“I hadn’tthought about it until Hatch brought it up, but once he did, and now that I’veridden with the club, I’d love to. But I let Hatch know if all goes well withthe surgery, I’m still under contract, so hockey has to come first, but he saidhe’s good with waiting to see how the knee thing plays out.”
“Well, wheredoes that put me?”
“What do youmean?”
“On your list ofpriorities,” I said. “Where do I land?”
“I don’t follow.”
“You say you’rewilling to commit to the club, however, your hockey career would come beforethat, but where do I fit in that list? Does hockey come before me as well?”
“I can’t believeyou’d even think I’d lump you in with my careerorthe club.”
“I just…” Isighed. “Well, if we don’t work—”
“Don’t finishthat sentence,” he growled.
“But—”
“Seriously,Daisy, I’m gonna get pissed if you keep going.”
“Well, if webreak up, you realize I’m the one who’s going to have to walk away from myfamily, right?”
“What the helldid I just say?” he snarled.
“Don’t yell at me!”
“Then don’t sayidiotic things like we’re gonna break up!”
“Don’t call mean idiot!”
“Jesus, woman, Iwould never call you an idiot, but for someone so smart, sometimes you say dumbthings,” he bit out.
“How is beingconcerned about our relationship dumb?”
“Because we’renever breakin’ up,” he snapped.
“Oh yeah?” Isnapped back.
“Yeah! I fuckinglove you, Daisy. I’m never letting you go. How do you not see that?”
“Wait.” Iblinked up at him. “You love me?”
“Yeah.” His handslid to my neck, and he tugged me forward. “Of course, I love you.”
“Well, I loveyou too.”
“Then why areyou yelling at me?” he asked.
“Because youcalled me stupid.”
“Inevercalled you stupid, but apparently, Iamif I haven’t clearly made yousee just how much I love you. Everything I do is measured against whether ornot it’s something we’re going to do together.” He ran his thumb over my lowerlip. “If I go back to Raleigh, I don’t want to go without you. If you don’t wantto go, then I’ll leave hockey behind and stay wherever you are. I don’t care ifI’m slinging popcorn at the local movie theater as long as we’re together, I’llbe happy. I’m gonna marry you, baby. Maybe not immediately, because your dadwould probably remove my spleen with a spoon, but the second it feels right forus, then we’re gonna do it.”
I couldn’t stoptears as they slid down my cheeks. “I’ll go wherever you go, honey.”
He smiled. “Yousure?”
I nodded. “Onehundred percent. I love you.”
