One Pucking Destiny (Crane Hockey #4)

Chapter 29

CHAPTER

TWENTY-NINE

ARI

“ O h, you poor thing.” I place my hand under the dried brown petals of flowers atop my countertop. Three vases of decayed floral arrangements sit atop the small space, dropping their sad petals.

Ever since Bash first visited me here and saw how little space I had for flowers, it became a running joke for him to keep sending them. I looked forward to the deliveries every week despite my cramped living quarters. The fresh bouquets made my apartment smell amazing and were beautiful to look at. Plus, the flowers meant that Bash hadn’t given up on me, and though I was still deluded at that time, I subconsciously needed that reassurance.

The past month has been a blur since the final game of the Stanley Cup and my brother’s birth. I came back the day after the big events to pack some clothes and visit Dr. Pedlow. It was hard to say goodbye to the vet office where I’d volunteered for two years, but seeing as I literally have thousands of hours more than I need, it wasn’t necessary to come in all summer. Dr. Pedlow was proud of me for taking time for myself before my final year of clinicals, something she’s been encouraging me to do for a while. After wrapping up a few things at school, I went back to Bash’s, where I’ve been for the past month.

Hence the sad state of my bouquets.

While I’ve only been the official girlfriend of an NHL hockey player for a month, I think the summer months are incredible. There is a break between seasons, and besides some light conditioning sessions in the weight room, he’s all mine. I’ve never had a serious boyfriend before, so my point of reference may be skewed, but I can’t imagine anything better than dating Bash.

He’s simply perfect. We’ve had the best month dating—exploring new places, eating at delicious restaurants, dancing, laughing, and making love. It’s hard to believe that this is what I was so afraid of.

I’ve only been away from him for a couple of hours, and I already miss him. I had to come back to school to turn in some paperwork and run a few errands. I know that when clinicals start in a couple of months, the longing and complete ache of missing him is going to hurt like crazy. But knowing that it’s temporary will get me through it. I have no doubt that after graduation, I have a fantastic life with Bash waiting for me.

I shake out an oversized garbage bag and toss the three dead bouquets into the bag. While I have no desire to deep clean the place right now, I start picking up and wiping everything down. The only thing worse than coming back to school and missing Bash would be having to come back to a stinky “closet” as Bash likes to call it. I’m serious when I say that I love it here, but the thing about small spaces is you have to keep them clean because little odors that would go unnoticed in a large house are amplified in a place like this. The inch of rotting water at the bottom of the vases has already filled the space with a bit of a funk.

My phone rings from my purse. I set the cleaning spray and rag down and retrieve it.

I look at the bookstore’s name flashing across the screen. “Hello?”

“Is Ariana there?”

“This is.”

“Oh, good. We’ve caught you.” The woman on the other lines sounds relieved. “We’ve tried calling you several times but never got through, and your voicemail has been full. ”

I don’t remember missing a call from the bookstore, nor did I realize my voicemail was full. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you’d called.”

“No problem. We just wanted to let you know that the book you ordered has finally arrived. Are you able to come in and get it?”

“I ordered a book?” I say more to myself than to the woman on the other line.

“Oh yes, and it’s a good one.”

“Oh, okay. Sure. I’m just finishing something up, and I’ll be over in a little bit.”

“Sounds great. We’ll be here. You can pick it up from the front desk.”

After the call ends, I toss my phone back in my purse, trying to remember what book I ordered. The past couple of months have been a blur. It’s no wonder I don’t recall. I hope it’s a spicy beach read. Bash’s house has a beautiful pool, and we’ve been spending a lot of time outside. Curling next to the pool with a good book would be nice.

I finish cleaning my place, which doesn’t take long—another perk of living in such a small space. Scanning my apartment, I pack up any other clothes and essentials I need for the rest of the summer. I don’t see needing to come back here until the fall semester.

It’s a short drive to the bookstore. This quaint little shop has always brought a smile to my face. There’s just something special about a privately owned bookstore. But now, it’s more special as this is the place where I first met Bash, even if I did only know him as the book thief then.

I make my way up to the front counter. “Hi, I’m Ariana. I have a book to pick up.”

A wide smile forms on the employee’s face. “Oh, great. You are going to love this one. It’s an insta-love, he falls first, fated mates, secret relationship, cinnamon roll hero romance.”

“Oh, wow,” I say awkwardly with a chuckle. “All the tropes then.”

“All the best ones.” She winks as she reaches over the counter, handing me a blue hardcover. The title, Believe in Destiny , is written with gold lettering, and no author's name is written.

I open my mouth to protest, admitting there must be some mistake as I flip through the blank pages. My question morphs into a gasp when I see the square cut out of the center of the book—and tied inside the hollow cube with a ribbon is a stunning diamond ring.

Tears spring to my eyes as they dart toward the woman behind the counter. She’s smiling so big and nods behind me.

I turn to find Bash on one knee. “What?” I shriek, dropping the book as my hands fly to my mouth.

Bash catches the book and unties the ring. Setting the book on the floor to his side, he holds the beautiful ring up toward me. “Ariana, I knew from the second my hand touched yours here in this bookstore ten months ago that you were someone special, someone I could never forget. Everything about our relationship has been all over the place, yet at the same time, everything happened exactly as it was always meant to. I know that we haven’t been official too long, but there is no question in my mind that you’re my forever. You are everything I’ve ever dreamed of and more. You are my perfect partner, the love of my life, and I don’t want to wait another minute to start our forever. Will you marry me?”

A torrent of tears stream down my face. I blink to clear them so I can see this beautiful man on his knees before me. I nod. “Yes. This is completely insane, but yes!”

Even through all the tears, I can’t miss the joy that radiates from Bash and his dazzling smile. As he slides the ring on my finger, he looks like the happiest man in the world.

He stands, wraps his arms around me, and spins me in a circle as I hug him tight, squealing with joy.

“You’re crazy,” I finally say, kissing him repeatedly.

“Crazy in love with you.”

“And I’m crazy in love with you back. ”

He sets me down but doesn’t let me go as our mouths continue to celebrate our engagement.

The woman behind the counter, the books, and the world around us fade away until it’s just the two of us in this existence we share. I kiss Bash with everything I have. This man owns my heart. As our mouths move and our tongues dance, my soul fills with a completeness I’ve never known. My body hums with warmth, knowing that I will be cherished by Bash for the rest of my life.

After a while, I pull away and press my cheek to his chest, hugging him tight. “Great proposal by the way. I actually thought I’d forgotten I’d ordered a book.”

“I’m glad you like it.” He kisses the top of my head.

“And the tropes.” I chuckle.

“Yeah, Hattie gave me that idea.” He pulls away and calls his sister’s name over his shoulder.

I see Hattie standing behind a bookshelf with her cell phone, obviously filming. I’m happy that we have a video of the proposal. I can’t wait to show my mom.

Hattie hurries out from behind the bookcase and runs over to us. She wraps us both in a hug. “That was the cutest! Congratulations!”

“Thanks.”

She asks to see my ring, and I extend my hand out. I think all three of us admire how beautiful it looks on my finger. I’m not surprised the ring is perfection since everything Bash does is.

We thank the bookstore employee, and she asks to get a picture with Bash. She’s apparently a big fan.

We say our goodbyes, and I walk out of the bookstore hand in hand with my fiancé.

“We should grab dinner at the Mexican restaurant. I’d kill for a mega chimi right now,” Hattie says.

I know what restaurant they’re talking about. It’s a local favorite. I haven’t been there since I met Beckett and my mom there and learned of their relationship a year ago.

“Have you had their mega chimichanga?” Hattie asks as we make our way to the parking lot.

“I have not, but everything I’ve ordered there has been fantastic,” I say.

“Twinnie and I are obsessed with the white cheese sauce that’s smothered all over their chimichangas. Oh, this is going to be so fun.” Hattie claps her hands together. “We can order a pitcher of margaritas and start the wedding planning. There’s so much to go over.”

Bash shrugs, a grin on his face.

Seeing that Bash and I haven’t had time to discuss what we want for the wedding, I would normally be a little annoyed with Hattie. Yet, for some strange reason, I’m not. She’s this insanely likable person .

I settle on a noncommittal response. “It can’t hurt to go over ideas.”

She smiles. “Ugh, you’re right. The two of you probably want to discuss things first. Sorry, I’m just so excited. I promise, I’m not going to be a psycho sister-in-law that is always up in your business.”

“It’s really not a problem. Don’t apologize, you’re fine.” Bash squeezes my hand at my response. I know how important his sister is to him. Luckily, I genuinely like her, so I don’t have to pretend.

Hattie gives Bash a side hug. “I’m just so happy for my twin. You are all he’s talked about since your birthday.”

“He is persistent.” I give Bash a teasing look.

We get into Bash’s car and head to the restaurant. The fact that none of this freaks me out tells me how right it all is.