Page 83 of The One Timer

Waving back, I blow a kiss as Sabien skates up to me, spraying ice and bumping me.

Link and Jason skate over and ask about Merry and Sheryl and I tell them those ladies are off limits to the likes of them. They wave and smile at Gran and we shout back and forth until Coash Nash blows a whistle and waves us off.

We’ve already clinched a spot in the playoffs and most of the regulars, including me, will be getting limited ice time. The game supposedly doesn’t matter, but we want to win badly for the momentum going into post season play.

So this is serious shit and once the puck drops, the outside world drops away.

***

After the game, which we win, hockey drops away in importance as I look for Em outside the locker room.

When I find her, I don’t think she even minds when I kiss her long and hard in front of the cameras. Must be my killer kiss that has her in a haze and she doesn’t notice the light or hear the whistles.

It’s my birthday and we’re going out to celebrate at Pizzeria Regina’s, the same place as the first night we met, the place we celebrated her birthday, but with a bigger crowd this time.

“This is our birthday place from now on,” I say.

“That’s fine with me.” Her smile drills down to my soul and even though Tony is putting a half dozen hot pizzas on the table, I ignore my stomach for once.

“Get the polaroid ready, Tony,” I shout. He grins and grabs it from the cabinet behind him.

Everyone at the table turns my way, including Em. She has that half-scared look of anticipation on her face because she knows my penchant for mischief. Speaking of which, I wink at Gran sitting down the end of the table with Kathleen, Walt and his family.

“What’s up?” Sabien says, knowing something’s up though I didn’t tell him what. I hid this surprise from everyone because I know how to keep a secret. Well, maybe Gran knows, but only because she’s a mind-reader.

Jason and Link help themselves to pizza while they watch me. Merry, sitting between them, elbows them, one with each elbow. Aunt Bea, Petra, Penny and Dugan stare with suspicious eyes, but I think they’ll like my surprise in the end. They’ve been a pleasant surprise for me, not so much the evil step-sister types as I imagined.

I clear my throat and turn to Em. She gives me that what’s going on look. Then I get down on one knee and slip a box from my pocket.

And she screeches, her eyes popping and her hands covering her mouth too late.

Everyone at the table yells and cheers. Tony clicks the camera and everyone in the place cranes their heads to see what’s going on.

“I haven’t even said a word yet,” I look around reprimanding them with a mock scowl.

“Then get on with it,” Merry says.

“Yes, please do,” Em says in a breathless voice. I can feel her vibrating excitement as I take her shaky hand in mine.

“Will you marry me Emery O’Keefe, love of my life?”

She screeches again and then throws herself at me before I can get the ring from the box. Best laid plan and all go to shit.

The look of shock on her face is priceless, but dam I wish she wasn’t crying. And I wish she would fucking answer the question already. I hold her in my arms as we stand, people cheering and shouting and whistling around us and applause ringing from the other tables.

Taking her face in my hands, I whisper, “Tell me yes. Tell me you’ll marry me, Em.” My hands shake and I hold my breath.

She sniffles and I swipe her tears aside with my thumb, but I don’t let go of her face, staring at her eyes until she finally catches her breath and answers me.

“Yes. Yes. Yes I want to marry you so much it’s scary.”

She kisses me and I hold her tight, like I never want to let her go.

And this time, when we spend the night together at my place in Portsmouth—for old times’ sake—Emery won’t be leaving in the morning.

She won’t be going anywhere—at least not without me.

Second Epilogue