Page 106 of Hockey Player Seeking Fan

I want us to grow together.

I want us to be together.

And I have one last question for you.

She licks her lips and smiles. “Well, I know what it’s not going to be,” she says, and we both laugh.

“I want to marry you, but I’m not stupid enough to ask you right now, though if I thought you’d say yes, I would.”

“Really?” she says, looking surprised. “I thought I was the romantic one.”

“Don’t judge a book by its cover, Erica. For you do not always know what you see.”

“You’re right there. I never would’ve ever guessed that we’d be in this situation right now. So please, darling, don’t leave me standing here, waiting in suspense. What’s the last thing you have to say?”

“I want us to volunteer. I want us to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. We can go out and build homes for people who are in need. We can go out and just help other people and still be together and maybe think about our purpose in life. Because even more than riches, we’ve been blessed with love. And I just feel like you’ve opened something up in me. The fact that you are yearning to give back, to help… I realized that, sure, I was helping my family, but I haven’t really been helping anyone else. And there’s this opportunity I’ve been given, and I was wondering if you’d like to come with me.”

I stare into her eyes.

“Maybe we can travel together, get a camper van, go around building houses for people, figure out who we are and who we want to be. How we can give back. What do you say?”

“I mean, it’s not as great as a proposal,” she giggles, “but I’d love to. I think it’s a really, really good idea. And I’ve obviously heard of Habitat for Humanity, and while I’ve never built a home, I’d love to do whatever I can to help people.

“I want to say one thing, if that’s okay.”

“Of course. Go ahead.”

“All my life I’ve kind of been this girl that I know people thought was silly and maybe unrealistic—wanting to meet my soulmate, wanting to fall in love, wanting to focus on somethingso perfect. And every time I thought about it, I wasn’t really sure what it looked like. It just looked like perfection. Maybe a big mansion and a white picket fence and a green lawn and a big kitchen and kids and a big fridge and friends and laughter and happiness and going to concerts and going to Disney and just… being happy.

“And there’s nothing wrong with that,” she says, looking thoughtful for a moment. “I just think there’s more to life. I just think there’s more to do. And well… I feel like you’re not my soulmate because we’re attracted to each other. You’re not my soulmate because you’re handsome or rich or funny or goofy or the millions of other reasons why I love you?—”

“Thank you,” I laugh.

“Yeah… what I meant to say is: you’re my soulmate because your heart is truly good. You care. I love that about you, and I always will. And thank you for the letter. Thank you for everything—the chocolates, the roses, the book of poetry, which we will read tonight.”

She stands up and gives me a kiss on the lips.

“I love you, Tyler Kane. And you are my soulmate. And I’ve won the bet. And you know what I want?”

“No. What do you want?”

“I just want to spend the rest of my life with you. I just want to be the woman who makes you happy.”

“And I just want to be the man who makes you happy.”

“I know,” she says, nodding slowly and touching the side of my face. “I can feel it in my very bones. You’re a good one. And I’m really lucky.” She grins. “I’m really, really lucky. And Wes is lucky. And I’m lucky. And I hope Miles finds the same thing.”

“Your brother?” I ask, surprised.

“Yeah. I feel like he’s going through something. He’s been really distracted the last couple of weeks, and I don’t know what it is. I haven’t wanted to pry, but maybe I should stick my nose inthere and see what’s going on because I don’t want him to be the only Carrington that hasn’t found love.”

“You want us to set him up?”

“Oh, no,” she says, laughing and shaking her head. “That’s the last thing he would want. But maybe… behind the scenes, we can do something.”

“I like how you think.”

I pull her toward me and kiss her hard.