Neutral Zone (Carolina Comets)

I became a headline.

That wasn’t exactly my intention when I decided to win Fitz back, but it happened.

WOMAN DRESSED AS DONUT INTERRUPTS COMETS AND GETS BANNED FROM ARENA

I won’t lie, I wasn’t at all anticipating that repercussion when I decided to jump off the Zamboni, but it was worth getting escorted off the ice by security and told I wasn’t allowed back for a year. Really, I’m lucky it was that short. They wanted it to be for life, but Fitz talked them down. I think he may have bribed them a bit, but he says I’m worth it.

I just wish I could have deferred my ban to a season when the Comets didn’t make it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. Unfortunately, I missed all the home games and had to watch them from Slapshots. All the wives and other girlfriends stood in solidarity next to me and gave up their spots to keep me company.

Now, at the tail end of Game Seven, we’re all wearing our Playoff jackets and seated in the suite we reserved because this is an away game, and the boys are five minutes away from doing something they’ve worked their entire lives for—winning the Stanley Cup. The score is tied, and all we need to do is keep the puck out of our net and get another goal.

“Just five more minutes,” Harper says. “They just need to hold on for five more minutes.”

Stevie has her hands on her cheeks, eyes locked on the ice. “I think I might junk punch Greer if he lets another goal in.”

“He’ll totally be the jackass again if they don’t win.”

Stevie doesn’t even have it in her to scold her daughter for her comments. Besides, I think both reactions might be warranted.

After Fitz and I made up, the Comets went on one hell of a heater. They were the first team to clinch a Playoff spot and even took home the Presidents’ Trophy. Now let’s just hope that old superstition of winning the Presidents’ Trophy but not the Cup doesn’t come back to bite them in the ass.

“My panties are wet, and not even for a good reason. It’s pure sweat at this point,” Ryan says, watching as Rhodes slams a guy into the boards. “Okay, now they’re wet for a good reason.”

I laugh, then return my attention to the ice. Fitz has the puck, and he passes it to Miller, who shoots it toward the net. Everyone gets out of their seat as the puck rolls off his blade and misses the net by a foot.

Before anyone has a chance to sit back down, he has it back, and this time, when he shoots, he doesn’t miss. Everyone is jumping up and down, including all of us girls, cheering so damn loud there’s no way I’m going to hear anything my professor says tomorrow.

As much as the opponent fights, they can’t do it, and just three minutes later, the Carolina Comets are Stanley Cup champions for the second time in their franchise history.

We’re escorted by security down to the ice, and before I know it, I’m being swooped up into Fitz’s arms.

“I’m so—”

My words are cut off by the best kiss of my life, and that’s saying something because I’ve been kissing Fitz every day for six months now.

“I love you, I love you, I love you,” he says, punctuating each word with a kiss.

“I’m so proud of you!” I tell him.

He’s worked tirelessly toward this over the last several months. Every day is hockey, hockey, hockey. Being here to see his dream come true…it’s everything I didn’t know I wanted.

“Thank you,” he tells me, molding his hands to my face in that familiar way I’ve grown so damn used to.

“For what?”

“For being you. For being here. For being mine. I don’t know how I got so damn lucky, but I promise to never, ever take it for granted. You mean everything to me, Ro, and I promise to spend the rest of my life proving that to you.”

I grin up at him. “I think I’d like that very much.”

“Yeah?”

I nod. “Yeah.”

“Good. Because I love you. More than strawberries even.”

I gasp playfully. “Well, I never.”

He shakes his head. “You knew. You’ve always known.”

And I do know. I always have.

Four and a half years ago, I realized I was madly in love with my best friend, the guy I grew up next door to and had known my entire life.

Three and a half years ago, I was ready to tell him I loved him. I just needed to find the right time. This was big, life-changing. I couldn’t just spring it on him. It had to be right.

Three years ago, everything fell apart when he told me he’d met the love of his life and was moving out of the country and the lease on the apartment we shared wasn’t going to be renewed.

Two and a half years ago, I vowed to make my life into my own.

Two years ago, I met a man, not knowing he was going to change everything.

After some heartbreak and uncertainty, I made him mine.

And as of tonight, I’m more in love with him than I’ve ever been.

This is everything I’ve been waiting for, and I’m never letting it go.