She looks up, eyes sparkling. "Not yet."
"Soon."
"Soon," she agrees.
The locker room is chaos. Champagne being sprayed, music blasting, everyone shouting and celebrating. But I keep Ivy tucked against my side, my arm around her waist, anchoring her to me.
Jake claps me on the back so hard I stumble.
"Told you she'd say yes."
"Never doubted it," I lie.
Marcus approaches. For a moment, I tense. But he just looks at Ivy and something softens in his expression.
"You happy?" he asks her.
"So happy," she says, her voice thick with emotion.
He nods, then turns to me. "Take care of her."
"Every day," I promise. "For the rest of my life."
He holds my gaze for a long moment, then extends his hand. I shake it, and there’s an understanding between us. I know then that I’ve gotten my best friend back.
The celebration continues around us, but I pull Ivy aside to a quieter corner of the locker room.
When we finally emerge from the locker room an hour later, hand in hand, the arena is mostly empty. Our families wait in the tunnel. Riley’s still crying happy tears. Rowan is looking pleased. Ivy's parents are beaming.
But it's the twins who rush forward first.
"We're getting a sister!" Riley squeals, hugging Ivy fiercely.
Rowan just smiles and says quietly, "Welcome to the family officially."
Ivy's mother kisses her cheek. Her father shakes my hand with a firm grip and a warning look that says everything Marcus's threats did.
We all head out together, planning an impromptu celebration dinner. But as we walk through the parking lot under the night sky, I pull Ivy back just for a moment.
"What?" she asks, laughing.
I take both her hands, the engagement ring catching the streetlight.
"I'm going to be a good husband to you. I'm going to support your research, celebrate your wins, be there when things get hard. I'm going to make you feel seen and valued every single day." My voice drops. "You've spent your whole life being overlooked. That ends now. I see you, Ivy. And I'm going to spend forever making sure you never doubt that."
Her eyes fill with tears, her smile widening.
"I’ll always love you," I whisper.
THE END.
