I dip my chin. “Yes.”
“Hence the grand gesture. It’s also why I should’ve told you how beautiful you looked in a dress the first time you wore one. And every time after that,” he clarifies with a smile. “It’s why I should’ve taken you to prom. Why I should’ve told you how I felt after we kissed for the first time. It’s also why I should’ve told you about the contracts. I’ve messed up so many times with you, Blake. I froze instead of acting. But it wasn’t because I wasn’t willing to compromise. I froze because I was scared. Scared to be vulnerable. Scared to let you in, when you’d already wiggled your way under my skin. I froze because I was terrified I’d lose you. I’m still terrified I’ll lose you.” His warm gaze rolls over my face, taking in every tiny detail as if committing them to memory. “But you were right. You are right. We’re in this together. And I’m done fighting it or running from it, just because I’m afraid I’ll mess it up again. I’m going to put us first. Which is why I want to propose…” His voice trails off, the words hanging in the air.
Propose?
Did he just say propose?
“Theo,” I warn. Don’t get me wrong, I love the bastard, but if he honestly thinks a proposal is going to fix this, he has another thing coming to him.
With a wry grin, he repeats, “I want to propose… that I take the Lions contract.”.
My eyes widen in surprise, my heart galloping in my chest as I register his words before I smack his shoulder. “Not funny, Teddy.”
He laughs, but keeps his grasp firmly around my waist. “It was a little funny.”
“Uh huh. Sure. Way to scare the crap out of me,” I reply, rolling my eyes while earning the kiddos another quarter for good measure. “But why would you choose the Lions over the Rockies?”
“It’s closer to LAU. My parents. Macklin. You.”
“You know I would move if you simply asked.”
“I know, baby. I know.” He runs his hands up and down my spine. “But I don’t want you to uproot your life for me. To give up on your dreams so I can pursue mine. I want us to build our dreams together.”
“But you’ve always loved the Rockies,” I remind him.
“And I always will. But I love you more. I think the Lions contract is a better fit for us. Not me.”
My gaze feels glassy, but I blink the moisture away. Because he’s trying. He’s talking. He’s learning from our past mistakes. He’s doing exactly what I asked, and I kind of want to kiss him for it.
“But I didn’t send the contract in yet,” he adds. “I wanted to talk to you first.”
“Theo.” I roll my watery eyes. “You don’t need my permission––”
“I know I don’t. And I know you would’ve done whatever I wanted if I had only told you about it first.” He grabs my chin and tilts my head up, making sure he has my full attention. Joke’s on him. He’s always had my full attention.
“I want to do this for you, Blake,” he continues, his voice soft and raspy and oh, so sexy I can’t even handle it. “Besides, if you agree the Lions are the best fit for us, I’m gonna play with Colt next season. That was one of my childhood dreams, too, remember? It’s what I want. You’re what I want.”
He starts swaying us back and forth as “My Endless Love” by Diana Ross filters through the speakers.
When I recognize the song, I nearly buckle over and laugh harder than I have in years. Theo’s grip tightens around my waist, keeping me from falling on my butt as I wipe the happy tears from my eyes and catch my breath through bouts of laughter. “You didn’t.”
“Is there something wrong with ‘My Endless Love?’” He cocks his head, daring me to disagree.
I cover my mouth, but I can’t stop cackling, the shift in emotions making me feel like I’m on a rollercoaster. “It’s from Happy Gilmore.”
“And?”
“And…” I practically melt in his arms, sliding my hands over the navy lapel on his suit and smoothing out the silky fabric. “You once told me you wouldn’t be caught dead professing your love like Happy did.”
“Apparently, the right girl can make a guy do just about anything.”
“You also said it’s probably the corniest scene in the entire movie,” I remind him, fussing with the button on his white dress shirt.
Pulling me against him again, he sandwiches my arms between us but doesn’t bother to argue as he continues swaying us back and forth to the music.
“It made you smile,” he murmurs.
With my head against his shoulder, I close my eyes. “And that was the goal?”
“Yeah, Blake. That was the goal.”
“Mission accomplished,” I whisper, peeking up at him. “Although, if I remember correctly, there weren’t roses in the scene.”
“Thought I’d add my own Teddy flare.” He leans a little closer, his breath tickling my cheeks.
“I thought you didn’t like to be called Teddy.”
“Guess it’s grown on me.”
“Oh, really?”
“Mm-hmm,” he hums, the sound low and throaty and oh, so hot it makes my knees weak.
“Has anything else grown on you?” I ask.
His mouth twitches, but the bastard still doesn’t put me out of my misery, refusing to kiss me as his warm gaze bounces around my face. It’s like he’s memorizing it. This moment. Me. Everything.
“Just my best friend’s annoying little sister,” he murmurs.
If anyone else had said it, I’d be offended, but as the words slip past Theo’s lips, I can barely withhold my laughter––or my love. Hell, it feels like it’s bubbling up inside of me, clogging my throat and every ounce of logic and self-preservation. Instead, I just want to fall for the man in front of me. Let him love me the same way I love him. The same way I’ve always loved him. For years. But for the first time, the fear accompanying the thought is absent. If anything, I feel peace. He’s asking for my opinion. He’s learning to compromise. He’s communicating––even if it is in front of a shit ton of people. He’s doing everything I asked and more.
I love this man.
We’re barely moving now. There’s only so much coordination a girl like me has, and dancing on the ice without skates––and on top of roses––is quite the test.
Theo has me, though. Like an anchor, he keeps me grounded, his firm grip around my waist more than adequate to keep me from falling. Well, physically, anyway. Emotionally? I’m a goner.
Resting my head against his chest, I let the cheesy song wash over us and dance with Theo as our audience finally grows bored enough to file out of the arena. When the song ends, it’s replaced with an instrumental Taylor Swift song. Gotta give the guy credit, he definitely has an eclectic taste, and I hum the melody as the team shuffles out, along with Mia, Ash, Kate, and the kids, leaving us alone on the ice.
As the song ends, and it’s only me and Theo surrounded by roses, I look up at him. “Thank you.”
His soft smile makes me melt.
And when he whispers, “Olive juice, Blake,” my breath hitches at the words more potent than I love you could ever be. Because it’s Theo. And what we have? It has depth. History. So much history, it’s daunting sometimes, but there’s a comfort in it too. A knowledge that we’ve been through so much together. Seen so much. Endured so much. And if we could conquer all of our past bumps along the road to being together, maybe we can get past our future hurdles too. Maybe we have a chance.