Her arms come around my neck, hesitant at first, but then her eyes meet mine, and her face breaks into the brightest most breathtaking smile that takes up her whole face. I think she’s awesome just the way she is. There is nothing I would change on her. She’s perfect.
I lean my chin into her forehead, closing my eyes as Shelli’s voice swirls around us. Shelli is stunning. Her voice has a raspy but buttery sound that touches you right in the heart. As we move to the sweet melody of the song, her stunning voice makes the moment even better. My throat goes dry with all the emotion hitting me right now. Will Sofia still want to be with me if I don’t make it? She’s so driven. She probably wants to be with someone who is as successful as she is.
Damn it, I don’t want to lose her.
I know Shelli is almost done, and I know they’ll all attack Sofia once Shelli finishes. Knowing this, I slowly trail kisses down Sofia’s temple and then to her ear. “Hey.”
I feel her grin against my cheek. “Hey.”
I swallow hard, squeezing my arms around her, bringing her in closer. “Every year we have to say what we’re thankful for, and I want you to know it’s you. It’s only you, Sofia. I’m thankful for you.”
Her breath catches as she leans into me, pressing her lips to my jaw. “Hey, Ryan.”
I smile as her lips caress my jaw. “Yeah?”
She pulls back, looking up at me, her eyes full of pure joy. It pleases me to no end that I made her eyes shine like that. That I put that grin on her face. She’s completely mine. “I’m thankful for late nights on a roof, Oreos, and coffee.”
I can’t stop my grin from growing. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah,” she whispers, her eyes burning into mine. “Because that was the moment I knew I couldn’t shake you. The moment I knew I’d met my match.”
I hold her face. “Funny. For me, it was when you pressed your tongue into your cheek and ran at that vault.”
As her face breaks into a grin and an obnoxious but beautiful laugh leaves her mouth, I know I can’t lose her.
But like my dreams of the NHL, I probably will.