Clipped by Love
Page 123

 Toni Aleo

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Unable to comprehend what is going on, I look at the jersey almost in tears at the sight of my name and number on the back. “Is this really happening?” I ask, looking up at her, and she grins.
“It is. Congratulations.”
Sharing a grin with her, I then hurry to put the jersey over my dress and my hat on my head before we pose for pictures. I can’t wait to see them because I know my face says it all.
I couldn’t be happier.
When we are done, I walk down from the platform, and I don’t miss the looks from the other GMs and owners, even coaches. They are all in shock about what just happened, as am I, but then, I know I deserve this. I worked hard, and so I stand a bit taller as I head to the waiting room. The first thing I see is Jayden waiting for me, hopping on the balls of his feet.
“Get over here!” he hollers before wrapping his arms around me and lifting me off the ground. “I told you!”
“You did,” I agree, our lips pressing together. Holding me tightly, he moves his mouth with mine, and I still can’t believe it. I made it. But then it dawns on me. Pulling away, I look down at him, his jersey matching mine, and I yell, “Oh my God, we are on the same team!”
Laughing, he brings my lips back to his as he mutters against them, “Dork.”
When we part, I look deep into his eyes and it all seems like a dream. “This isn’t real, is it?”
“No,” he answers, stone-faced. “We are actually in a different realm and have to find the door that will lead us back to our real lives, just like Sam and Dean had to do.”
Grinning, I thread my fingers in his hair and shake my head. “Shut up, you big dweeb.”
Laughing, he squeezes me tightly and I press my nose into his, thinking that I’m the luckiest girl in the whole damn world.
“I’m so proud of you.”
“I’m so proud of you too,” I answer back. “I can’t believe this,” I squeal, wiggling in his arms.
“I can. I knew from the beginning we’d be standing together, right here, like this.”
“Really? I mean, really? Come on.”
“Really.”
There is no way in hell anyone could ever wipe the grin off my face as I hold his gaze. “I mean, really though, how could this get any better?”
Looking away, he nods his head as he grins. “Actually, since you brought it up…”
Confused as he lets me go, I ask, “Huh? Brought what up?”
He doesn’t answer me. Instead, he takes my hand and I watch as he slides a very large diamond ring down my left ring finger. When I look up, his eyes are blazing into mine as he falls down to one knee. “Marry me,” he demands. “Because that’s how this can get better.”
“Now?” I ask, flabbergasted, and he grins.
“Yeah, now. Let’s go,” he says, standing up and shaking his head, and I beam back at him.
I know he’s joking, but I’m not. “Okay, let’s go.”
“Wait, what?” he asks, confused, looking at me. “I was joking! A yes is all I want.”
“Well, I’m not joking, and you’re getting more than a yes. You’re getting me as your wife, today,” I tell him.
“What? We can’t have a wedding today! We don’t have anything planned!”
“I don’t need to plan anything. I don’t need the dress, the flowers, or any of that crap. I need you,” I stress, framing his gorgeous face with my hands. “I love you, and I want to marry you right this second, in our jerseys, because you’re right, that’s how this moment can be better.”
Eyeing me, he wraps his arms around me and he grins. “Really?”
“Really, let’s go.”
“Now?”
“Now,” I answer, and his grin grows even more, his eyes shining with love for me.
Squeezing me tightly, he whispers, “You never cease to blow me away, Baylor Irene Moore.”
“Good, because I plan to do that a lot,” I inform him.
“I can’t wait,” he says, his lips moving against mine. “I love you, Baylor.”
“I love you, too.”
And as he kisses me, I realize I just reached a lot of my goals.
Make it into the NHL. Check.
Make my dad proud. Check.
Find the love of my life. Check.
Tell him I love him every day. Check
I don’t have the Stanley Cup, but I will, and I’ll have Jayden with me to do it, which is probably the coolest thing in the history of ever. But when I open my eyes, meeting his heated green gaze, I feel like I already won the Cup.
Jayden is my Cup.
My greatest win.
And I know no one can take him away from me.
He’s all mine.
As I am his.
Forever.