Page 100 of The Love Faceoff
I find myself blinking back unexpected tears as I pull Cheyenne close for a kiss. She tastes like champagne and pure joy, and I want to freeze this moment forever.
After dinner, the toasts, and our first dance, I finally get a moment to breathe. I watch from the sidelines as Cheyenne dances with her mother, both of them laughing. The sight fills me with a contentment I never knew I was capable of feeling.
“You’re glowing, big brother,” Genna says, appearing beside me with Paul in tow. “It’s disgustingly sweet.”
I laugh, pulling her into a side hug. “You’re one to talk. You and Paul are practically joined at the hip.”
She grins, exchanging a look with Paul that suggests they’re sharing a secret. “Actually, we wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Oh?” I raise an eyebrow, looking between them.
Paul clears his throat. “We, uh, we’re planning to elope. New Year’s Eve.”
“Seriously?” I look at my sister, who’s beaming with happiness. “That’s in, like, three weeks.”
“I know it’s sudden,” Genna says. “But we don’t want the big production. We just want it to be us and a justice of the peace. Then we’ll tell everyone after it’s done.”
“Well, congratulations,” I say, genuinely happy for them. “But why are you telling menow? I thought the whole point of eloping was to keep it secret.”
“Because,” Paul says, straightening his shoulders, “I wanted to formally ask for your blessing. Again. I know I already did when I proposed, but since you’re her only brother, and we’re teammates—”
I burst out laughing, unable to help myself. “Dude, you already asked me. You had this whole speech prepared. I said yes then, and I say yes now.”
Paul’s shoulders relax, though he still looks slightly sheepish. “I know, I just—I respect you, man. On and off the ice. And Genna’s your family.”
“And soon you will be too.” I clap him on the shoulder. “Officially.”
“Look at us,” Genna says. “Would you ever have guessed that both of us would be getting married in the same year?”
“Not in a million years,” I admit. “But I’ve never been happier to be wrong.”
As the reception continues around us, I seek out Cheyenne again. She’s standing with Ella and Nila. The sight of her—relaxed, happy, mine—tugs at something deep in my chest.
I cross the room to her, sliding an arm around her waist. “Can I steal my wife for a minute?”
“Wife,” Cheyenne repeats, leaning into me. “Still sounds weird.”
“A good weird?” I ask as I lead her toward the barn doors.
“The best weird,” she confirms.
Outside, the night is crisp and clear. The Christmas tree farm stretches in all directions, rows of evergreens silhouetted against the night sky. I wrap my jacket around Cheyenne’s shoulders to ward off the December chill.
“Thank you,” she says, snuggling into it.
“For the jacket?”
“For everything.” She turns to face me. “For seeing me when I didn’t think anyone ever would. For choosing me.”
I cup her face in my hands, overwhelmed by how much I love this woman. “Cheyenne Blackwe—” I stop, correcting myself with a smile. “Cheyenne Williamston.”
The name feels right on my lips, like it was always meant to be hers.
“Mrs. Williamston,” I say, testing it again. “I’mthe lucky one here.”
I kiss her again, under the stars, surrounded by Christmas trees that remind me of where this all began.
Cheyenne wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me closer. In her embrace, I’m finally home—the real me, not the persona I cultivated for years. With her, I don’t have to be the hockey star or the life of the party.
I can just be Dylan, and that’s enough.
More than enough.
As the sounds of the reception float out to us, I make a silent promise to myself to never take this for granted. To choose her every day. To remember that some things—the most important things—are worth more than they appear.
And our story? It’s only just beginning.
Did you like this book? Then you'll love Penalty of Love, featuring Cam and Nila.
