She laughs, digging into the pocket of her jeans. When her hand returns, she’s holding a lighter and a candle.
“How the hell did you get a lighter past security?”
Gianna shrugs. “I have my ways.” Releasing my hand, she flicks open the zippo lighter and lights the candle. Her eyes meet mine. “Happy birthday, Daemon. Make a wish.”
This woman never ceases to amaze me. We’ve been fucking around the clock when I’m not on the ice or helping her put together her resume. We’ve talked for endless hours, but the topic of birthdays hasn’t come up at any point over the last month. Somehow, she still knew and made sure she had something for me.
I look at the candle and the last six weeks flash in my mind. I got the girl. I got the championship. I got everything I wanted and more. What else could I wish for?
My gaze wanders to Gianna, and instantly, I know what my wish will be this year. Leaning in, I blow out the candle.
“What did you wish for?” Her voice is low as she asks the question.
“You’ll find out eventually,” I tease. “Now, are you going to tell me how you managed to sneak in a metal zippo lighter past a ton of security?”
“Nope,” she exaggerates the sound when she pops thep, and I just smile at her. Then, she’s looking around the arena with the lighter in her hand. “How many of these do you think it would take to melt the ice?”
With a laugh, I lift her from the icy floor and crash my lips to hers. I’m barely aware of the sound of the lighter landing somewhere near my skates, but I don’t care about anything other than getting lost in my girl right now.
Gianna is crazy and a full blown demon of chaos. She’s going to keep me on my toes for a long time, and I can’t fucking wait to watch as our life unfolds. It’s going to be a beautiful fucking mess.
Bonus Epilogue One
Holden
The sun reflects off the gentle ripples of the lake behind the altar as I take my spot underneath the wooden archway. Perfect birch branches weave together over my head, decorated with an array of soft pink flowers and greenery.
I’m standing on a wooden platform at the edge of the lake that matches the sea of chairs set out for our friends and family. Behind our guests, the landscape of the mountains and the blue sky adds to the beautiful day.
Angelina spent months picking every minute detail of the location that she would finally become my wife.
After our Stanley Cup win, we wanted to ensure that the paparazzi wouldn’t find our wedding, so we kept it small and only invited people we trust.
I get to marry my Angel in the mountains of Maine. It’s a private cabin resort in the woods that we’ve rented for the entire week. No one enters the property unless they are on our list of approved attendees or staff.
It’s fucking perfect.
My heart races underneath my white dress shirt. I’m more nervous today than I was in the seventh game of the Cup Finals. Angelina is my everything, and I can’t wait until I can call her mine forever.
Kai stands beside me, my best man, looking uncomfortable in his penguin suit. His words, not mine. “Are you good?” he asks me as he fidgets with his tie.
“Never been better,” I beam, and I mean it.
The music starts, and I pick up on the slow instrumental version ofOrdinaryby Alex Warren almost immediately. I knew that Angelina wouldn’t pick the traditional wedding march, butI didn’t expect something so modern from my classic loving wife to be.
My eyes focus on the path lined with flowers, waiting to finally lay my eyes on her in that dress. Her friends have been warning me for months that I won’t be able to contain myself once I see her.
They were right.
The second I see my girl, I have to mentally restrain myself from running down the aisle to her. She is a real life angel.
She's walking toward me in a white dress that flows like the water behind me. Her dark hair falls in loose curls around her shoulders, and I see the flowers woven through it that match the ones in the arch above my head.
The sun catches her face, and that smile that's only ever been mine is there when our eyes connect. I am the luckiest bastard alive.
She has always been the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on, but right now, walking toward me with tears in her eyes, she’s the entire universe wrapped into one perfect package.
I don't realize I'm crying until Kai claps me on the shoulder and hands me a tissue. I’m incapable of speaking, but I take the tissue and nod my head in thanks.
