Page 55 of Sin Bins and Second Chances
“Let’s get married.”
“When?” I sucked in a breath.
“Let’s go down to the courthouse this week, before your mom goes back to Ireland. Before your cousin, Delilah, leaves. I know you want them both there. Unless you want a big wedding?”
I shake my head. “Are you sure you want to be stuck with me? I’m a mess.”
“My mess.” He leans down and kisses me. “Be mine forever.”
“Only if you get down on your knees and ask me for real.” It’s partially a joke. I know he might actually do it just to make me smile.
He does. He lowers himself to the ground. “Daisy Miles, you are the most beautiful and stubborn woman I know. We’ve been friends. We’ve been first loves. We had our time apart, and it was horrible. I don’t want to do anything else in this life without you.” He takes my left hand in his and Ican only assume it’s for show until I see him take out an actual ring from his pocket.
“What? When?” My hand shakes as he holds the ring to the tip of my finger.
“Will you marry me?” He doesn’t give me a chance to answer before he slides the ring on my finger, stands, and kisses me.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
ETHAN
It’s been nearly a month since Daisy has set foot in here. At first, we were worried about how loud it would be. The concussion she had was serious. The first two weeks it was all about quiet and dim lighting in the house. I wasn’t about to risk it taking even longer for her to heal by her coming to a game.
The entire Miles family was also aggressive and loud when it came to cheering on the Bobcats at games. They all agreed with me and backed me up. We wouldn’t risk it.
Even after the doctor okayed it, I hesitated. Daisy is my everything and I almost lost her. Shewanted to come to one of the games last weekend, but I convinced her to stay home and rest. My girl was exhausted and trying to act like she wasn’t.
I think she overdid it, trying to come back strong filling the farm stand with her sourdough baked goods. That was after taking three weeks off to rest. I knew she felt restless, but she should’ve eased herself back into it. Daisy was trying to survive off coffee, and that’s not enough. I made sure she drank water, ate, and rested.
The chill in the air brings me back to the present as we move to walk down the hall to the ice. The light show spread out sends beams of blue and pink across the ice.
“Let’s give a warm welcome to your Lonestar Bobcats.” It barely comes out of the speakers before the cheers come.
All around the rink, people stand to applaud and cheer. It always creates a buzz, lighting me up from the inside. Tonight is even better because Daisy is here.
It’s her first game as Daisy Miller. Not that she would sit with the WAG group in the box, her spot will always remain at the glass with the rest of the Miles family.
I skate around as we do our normal opening drill of hitting pucks into the net before skating around to see where I know she’ll be.
Her hand rests on the glass as I skate closer. I tap my glove hand against it a couple of times, then motion for her to do a spin for me. My eyes need to see that Miller name on the back of her jersey. She laughs as she slowly turns, poses, then faces me once more.
I can’t hold back the grin. “I love you, wifey.” I mouth.
“I love you, hubby.” She smiles.
I tap the glass once more, then move to stretch. After a few stretches, I glance back at her, give her a wink, then move to shoot the puck into the net a few more times.
It’s not long before the game begins. Adrenaline courses through me as I wait for the puck to drop. I’m in position and ready to cut through the ice.
The puck drops and the other team has control. I quickly move into position, my stick and extension of me as I shoot across the ice, and turn, skating backwards and helping play defense.
They shoot and miss and I quickly gethold of the puck, skating it across the ice before passing it to Kole. He moves it farther down the ice before passing to Baker. The puck is passed a few more times before being passed back to Kole. He shoots.
Score!
Music comes out across the speakers as we all cheer him on. I’m one of the few moving to the bench, rotating around our team as the rest of the period plays out.
*****
