Page 169 of Unrivaled Love
"I suppose it does have a nice symmetry to it." Crosby says before he whistles for Estelle who is loving the great outdoors.
My phone pings with a text.
"It's Jo. Okay she's landed and is getting her bag. She'll be here in like 30 mins because the airport is tiny. You guys gotta go back to the house."
"Okay, okay," Duncan complains as I start to shove him back down the trail.
"And make sure the sign is up so she doesn't go inside first."
"We will." Felix says before placing both hands on my shoulders and forcing me to slow down. "You got this bud. Jo is hopelessly in love with you and you're down bad. It's going to be alright."
"Okay," I take a deep breath and exhale. "Thanks, Cap."
I watch Felix and the boys disappear down the path. I’m so thankful for my boys. This past year would have been impossible without them. Theyhave held me together when I couldn’t have Jo in my arms. They distracted me with BrUNO tournaments and we’ve all come to adore our time with Stella-Bo-Bella.
If the boys had bet me as I stood on the ice holding up The Stanley Cup that two years later I’d be proposing to the love of my life, I would have taken it and lost out big time.
But I still think I’m coming out on top because I get to marry Jo.
JO
The car drops me off at the end of the driveway. There are already six cars lined up and I roll my shoulders back to prepare for seeing my whole family and Bryson's family and Bryson himself.
He came out to Salt Lake City a few weeks ago to visit after his season ended and then he went back to D.C. to help with a hockey clinic. And now I’m about to walk into Casa de Svobilton and be with his family and mine.
As I get closer to the porch I see a note hanging from the pillar.
Jo - come meet me at our spot before you head inside - Love, Bry.
This is actually perfect. I slide my phone into my pocket and grab the keys I got made after talking to Brie earlier.
It's a symbolic gesture since the keys are dummies but I figured it would be a cute way to tell him I'm moving closer. It's not a done deal yet but Brie said I was her first choice in the expansion draft and I'm currently unprotected with Salt Lake City. I had to take a pay cut but now that I'm working with Bryson's agent, Allie, I'm earning more from sponsorships and have the added flexibility in my contract.
She got Bryson and me a perfume ad together. We shot it last February on a beach in California and I think beachy Bryson is my favorite version of him yet.
Being near the water reminded me of the summer we reconnected. The memories bring a smile to my face again now. With my keys in hand I head towards the lake where it all began again.
BRYSON
Where the hell is she?
I’ve been pacing the clearing for over an hour. Twice as long as it should have taken her to find me.
I bet the sign was put in the wrong place or they told her to go somewhere else just to mess with me.
Not cool.
I might be the prankster but I’d never mess with someone’s pivotal life moment.
It's late, and getting dark. Which will make the lights pop but also makes it trickier to get home.
I stand up, pace in a circle, and then sit back down again on my stump. Maybe I should just call her and see if she's still at the airport or something. God I hope she's okay.
"Bryson?"
I whip around behind me and see Jo standing at the other edge of the clearing.
"What are you doing there?" I ask her wondering how the hell she made it past me in the first place.
