"For the record," he says loudly to Bobby and Colby, "that was the most dramatic Career Day speech in North American history."
Coach shakes Gabriel’s hand like he just won something important.
Gabriel laughs, rubbing the back of his neck.
He looks relieved.
And dangerously handsome.
Gabriel finally notices me standing near the bleachers.
For a second neither of us speaks.
Which is ridiculous considering he just publicly declared his love in a gymnasium.
"Hey," he says as he approaches.
"Hey," I say.
Dex immediately appears over Gabriel’s shoulder.
"Just want it noted," Dex says, "this whole love confession situation was clearly the result of my excellent coaching."
Colby looks at him. "You got your puck stolen by a second grader."
Dex shrugs. "Sacrifices had to be made."
Gabriel points toward the parking lot.
"I’ve got to swing by the rink for a weight training session," he says. "Coach will kill me if I skip it."
Gabriel glances toward the line of kids being herded out of the gym by their teachers.
"Mason’s grabbing her for dinner tonight," he says. "He wants the full Career Day recap."
"He’s going to hear about it for the next ten years," I say.
"Worth it," Gabriel says.
Gabriel rubs his jaw.
"Dinner out tonight," he says. "Just the two of us?"
I stare at him.
Because this man just confessed his love in front of an entire elementary school assembly.
And now he’s asking me to dinner like we’re normal people.
"I think we can manage that," I say.
He smiles.
It’s the same smile he had when we first made our very strategic marriage agreement.
Except this one looks different.
Warmer.
