Page 58 of SlapShot Sweetheart

“Awww, what sweeties!”

“I know I am,” Giroux volunteered.

“Me too,” Thierry added. “Where’s the cake knife, Aimee?”

“In the drawer,” she hollered distractedly over her shoulder, scooping up one of the kittens while Becca picked up the other one… and hesitated at Becca’s surprised look, combined with silence from the kitchen. Turning, Aimee expected some monster to be standing there behind her or for the entire room to be on fire. Theo was standing there, holding a very prettily decorated cake that had donut holes stacked weirdly all over it, with a message that made her smile.

Life is sweet,

Never boring.

Will you marry me?

And there, in the center of the ‘O’ in the ‘Will you marry me’ message, was a large solitaire sticking up from the frosting.

“Is this a little better?” Theo grinned.

“I love doughnuts,” Aimee chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she glanced over at Theo, realizing he was the mastermind behind this sugary distraction meant to throw her off her game. “But if that diamond turns out to be plastic or crumbles in my hand…”

“I’m going to be seriously pissed,” Theo laughed, a playful glint in his eyes. “It’s real, I promise.”

“Can I keep both rings?” Aimee teased, her heart fluttering at the thought of the promise behind the sparkling gem.

“My niece will be mad,” Lafreniére interjected with a chuckle. “But Uncle Dustin can always get her another one.”

“Uncle Dustin,” Boucher scoffed, rolling his eyes dramatically. “Ya big dork.”

“I swear you’ve got an ax to grind…” Aimee shot back, playfully nudging Boucher.

“Not everyone gets their happy ending,” he said, his voice turning serious for a moment, making Aimee's heart ache slightly for him.

“You’re on the roster, bro,” Theo replied, shaking his head in mock disbelief.

“What the heck’s that mean?” Boucher retorted, raising an eyebrow.

“You too, Coeur,” Aimee added with a playful smirk.

“SAY WHAT?!” Couer exclaimed, feigning shock.

“Aimee, ignore them,” Theo grinned, plucking the glistening ring out of the frosting and carelessly shoving the cake toward Thierry. “Start cutting,mon frère.”

“You got it,” Thierry replied, a grin spreading across his face as he prepped the cake for cutting.

“We need to talk about that little bombshell that isn’t funny in the slightest,” Boucher interjected, his brow furrowing in mock seriousness.

“Just open the champagne, ya big baby,” Aimee retorted, crossing her arms with a playful pout.

“And the grape juice,” Becca chimed in, already positioned with her camera, ready to capture every moment. “Go ahead, Theo. I’m taking photos.”

“Merci,” Theo chuckled, turning his full attention back to Aimee. He took her hand in his, his touch igniting a warmth that spread through her body. Slowly, he slid the frosting-covered solitaire ring onto her finger, making her laugh as the sugary mess coated her skin. His eyes were bright with joy, and at that moment, Aimee felt like the luckiest woman in the world. It was as if time stood still, and nothing else mattered. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes—but you already knew that,” she replied, her smile radiant, her heart swelling with love for the man before her.

“I just wanted to hear it again… and again,” he said, his voice low and filled with adoration.

“Yes, I will marry you,” she affirmed, her heart racing as she watched him hold up her hand like it was the most precious treasure in the world. He glanced at Becca, who was snapping pictures, then winked at Aimee in a way that made her heart flutter.

In a playful twist, he leaned down and licked the underside of her finger, scooping up a generous dollop of frosting. The wildly intimate move, combined with the unexpected tickle, sent waves of laughter bursting from her lips. Before she knew it, he drew her into his arms, the warmth of his body enveloping her, and he kissed her passionately, their laughter mingling in the air around them. In that sweet moment, surrounded by friends and the joyful chaos of frosting and doughnuts, Aimee felt an overwhelming sense of happiness. It was a memory she would cherish forever, a snapshot of pure love and laughter.

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