Page 124 of On Thin Ice
I smiled at Louis, and he wrapped his arms around both Zara and I.
Lukas’s hands landed on my shoulders. “I think they want you to come back out on the ice.”
Untangling myself from my friends, I let Lukas pull me back out onto the ice. Official members of the IOC were standing on the ice, and I swallowed hard. An instrumental version of the music I’d just skated to was playing, and that same hush as before settled over the crowd.
“Aimee Bryant, on behalf of the International Olympic Committee and a popular vote among your peers, we would like to award you an Honorary Olympic Gold Medal.”
My breath caught in my throat, and my hands started to shake.
Lukas gave me a little push, and I moved towards the man holding the medal out.
I could barely breathe as I ducked down, and felt him move the ribbon over my head and settle it around my neck. I stood up, and they all smiled at me, and with shaky fingers I reached up and felt the cool metal. I looked down and a tear landed on the shiny surface.
When I looked back up, no words would come out. I just reached out and squeezed the man’s hand and he smiled andnodded. I didn’t have words, and when I spun around to show Lukas, a sob burst from me as I found him down on one knee, holding an open little black box in his hand.
“I haven’t even said anything, and you’re nodding.”
The laugh was part sob, but it didn’t matter. Lukas was down on one knee, proposing to me at the Olympics where I’ve been given an Honorary Gold Medal.
My chest rose and fell rapidly, and I wanted him to just?—
“Will you marry me, Aimee?”
“Fucking took you long enough,” I choked out.
The moment he was standing, I threw myself at him.
He laughed, catching me, and again the crowd erupted in applause and cheers and I wasn’t sure if I’d ever been happier in my entire life. I kissed him like I was starving, and when he pulled back, he brought my hand up between us, and slid the diamond over my finger and pressed a kiss to it.
“You’re stuck with me now, Mrs. Fraiser.”
“Ireallylike the sound of that,” I said against his lips.
“Good, because Ineverplan on letting you go.”
