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"No," Jamie says, her voice clear and firm. She doesn't even hesitate. "I don't want it."
"Jamie."
"No, Jonas." She reaches up, placing her fingers over my lips. "I didn't quit solely because of Darren. I quit because it's notwhat I want to do with my life. It's not the stories I want to tell or the way I want to feel at the end of the day. I grew up with a dad who reported on sports moments that mattered.That'smy dream. They can throw all the money they want at me, but it won't change what I want."
Well, shit.
"Then I have something else to talk to you about," Kelsey says.
We both turn to look at her, only to find her grinning.
"We're looking to add another reporter to our Broadcasting Team," she says, watching Jamie intently. "And they think you'd be a perfect fit."
"Are you serious?" Jamie asks, her eyes wide. "They want to hire me?"
"They do." Kelsey beams at her. "You're an amazing reporter, Jamie. And these guys know you. Kelly Strauss, the head of the team, thinks you'd be a great addition. If you want the spot, it's yours. It doesn't pay nearly as much as what they were offering you, but you'll be doing pre- and post-game and rinkside reporting and covering special events and training camps." She shifts her gaze in my direction, an amused smile dancing at her lips. "You'll travel with the team."
Kelsey is teasing me, but I didn't suggest Jamie for the job so she could travel with us. And I didn't get her the job either. She did that herself. Kelsey knows it too or she never would have agreed to bring her up to Kelly.
"You're serious?" Jamie asks. "They really want to hire me?"
"Yes!" Kelsey cries. "They really want to hire you."
"Yes," Jamie blurts without even hesitating, and then she bites her lip and looks at me. "I mean, if you're okay working with your girlfriend."
"Girlfriend?" I quirk a brow. "I think you mean future wife."
"Jonas."
"You're marrying me," I growl, pulling her back into my arms. My hand tangles in her hair, angling her head back until her eyes meet mine. "You're marrying me, angel."
"Yes," she whispers.
It wasn't a question, but her answer roars through me, louder than any crowd, brighter than any arena. I press my mouth to hers, stealing her breath and every little piece of her soul.
Ten hours later, sweatdrips down my back as Dean clears the box. I leap over the boards, hitting the ice in a dead sprint. Wes is in the penalty box again, so we're down a player.
We're tied with the Stars, with less than a minute on the clock. But we're not fucking losing. And we're not going into overtime. I'm ending this shit before the clock runs out.
Kris shoots the puck to Kellan, who immediately passes it over to Gray. Tad and Constantine, two of the Stars, immediately clock his ass, trying to keep him away from the fucking goal. They're desperate to drive us into overtime. They think they can outlast us if they do.
Gray sails around the net with the puck, passing it back to Kellan. Their center charges after him, leaving me an opening. Kellan sees it and passes the puck to me off the back of his stick. It lands against mine.
The entire arena jumps up, screaming as the clock counts down.
Their center realizes his fuck up and immediately changes course, but he's already too late. He never should have given me an opening. Short-handed goals are my goddamn bread and butter, and everyone knows it. I line up the shot.
And whip the puck to Kris at the last second.
Their goalie isn't expecting the move. He loses sight of the puck for a split second, frantically scrabbling to keep it out of the net. That's all it takes for Kris to sink the puck into the goal behind him. The goal horn blares, the lights flashing.
We're going to the playoffs.
The crowd loses its goddamn mind.
I'm only interested in one member of the crowd, though. My girl.
I turn, seeking her out in the cheering crowd. She's on her feet with Laney, cheering at the top of her lungs. Her eyes meet mine as if she were just waiting for me to look at her. Her smile knocks the breath out of me.
