“Damn. Maybe we should get her to do our wedding.”
“I’ll get you her number, when you finally get around to asking Piper to marry you.”
“Are you excited for your first ring?” he asks.
“Fuck yeah. Hard to believe it’s finally happening.” It was what I dreamed about when I realized I was good at hockey and could make a career doing this.
Everyone mingles and sips on craft cocktails before dinner is served. Asteakdinner. No expense has been spared tonight.
I’m loving every minute of this.
Before dessert is served, dishes are cleared and champagne flutes are brought out to everyone.
Along with the champagne, a large, black velvet box is set in front of each player, coach, and staff member.
The lights in the room go down and the stage lights up as Bexley steps up to the podium.
“When we started this season, going back-to-back was on my mind, but I didn’t want to say anything. Doing that in this league is hard. In any sport. But you proved to me the kind of team you are.” Bexley’s gaze roams over the captivated audience. “This team is made of grit and perseverance. Getting to stand up here as your general manager is the honor of my lifetime. To see you grow as men and players? It’s everything to me.”
Nick is absolutely beaming at Bexley. Next to me, Alice hastears glistening in her eyes. Piper and Cash are whispering to one another, and Troy is absentmindedly running a hand up and down Angie’s arm.
“We would not be here without every single person in this room. Every one of you contributed to this team. To our win. You represent this team and this city with pride. You make everyone proud to be a Black Diamonds fan.” She grabs her champagne glass, and we all follow her lead. “Now, cheers to this team, and time to wear those rings proudly!”
I clink my glass with everyone at the table before swallowing down the gulp. Grabbing the velvet box, I crack it open.
And wow. Just wow.
“This is your ring?” Alice asks, peering over my shoulder as I open the box.
“Fuck, is it ever pretty.”
Diamonds glint off every surface of the ring. Sapphires make up the logo of the Black Diamonds. Stanley Cup Champions is etched in gold around the edge of the ring. My number is on one side with my last name, and the Cup on the other with the mountains behind it.
“How many diamonds do you think it’s made of?” she asks.
“Almost three hundred,” Nick interjects from next to me. He’s staring at his own ring. His second since joining the team. “I may or may not have asked Bex about it. And that’s not including the rest of the stones.”
“Try it on,” Alice tells me, her head now resting on my shoulder.
Popping it out of the box, I slide it onto my middle finger on my left hand.
Sitting next to my wedding band.
“Wow. That looks pretty good on you.”
“Here. You try it on.” I take it off and hold it out to her.
She slips it onto her finger. It dwarfs her hand. “I don’t know if this is made for me.”
“Good thing it was made for mine.” I laugh.
She slides it back down my finger. “I wonder if this is what it was like when we got married.”
“I wish I could remember.”
Alice rests her elbow on the table and stares at me. “Me too. I bet it was a good wedding.”
“Of course it was. It was ours.”
