“Oh my God, are you serious?”
“Completely. Durand’s a billionaire business guy, he’s got the money.”
I think about my excitement over the New York shelter, and it grows when I imagine doing it right here. In Chicago, where Knox is. No worries about Gabe hitting on me. I could expand my classes for homeless and abused women and offer even more.
“You’re making me cry more than I’ve ever cried in my life,” I tell Knox, wiping my fingertips beneath my eyes again.
He puts his arms around me and says, “We’re meant to be. Salty and sweet. Isn’t that a perfect combination?”
I laugh at that. “I’d better be the sweet one.”
“You are.” He shrugs. “Most of the time.”
“So…wow. We’re getting married.”
“When do you want to do it?”
I think about it, still stunned it’s real. “I don’t know…do you think summer? During your offseason.”
“If you want a big wedding, we’ll need to wait until then.”
“I don’t know…what do you want?”
“I just want you to be my wife. The rest doesn’t matter to me.”
I remember all the planning that went into making my “perfect” wedding. Coordinating invitations and décor and colors. Finding the perfect venue. Trying on dozens of dresses at dozens of stores. And in the end, it wasn’t so perfect at all.
“The rest doesn’t matter to me, either,” I say, smiling at the realization. “I don’t care about the fanfare.”
Knox grins. “I’m so glad to hear that. Because I was thinking maybe we could get married soon.”
“How soon?”
“As soon as possible.” He kisses me, and when he pulls back, there are tears in his eyes as he says, “My dad would’ve loved you.”Chapter Twenty-FiveKnox“Getting married?” Silas gapes at me. “You?”
“Yeah, me. What can I say? I found the one.”
“Wow.” He breaks into a grin. “Congrats, man. I’m happy for you.” He turns and cups his hands around his mouth, yelling to the entire locker room. “Hey, Knox is getting married!”
There are yells of congratulations, back slaps and a few shocked comments.
“That’s gonna break many a puck bunny’s heart,” Victor says.
Luca reaches out to shake my hand, saying, “Your first kid better be named Luca since you guys met when you were visiting my place.”
“Yeah, don’t bet on that.”
Anton looks up from his spot on a locker room bench, where he’s seated with his knees apart, elbows on his knees. He hasn’t said a word since I walked in here a few minutes ago.
“Congratulations, Knox,” he says. “I’m happy for you guys. Reese seems like a great girl.”
“Thanks.” I sit down next to him, concerned by his forlorn expression. “Hey, you okay?”
“Didn’t you hear?”
I shake my head. “What happened? I’ve been pretty wrapped up with Reese since yesterday.”
“Alexei’s in the hospital. He got into a drunk driving accident.”
“Shit, man, I’m sorry.”
Anton sighs heavily, scrubbing both hands down his face.
“Where is he?” I ask.
“Austin.”
“Are you gonna go there and see him?”
The corners of Anton’s lips tilt down as he shakes his head. “I talked to one of the doctors, he’s gonna live. He’s just banged up really bad. If I go there, I’ll lose my shit on him. I’m just done.”
“He’s been on a collision course for a while.”
“Yeah, and as soon as he can, he’ll get right back on it. Alexei takes the biggest opportunities and just shits all over them. And other people work their asses off and never even get the chances he has. I’m fucking over it.”
After a few seconds of silence, I say, “I get it. I’d probably feel the same way.”
“Anyway, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to rain on your good news.”
“Nah, it’s okay.”
“Have you guys decided when you’re getting married?”
“Soon.”
“Mia and I want to host an engagement dinner for you guys.”
Quirking a brow, I ask, “You sure about that? You don’t want to check with her first?”
“Mia will be all over it. She loves that stuff. Taking over as head of the foundation has really gotten her into hosting.”
Mia took over after the sudden death of Lily, Jonah’s wife. Lily left big shoes to fill, but Mia has stepped up and done well.
“Well, if it’s okay with her, then okay. Thanks,” I say.
“Big Dog’s getting hitched?” A loud voice booms across the locker room.
Dante. He continues to grate on my nerves like no one else. He walks over to me and Anton with a shit-eating grin on his face.
“Somebody else on this team better be getting married,” I say with a scowl, “because I know you’re smarter than to call me Big Dog.”
He laughs, though it’s more like a cackle. “Who’s the lucky lady, boss?”
“My girlfriend, dipshit. You think I just chose someone at random?”
“That hot little baker?”
My muscles tighten with tension as I look at Anton and say, “I’ve never wanted to tune up a teammate before him.”
“You don’t like me cause I’m younger and faster,” Dante says with a grin. “But I’ll grow on you.”