Page 210 of The Fine Line
He mutters under his breath, “Aw, shit, forgot I can’t kneel.”
I laugh despite myself. “Why would you need to?—?”
Before I can finish, he sits back down on the couch, pulling me gently toward him. He takes my left hand, my breath catching as he slides my ring free, cradling it between his fingers.
“Caroline Barrett,” he murmurs, his eyes steady on mine.
“Yes?” I breathe, my heart in my throat.
“Will you stay married to me?” he asks. “This time because you want to.”
I blink, my lips parting. “Rhett?—”
“Marry me,” he says again, firmer. “Because I want to long-distance date you while you follow your dreams. I want to cheer you on every step of the way. I know you don’t need me there. I know you can do it on your own. But I want you to want me. Because, God, Cub—do I want you.”
He swallows, voice thick. “Through every storm. Every stretch of time and distance. A few years of chaos is nothing in the grand scheme of forever. And I want forever with you. All of it. Let people think what they want. Let them talk. All I care about is you.”
Tears fill my eyes, my throat closing tight.
“Yes,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “Rhett, yes.”
The smile that spreads across his face is everything.
He pulls me to him and kisses me, long and deep, the kind that feels like it could stitch broken pieces back together.
And when we move into the bedroom, slow and careful and gentle, every last doubt I’ve ever had dissolves.
Because this is the truth.
This is the real thing.
And when we fall asleep tangled in each other, I can’t help but think:
We’ve crossed that line now.
And there’s no going back.
ICELINE REPORT
www.icelinereport.com | May 29, 2025
Texas Storm Fall in Game 7 Heartbreaker, Captain Rhett Sutton Reflects on First Season Leadership and What Comes Next
The Texas Storm’s playoff dreams came to a narrow end last night after a hard-fought 3–2 overtime loss to the Vancouver Wolves in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals.
Despite the bitter ending, it was a season of resilience—none more emblematic than that of team captain Rhett Sutton, who made his return to the ice in Game 1 of the playoffs after missing the final stretch of the regular season due to a Grade 2 MCL tear and concussion sustained in a late-season matchup against the Chicago Blizzard.
Sutton came back with undeniable determination, recording 6 goals and 11 assists over 16 postseason games. His faceoff percentage climbed to an impressive 55%, and his ice time led the team in every single round.
Following the game, Sutton spoke to reporters about his first year wearing the “C.”
“It’s been a journey,” Sutton said, his voice reflective but resolute. “A lot of ups, a lot of downs, but I’ve had an incredible team around me through every bit of it. I’ve been lucky. Our coaching staff—especially Coach Barrett—believed in me when it mattered most. My teammates showed up every night. I couldn’t ask for more.”
When asked what he’s looking forward to next season, Sutton didn’t hesitate.
“We had a great run, and I’m proud of how far we came. We’ll come back stronger next year—this team’s only getting better,” he said with a small smile before his expression softened. “But honestly? What I’m really excited for next season is watching my beautiful, brilliant wife start her new role as a commentator with the New York Titans. She’s going to be amazing. She already is.”
The interviewer laughed, then asked the question on everyone’s mind: Would distance make things difficult for the newlyweds?
