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“You still want to go out there? Even after the time you broke your leg?”
That memory was forever burned into my brain. The sounds Leo made were heartbreaking as he lay sprawled on the ice, his face pinched in pain. I hadn’t even thought about it. I’d just scooped Leo up in my arms and rushed him to the hospital. Waiting for an ambulance would have taken too long.
Leo moved in front of me. “You think I’m afraid of a little old ice? Please, I drive two hundred miles an hour with thirty-five other cars around a racetrack for a living. I eat dangerous for breakfast.”
“Yeah, baby, you do.” I pressed my lips against his.
Leo placed his palm over my heart. “You doing okay, hon? We don’t have to stay if you’re feeling overwhelmed and just want to be alone. We can go home, snuggle under the covers, and eat candy until our stomachs hurt.”
“I’ve never been better.” It wasn’t the whole truth, but that was all right. “What I want to do right now is skate with my boyfriend, family, and friends. Come on, baby.”
Once we had our skates on, we joined the twins and RJ on the ice. I made sure to keep Leo tucked around my arm as we slowly slid around the ice. When we made our way over to where Ford and Felix flanked his friend, Leo’s face broke into a big smile.
“What?” RJ snapped, his legs shaking like a newborn deer. “Laugh it up all you want, Leo, but if I fall, this is going to be all your fault. I won’t be able to drive with a broken leg. Who’s going to explain that to my father?”
“We won’t let you,” Felix insisted. “Will we, Ford?”
Ford scowled and rolled his eyes. “We won’t.” He grunted, but his gaze stayed pinned on RJ. For a brief moment they stared at one another before Ford looked away, his cheeks blazing.
“You all look cute,” Leo teased.
I nudged him. “Come on, let’s leave them alone.”
Leo didn’t put up a fight when we started to glide over the ice again. I felt the heat of his lean body pressed against me as we moved. I caught sight of my fathers in conversation with Ezra and Carson while Killian and Matthias sat in the bottom row of chairs, talking with Watts and Holt Brooks, keeping an eye on their son, Archer, who was desperately trying to get onto the ice without his parents help. Bundled up in a snowsuit, Archer’s deep brown curls were poking out beneath the helmet he wore. I noticed my uncles, Dean and Beau, as they chatted with Uncle Tommy and Blake. Seth had his phone in the air as he moved it around the arena with Noel and Wyatt by his side. Warmth pooled in my belly and spread through my body. I was lucky enough to call all of these men family. Some of them were my brothers, and I realized how close I came to losing it all. Never again.
“Marry me,” I blurted out before I could stop myself.
Leo’s head shot up. “What did you say?”
“Marry me, Ricky. I don’t want to fuck this up again. I want to be with you. I’ve always wanted you and I... Please? I know I didn’t bring the ring with me, but I promise I’ll get you an even nicer one. Bigger and better than the first one I gave you.” I dropped to my knee on the ice.
Leo’s eyes were wide. “Andy, what are you... Are you being serious right now?”
“Yeah, baby. I’m as serious as a heart attack. I want to marry you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and only you. I want to start a family, watch them grow, and get old with you. I have loved you since the moment I first kissed you. I know I fucked up, and I’ll regret it for as long as I live, but give me a chance to make it up to you. I will never, ever go a day without kissing you, holding you, and telling you how much I love you.” I swallowed nervously as I stared up at him. Why wasn’t he saying anything? Did Leo not want to marry me anymore? “Baby—”
Leo sank onto the ice. “Yes.”
“Did you say yes?” I whispered.
Leo knocked me onto my back and climbed up over my body. “Yeah, hon, I did.” He dropped wet kisses all over my face. “Yes, a million times yes.” His face nearly split wide open as he pulled back.
I opened my mouth, but loud clapping and cheering caused me to shut it and turn my head to the left. Everyone was staring at us with big smiles on their faces. But it was Dad who had me suddenly choking back tears. He had tears streaming down his face as Pop held him in his arms. He looked so happy. Maybe even a little proud. But definitely happy.
I sat up, keeping Leo in my arms. “I’m going to be the best husband in the world,” I whispered.
“I know.” His eyes swam with tears.
I kissed his forehead. “And we’re going to be the couple everyone else wants to be. We’re going to have a big wedding, a huge house, and—”
Leo kissed me before I could say anything else. His fingers tangled in my hair as our tongues curled together. I nipped and sucked his bottom lip, tasting his strawberry-flavored lip gloss.I meant what I said. And forever was never going to be long enough to love this man.
“Get it, Little Olson!” Killian exclaimed.
Leo giggled as we pulled apart. “We have an audience.”
“I don’t care, Ricky.” I kissed him again before I pulled back. “But Dad is properly losing his mind over this right now.”
Leo twisted around to see what I was talking about. “I think you’re right, hon.”
