"I'm staying. Fifth row. Cheering for you. Where I should have been all along."
"Damn right." Mac kissed her one more time. "I'm going to score so many goals for you tonight."
"Don't get hurt showing off."
"No promises."
Rachel
Rachel sat in the fifth row, clutching the sunflowers Mac had set aside, watching the man she loved play hockey with renewed intensity.
Sophie appeared beside her, grinning. "That was the most romantic thing I've ever seen."
"I can't believe I did that. In front of everyone. With a microphone."
"You were amazing. Brave. Vulnerable. Exactly what Mac needed to see." Sophie squeezed her hand. "I'm proud of you, Rachel."
Mrs. Henderson appeared on Rachel's other side. "Well done, dear. Very well done. Mac's a lucky man."
"I'm the lucky one."
On the ice, Mac was playing like he was possessed, but this time with joy instead of devastation. He skated faster, passed cleaner, shot harder.
Halfway through the second period, Mac intercepted a pass, drove the length of the ice, deked around two defenders, and scored with a perfect wrist shot.
As the goal horn sounded, Mac pointed at Rachel.
The crowd went wild. Mac had never pointed at anyone after a goal before he’d told her. It felt cheesy. It felt like something from a movie.
It felt absolutely right.
Mac scored two more goals before the game ended. The Eagles won 7-3.
When the final buzzer sounded, Mac skated directly to theboards where Rachel stood. He leaned over, grabbed her face, and kissed her hard.
"That's my girl," Mac said against her lips. "My brave, beautiful girl who fights for what she wants."
"Always," Rachel promised. "From now on, always."
52
Mac
The locker room was chaos, everyone celebrating the win, razzing Mac about the grand gesture, replaying the best moments.
"That was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," Luke said, wiping fake tears.
"The whole speech!" Jamie added. "The public declaration! Mac, your girlfriend is braver than you are!"
"She's not my girlfriend," Mac said.
Nobody moved.
"What?" Cole asked carefully.
Mac grinned. "She's more than that. She's my forever."
The team erupted in cheers and laughter.
