I was wrong.
I was scared. Of losing you. Of feeling too much. Of not being everything you might want.
Because you, Mabel, are everything to me. Will you give us another chance?
Love,
Corbin
When I’m done, my heart is beating outside my body. My eyes are welling with tears. My world has turned upside down. Still, I do my best to reconnect to reality, to the game, to the man I love scoring a goal. I stand so fast, cheering loud and hard as tears rain down my face, and reality recalibrates tothis.
To a love confession so big, so bold, so complete.
And to a man who flies over to the bench, locking eyes with me, his full of questions.
Did you read it? Do you feel the same? Do you want to give me another chance?
“Yes!”
He tips his chin toward me. “Louder for the back.”
This man.“Yes, yes, yes!” I say, my heart bursting from my chest, this love spreading through the whole arena, this man mouthing “I love you”again and again.
Like he can’t stop saying it.
Well, I can’t stop feeling it.
And I can’t believe I have to sit through three periods and two intermissions till they win the game. The guys pump their gloves, and head off the ice, but Corbin motions to me, then to the gate toward the tunnel. Remy nudges me. “Go!”
I’m so there. I hustle across the row, saying, “Excuse me.”
When I reach the opening near the tunnel, he’s peeled off his gloves and sets his hands on the boards. I’m on the other side of the boards. His eyes are earnest, hopeful, and desperate all at once. “Take me back, Mabel Llewelyn. You’re all the colors in my life.”
My heart squeezes, then bounds over to him, safe in his hands. “I never left, and I can’t believe you made me wait the whole game.”
“I’m the king of edging.” He smirks, and my heart feels like it might explode. “So what’ll it be?”
He waits, as the whole crowd hoots and hollers.
“You’re a yes, Number Fifteen. You’re my yes. You’re my enough.”
He kisses me in front of everyone, thanks to a love letter.
What can I say? Some words just work.
51
PROVE IT
CORBIN
“You beat me to it,” Mabel says when I find her waiting for me in the corridor after I’m showered and dressed again in my suit.
With the fox tie she gave me for Christmas.
I pretend like I’m hunting for something on her, tugging at her jeans pocket, her neckline. “Where’s my love letter, Firecracker?”
She grabs the tie and yanks me close. “I meant—I was going to tell you I love you too.”
