Captain's Curvy Puck (Locker Room 2)

My palms are sweaty and all I can hear in the pounding of my heart in my chest. Is everyone this nervous before they walk down the aisle?

I should be excited. I am excited. I can’t wait to be Mrs. Johnson. We have a great family already, now I want my husband, too.

Then I hear it.

“The beat has stopped…” I mumble, and as I do, I grip my flowers against my chest and step forward.

It’s magical. White roses lines the aisle in tall vases. The white carpet is leading the way to a raised platform. When I look up, all I can see is Miles. There are several people gathered around him. His brothers. His friends. My brother. My friends.

But all I see is… Miles.

Sandy blonde hair. A rough stubble that he insisted looks good, and dammit, he’s right. The crisp white suit is the perfect choice. His round shoulders are still broad and solid, even though he’s no longer playing with the team anymore.

Miles flashes a smile and quickly wipes at the corner of his eye. Lucy is standing in front of him, griping her tiny bouquet of flowers so tightly. They look so much alike. The same hair. The same smile. The same loving gaze directed at me.

How did I get so lucky?

I step up the raised platform and meet Miles with a wide grin. His cheeks are flushed red, his eyes glistening in the moisture of his tears. We’re close. So close Miles leans in, and for a moment, I think he’s about to kiss me.

I jolt back, my eyes popping with shock.

“You can’t kiss me before he says you can!” I pin the celebrant who’s just staring at me blankly. “It’s bad luck!”

Miles smiles and shakes his head. “Ah, baby… I was just going to tell you how beautiful you look…”

“Oh…” I mumble, my eyes shifting.

There’s a giggle around the room and for a moment I feel like I’m the star hockey player on the ice. I’m the centre of attention and the star of the team. I guess, in a way, I am. At least for today. Then Miles can go back to being Vancouvers favourite legend. The city is sold on the fact that he chose to stay and sign on for one more year because he loved the Vikings so much. And that’s fine. They can think that.

But I know Miles Johnson stayed for me. He stayed for his daughter. Most of all, he stayed for his family.

“Miles Johnson, do you take Ellie Edwards to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“I do,” Miles confirms.

“Ellie,” The celebrant twists and faces me. I take a breath and do my best not to wipe the hot tear rolling down my cheek. “Do you take this man, Miles Johnson, to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

“I do.”

“It is with great pleasure that I now announce you husband and wife. Miles… Now…” The celebrant leans in close, eyeballs Miles before looking at me with a cheeky grin. “Now, you may now kiss the bride.”

Miles beams and presses his lips to mine. His hands pull me in closer and closer, but it’s still not enough. It never will be enough. I can’t have too much of this man, and now that he’s mine forever, I don’t need anything else.

- THE END –