Page 162 of Keeping Score

“Yes!” she cried, sinking down to her knees in front of me, both hands shooting out to pull my face to hers for a kiss I had no desire to dodge.

“Yes?” I repeated after we broke apart, needing the confirmation in words. “You’ll marry me?”

“Yes!” she squealed. “Tomorrow. Tonight. Right now? Name the time and I’ll be there.”

“I don’t even have the ring with me.” I laughed, guilty and giddy and drunk on the moment all at the same time.

“I don’t care.” She shook her head back and forth.

“And our knees are getting wet,” I laughed, looking down to where we knelt on the ice.

“Who cares!” she yelled, crying now tears of joy. “We’re getting married! Let’s go now, to the courthouse.”

The only type of tears I ever wanted to see coming from those pretty eyes of hers ever again.

“Babe, babe, babe,” I said, as Maggie scrambled to her feet. “Wait. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

“Why not?” she asked, looking as if it would be fine to head there right now, me in my hoodie and skates, her in her work clothes and makeup-stained face.

“Because if there’s one thing Maggie Brynn loves, it’s a party. And I sure as hell won’t be the one to stand between you and the biggest party of our life.”

“Say that again,” she said, eyes gleaming.

“What?”

“Our life,” she said sincerely. “That’s all I want. You and me, always.”

“Done.” I nodded my agreement. “Easiest yes of my life.”

From somewhere behind us, I heard Cassie weeping and finally turned to see Cassie and Liam standing in the bench door, watching us.

“Come here, you guys,” Maggie said, gesturing for them to join me on the ice.

“Oh no,” Cassie protested. “We can’t ruin your moment!”

“Sorry, but Maggie just agreed to marry me! Nothing could ruin this moment.”

She shoved my arm, though her eyes were radiating love when she looked up at me.

Fuck it. I leaned down and kissed her again.

Because I could. Because I’d missed her. Because I couldn’t believe I almost lost her.

And most importantly, because she was going to be my wife. We might’ve taken the long way to get there, but it didn’t matter now. It had been worth it.

Cassie wobbled out onto the ice with outstretched arms to keep her balance, her Converse sliding on the ice as she took a few cautious steps.

“Careful,” Liam said, practically glued to her side to make sure she didn’t fall.

“Oh, right!” Maggie chirped, looking from them to me with humor. “Cassie’s pregnant.”

“What!” Cassie and I said at the same time.

“Maggie! How did you know?” Cassie pouted.

“Because you’ve been alternating between crying and throwing up all week.”

“Maybe it was the stress of your separation,” she defended weakly.