Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
The face-off starts off in our zone which immediately leads to a shot on the net, where Sammy blocks it with his blocker. One of the Florida players tries to catch it midair, but it falls in front of Knox, who takes it and starts to move out of the zone, Owen and Aaron skating up with him. It’s three on two by the time they enter the zone. I get up on the bench to see the play. Knox passes it to Owen, who skates it in and passes it to Aaron, who shoots it on the net but it’s blocked. However, Knox is right there in front, waiting for the rebound and he puts it in.
I don’t even hear the horn going off, all I see is Knox and Aaron jumping in the air. Helmets, gloves, everything flies. The bench is cleared off and all I can do is put my hands on top of my head. “We fucking did it.” I look up to the suite, seeing Victoria with tears in her eyes as she holds her hands in the air, yelling.
Our eyes meet for just a second as she points to me, and I point back at her. Everything feels like it’s going around in a circle, and I’m just standing in the eye of the hurricane.
Ken is beside me going nuts, giving me a hug as he’s handed a baseball hat that says “Stanley Cup Champions.” “I knew you could do it!” he cheers and I laugh.
“No, you didn’t.” I laugh as I’m handed my own hat.
“No, I didn’t,” he concedes as I look over and see the carpet coming out.
I finally get on the ice as I walk to the team and Jaxon spots me. “Guess you think you’re big shit now that you got a Stanley Cup.”
“Knew I was big shit the minute your sister gave me the time of day.” I wink at him, and he pushes my shoulder as we line up to shake hands with the other team. When I get to the coach, he smirks at me.
“Good fucking game,” he says. “Look forward to getting it back next year.”
“Who knows; we might go back-to-back.” I slap him on the shoulder as I see the players with their families now. Jaxon is hugging Ariella, who is smiling and crying at the same time. Lexi holds Kirby around the waist, looking up at him. Knox is with his kids and Kylie. My eyes roam for Victoria and I see her standing there behind the bench. My father and mother beside her both with tears in their eyes. My sister with her hip cocked to the side trying to show she isn’t happy but you can see the twinkle in her eye.
I walk over to her, our eyes on each other as she steps toward the bench and leans over to hug me. “I’m so proud.” She barely gets it out before the sob joins her words. “More proud now that you won.” She holds my face in her hands.
“Good to know.” I kiss her lips. “Good to know.”
I walk over to my father who slaps my chest and then hugs me and then to my mother who beams, “you were so good doing your thing.” She puts her hand to my face.
I see my sister, “I mean it wasn’t you who scored the goal but I guess congratulations.” I throw my head back and laugh at her. Moving back over to Victoria kissing her lips.
Manning comes over and shakes my hand. “Well done, Coach,” he praises.
“Thank you.” I shake his hand as he moves to Jaxon, the two of them hugging it out.
“So what are you going to do now that you won?” Victoria asks me.
“Try to get you to agree to marry me.” I wink at her, and she laughs.
“Just because you get one ring, you think I’m just going to agree to yours?” she jokes as I walk to the side and make my way behind the bench, reaching inside my jacket pocket.
“Wasn’t sure I would be able to give you this tonight,” I tell her, getting down on one knee. “Definitely wasn’t going to do it if we lost.” She laughs as she puts her hands over her mouth. “Today is the second-best day of my life, after the day I met you, but,” I look over her head to see everyone watching us, “want to make it take the number one spot?”
“So needy,” she teases, and I get up, grabbing her around the waist and kissing her. “I love you,” she declares.
I kiss her once more. “Spend the rest of my life telling me that.”
“I guess so,” she says, making me laugh, and here in the middle of the biggest night of my life, she gets a ring before I do.