“I’m so proud of you, Tate,” Emil said warmly, then gestured to his plate with a faint smirk. “I’m gonna get back to my coffee and scone now.”
Tate nodded, laughter bubbling out of him. “See you Wednesday night at six?”
“Tuesday, you little fiend,” Emil corrected with a wink. “Wednesday is Mike’s evening, and you know that already.”
Tate laughed harder, shaking his head as the call ended, but before he could slip the phone back into his pocket, it buzzed again.
OMIGOSH! OMIGOSH! YOU PROPOSED TO NETTIE? HOW AM I HEARING THIS HOURS LATER?
Tate smirked at the all-caps.
Caps lock?
He texted back before immediately hitting call. His sister answered on the first ring, her voice spilling out like an avalanche.
“Where are you?” Gina blurted before he could even say hello. “I can’t decide if I’m gonna wring your neck for making me wait—or hug you for finally giving in and falling for Nettie. My goodness, you are stubborn…”
“Hush,” he retorted, but the bite was gone from his voice. Instead, there was only warmth. “It was my secret to keep.”
“You’ve had a thing for her for years,” Gina pressed, her tone dripping with smug affection, even as it wavered withemotion. “Ever since she made you that stupid picture frame for Christmas.”
Tate’s smile faltered slightly, becoming softer, more private. “I know,” he admitted quietly, the memory tugging at him like an old song. He remembered the way his stomach had flipped, the way his chest had squeezed that day.
“Remember what she said?” he murmured.
“No. I just remembered the moment and how you stared at her. You were kinda creepy as a teenager, Tater-Tot.”
“Don’t call me that,” he said with a chuckle, though his sigh carried a weight of nostalgia. His mind slipped back in time with frightening clarity: Nettie, younger, her dark hair falling into her face as she fumbled nervously with the clunky little frame she’d glued together. Her big brown eyes had darted to his, nervous, almost shy, as though she feared he’d laugh at her effort.
Instead, she’d smiled, a tiny, uncertain curve of her lips, followed by a soft giggle that sounded like it got stuck in her throat. Then she whispered words that had embedded themselves into his soul.
“I know they’re just rocks but slowly over time, they turn into something beautiful, Tate. I hope someday someone looks past the outer layer to see what could be, you know? Life could be so amazing if everyone realized that it just takes a little hard work to make something special—and if a rock can shine after a month of getting tossed around in some dirt and sand, just think what we could do, if we tried?”
Tate swallowed hard at the memory. He had been struck dumb back then, unable to comprehend how someone so young, so goofy, could see the world with such wisdom. He still had that frame, battered but cherished, a photo of him and Nettie nestled inside—two people who had taken years to finally collide, yet always seemed to be orbiting each other.
“Can you help her with the plans for the wedding?” Tate asked gruffly, trying to mask the emotion that thickened his throat. “I want her to have her every wish, her fairy tale—even if she’s marrying the villain in the story.”
“Oh, Tate,” Gina whispered, her voice catching. “You’re not the bad guy you think you are. You’ve always been her prince—and it was me who thought you were a troll when we were kids.”
He dragged a hand over his face, dashing away a rogue tear before it could betray him.
“I’m glad you’re my brother—and I’m so happy that growing up has brought a maturity that we both desperately needed. I know I certainly needed a wakeup call, and I think I finally got it yesterday. But yes - I would be honored to spend your money, bro.”
That cracked him. Tate laughed, tears spilling this time, and Gina joined in with the easy rhythm only a sister could carry.
“Maybe we’ll do a theme wedding for Nettie, a big dinner, yoooo—” she cackled, her excitement taking over. “We could hire a deejay and play a bunch of mushy romantic songs…”
“Whatever my wife chooses is fine,” Tate interrupted pointedly, wiping his eyes. “I’ve gotta get to practice or there won’t be money to spend.”
“Byeeeee!”
The line went dead, leaving Tate in the car with nothing but the steady hum of his heart and a grin that refused to fade. Nettie was his future. His family was by his side. Now, he needed to share the good news with the team, and he couldn’t wait, knowing they would be overjoyed for him as well. He was exactly where he was meant to be – and knew it.
Climbing out of his Porsche, he hesitated as Gina’s words replayed in his mind at the same moment he saw Justin walking into the building in the distance, looking miserable. No, hewould keep his mouth shut, head down, and focus on his own relationship.
His sister could handle hers.
Tate shifted from one foot to the other, unable to keep still on the narrow strip of rubber matting that led out to the ice. His skates bit into the surface, clicking softly with every bounce as his entire body thrummed with anticipation. The announcer’s voice boomed through the arena, rolling each name out like a drumbeat, building the energy higher with every player who took the ice. One by one, his teammates burst through the tunnel, soaking in their moment as thousands of fans clapped, whistled, and thundered their approval.
