Page 61 of Worth the Risk
“Not the crossword, Winnie. The sports column.” I flip it over and see a picture of a smiling Rhett. God, he’s beautiful. Below the picture the article’s headline reads.
SILVERTHORNE ALUMNI, RHETT HOLLOWAY, TO LEAD BOYS HOCKEY TEAM TO VICTORY
“This is great, Mary. I really am so happy for him.” I go to set the paper down and she sighs heavily.
“Read the article, Winnie. Please. Specifically the last few paragraphs.” I eye her warily but concede.
When asked about being back in Silverthorne, Coach Holloway said as much as he is looking forward to coaching his team to victory, the biggest reason he sees himself sticking around here is that he’s in love with the woman who owns the local bakery.
I gasp and tears fill my eyes as I keep reading.
“I love hockey and always will. Playing professionally for the past decade of my life has been a great privilege, but Coaching these boys the past few months has been the most challenging and rewarding. I’m hoping this season and in the years to come, I can prove to this community that I’m willing to put in the work to get these boys the opportunities they deserve. I’m planning on being around for a long while, if anyone had any doubts. There’s a woman here that I’ve been in love with since I was seventeen and I plan to marry her as soon as I can get her to say yes… You may know her as the woman who runs and owns the very successful bakery, Thistle and Sage. They have the best cinnamon rolls in the state?—”
I stop reading when the tears become too much for me to see through and wipe my eyes on the sleeve of my tee shirt. I let out a sob at the realization that I could have lost Rhett, because of my own stupidity. He wants me. He’ll stay. I just have to take this small risk and the reward it will bring will absolutely outweigh it. I check my phone. Another unanswered message from Rhett time stamped at 3:37 this afternoon.
“I won’t give up on us Winnie. You and me are end game. If you decide to take the risk with me, meet me on the ice tonight. I love you. Get in your head about it if you have to, but please take me with you.”
I feel my lips tremble, clear my throat and glance at the woman who has been like a mother to me when I needed one the most.
“Can I still make the game?” Mary checks her watch.
“You have 15 minutes. If you hurry I think you can make it.” I jump off the stool and sprint out of the front glass door and down the sidewalk to the school. I trip twice on the way, but only fall once, skinning my knee and scuffing my hands up. All I can think about is getting to Rhett. He needs to know that I’m all in like he is. That I will stick by him like he’s promised to do for me. I need to tell him I’m so stupidly in love with him that I’ll fight through all my insecurities to make us work.
I make it to the school in 10 minutes despite my clumsiness. It’s the last two minutes in the last period when I burst through the side door of the arena. I spot Rhett immediately on entrance. He’s in a suit and looking so devastatingly handsome that I can barely stand it. How could I have been so stupid? He’s talking to one of his players before sending him out onto the ice. When I check the score board again I see how close the game is. 3-4. We’re up by 1. I know how badly he wants this win. I bite my nail and shift from foot to foot. The time is running out and I’m vibrating with nerves. I want this for him.
When the buzzer sounds and we’re still up by one I let out a whistle, cheering loudly. Rhett’s celebrating with his team, but when they all head off to the locker room his eyes find mine instantly. I smile a watery smile. Pride inflates my chest for him. He’s proven not only that he’s the best player to ever step out onto the ice here, but that he’s also going to be the best coach. His smile is wide, showing off his straight white teeth that he somehow managed to keep intact. I decide to make a run for him. Not my best decision. I jump the half wall on my end of the rink and try to run towards him. I feel my mistake as soon as myfeet hit the ice, sliding until I’m falling. I land on my right hip and elbow.
He’s there in a heartbeat, lifting me into his arms and carrying me to center ice. As painful as it is to hit the ice like I have many times before, being carried around in Rhett’s strong muscular arms may be worth it.
I’ve just coached my team to our first victory and I couldn’t be more proud. These boys have put in the work and listened to everything I told them to do. I’m just missing one thing or I guess one person. So, when I look out into the crowd and see her standing next to the rink, I can’t stop the smile that takes over my face. Before I can get to her she’s climbing over the wall.
Winnie Parker will never stop taking my breath away. She looks so beautiful it hurts. Her hair is as wild as I’ve ever seen it and her cheeks are pink. She’s beaming at me and I stand a little taller knowing she’s looking at me. I grin at her, but make a mad dash to get to her when she tries to move on the ice and falls onto her side. I’m worried she’s hurt herself when I get to her side. I pick her up and walk her back to the center of the rink.
“You know, I wanted you to fall for me, but I really didn’t mean physically. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. I’m sorry, you know I can’t walk on flat ground without tripping, let alone ice.” I chuckle. The weight I’ve been carrying in my chest lifted.
“I was starting to think you weren’t coming and I was going to have to make a special visit next door.”
“I wasn’t. I had all but convinced myself that you were better off without me and I should let you go.” I blink.
“As far from the truth as that is, I have to ask. What changed your mind?”
“I don’t think I believe anything differently now. You probably are better off without me and you could have found someone else who is less trouble. Someone easier, but I wouldn’t be better off without you, I’m not sure I could survive it again.” She lets out a sob and I wipe the tears from her beautiful face. She has no idea the hold she has on me and before I can tell her that, she continues. “I’m so out of my mind in love with you Rhett. I’m so sorry it took me this long to come to terms with it.” She’s crying in earnest now, but I can’t help my smile. Knowing she cares for me a fraction of what I feel for her has me feeling like I’m floating. I set her down on her feet, holding onto her by her forearms.
“Don’t cry, honeybee,” I whisper. “If it helps to know, I was never really that worried.” It’s a lie, because I had thought about how impossible it would be to not have her be mine, but I’m trying to be reassuring. “I let you go once before and I spent eight years missing you. I won’t ever be that stupid again,” I say, tucking her hair behind her ear.
“That makes one of us. I’m still so scared. I don’t want to lose you, Rhett. It would kill me to lose you, but never having you because of a what if? That thought terrifies me.” I take her face in my hands then, kissing her lips softly in the middle of the hockey rink, in front of the whole town.
“Never going to happen. I am yours, Winnie. Whatever parts of yourself you’ll give me will be more than enough for me.” She whimpers and reaches up on her tip toes, kissing me before pulling back.
“Rhett.”
“Yes, Winnie?”
“I’m not sure if you realized, but I got your message.” I grin wider.
“I was hoping you would. You should know I talked to your brother before I did the interview.”
