my friends?”

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