Page 114 of Zero Pucks Given
She wrapped herself around him like an anaconda.
“Can… I…” Kyle was struggling to breathe. “Put the ring on?”
Sharon let go and held out her hand. Once the ring was on, she gave her fingers a little wiggle, letting the round diamond catch the light.
“You knew about this, didn’t you?” she asked me.
“What makes you say that?”
She gave me a look.
“He was supposed to wait until the second period, when a message appeared on the jumbotron,” I replied. “I called in a favor with the marketing team to make it happen.” I glared over her shoulder at Kyle. “A favor your fiancé has now ruined.”
Kyle gave me an apologetic look, but Sharon grinned. “Fiancé. I like the sound of that.”
The two of them kissed.
And continued to kiss.
Eventually, I took a few steps back and turned to Grayson. “You know, it’s kind of cute that he couldn’t wait. Like, he loves her somuch that it was killing him to wait an hour until—”
“I love you!” Grayson suddenly blurted out.
I blinked, then slowly turned my head toward my hockey player boyfriend. He looked shocked that he had said anything.
“Oh shit,” Mason whispered.
Grayson removed his helmet and let it fall to the floor. “I’ve known for a while now. I was waiting for the right time to tell you, but after seeing Kyle propose? Fuck, I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I’m sorry I’m saying this now, right before we head into the tunnel to change for the game. But I had to get it out.” He sighed heavily. “Look. You don’t have to say it back. I don’t want to put any pressure…”
He trailed off as I walked down the aisle to the edge of the Surge bench, then climbed over the divider and dropped down to the player area. A security guard was shouting at me, but I barely noticed. I hardly noticed the Surge teammates who smiled at me and parted like the Red Sea so I could reach Grayson. It didn’t even register when the head coach saw me and muttered, “For fuck’s sake.”
I strode right up to Grayson, wrapped my arms around his shoulders, and gave him a kiss.
“I love you, too,” I whispered.
“Are you just saying that because I did?” he asked softly.
I shook my head. “I’ve known for a while, too.”
“How long?”
“Since our first date at Carlo’s.”
He gave a start. “Wait, seriously?”
My laugh sounded as carefree as I felt. “Hell no. Ihatedyou then.”
“Not as much as I hated you, pussycat,” he replied.
“Maybe so. But I know that I love you now.”
For a few seconds, his face softened as he gazed into my eyes.
“Say it again,” I whispered.
“I love you,” he replied immediately. “Do I need to record a TikTok video declaring my love, or is this good enough?”
“It wouldn’t hurt.”
