The new arena in downtown Los Angeles—a modern architectural marvel comprised of steel and glass—had been completed two years prior.
Chase held the door open to the players’ entrance and followed behind me. The enormous facility was almost eerily quiet, save for the distant echoes of the custodial staff. He navigated us through the winding hallways like it was his second home, brought us to a stop in front of a metal door, and keyed in the pin code.
In keeping with the rest of the world-class facility, the Los Angeles Blades’ dressing room put the one at Boyd to shame. Solid wood benches filled the players’ changing area, with long windows placed high along the outside walls to let in natural light.
Down an attached hallway to the left, there was a players’ lounge, complete with leather couches, fireplace, and a snack bar. To the right was a video room with black leather seats for thirty, and a second-story mezzanine held a track and training area, plus hot and cold immersion tubs.
It was a one-stop shop for recovery, meals, and workouts. There were only one or two others like it in the league—I couldn’t imagine the disappointment players who’d been traded must have felt when stepping into a standard facility after calling this their home. I’d seen it before, but it still wowed me every time I stepped foot inside.
Chase led me over to his cubby and set our bags on the floor in front of it. I sank onto the bench and watched him expectantly.
The sight of Chase on his knees, rooting through his black equipment bag, brought about a memory of the time he took me skating at the Boyd arena. Things were so new between us then. It felt like a lifetime ago. I was nervous just being around him then. Those butterflies were still there now, but in a comfortable, easy way.
“We aren’t going to get busted like last time, are we? There’s no Roy lurking in the wings?”
“This time, I got permission.”
“Did you, though?” I nudged him with my foot.
He glanced up at me with a grin, messy dark hair tumbling in his face. “For real.”
Still kneeling, he handed me my skates. I slipped my foot into the left, but when I put my foot into the right, my toes hit a solid barricade. Probably a roll of tape that had been floating loose in his bag.
“Hang on.” I stuck my hand into the skate, finding a small square object wedged in the toe. “There’s something stuck in my—” I tugged it free, revealing a small polished wooden box.
My heart skipped a beat or three. Was this what I thought it was? I didn’t want to get ahead of myself, so I sucked in a deep breath to compose myself.
“There it is,” Chase said. “I was looking for that.”
He took the box from my hand and opened the hinged lid. I let out a woosh of air when my eyes landed on what was inside. The center stone from his mother’s ring, re-set into a plain gold band.
“Carter,” I whispered. My breath snagged, and tears flooded my eyes, threatening to overflow. This was it. My love, my life, my future. My everything.
The slightest hint of nervousness crossed his face, so faint that no one but me would have noticed it.
“I’ve made lots of mistakes along the way, but you’re the one thing that’s always been right. Will you marry me, James?”
“Yes.” A warm tear escaped and traveled down my cheek. I sniffled, wiping it away with the back of my hand. “Of course I will.”
He slipped the ring onto my left ring finger, and only then did I notice his hands were trembling. Cupping my face, he leaned in and kissed me like I had never, ever been kissed before. It was gentle but firm, asking but claiming, a promise of forever.
We pulled apart, and he rested his forehead on mine, dragging his thumb along my jawline. My heart was speeding, violating some law of nature. Time stopped, like a flashbulb moment I’d remember forever.
“I’m so fucking pumped,” he said. “I can’t wait to marry you.”
“Won’t that make me a Carter, though?” I teased.
“You’ll always be my James.” He heaved a heavy sigh, and his posture relaxed, his broad hands still wrapped around my waist.
“Were you nervous?” I whispered.
Chase’s lips tugged into a half smile, his dark eyes holding mine. “Little bit. You’re my once in a lifetime.”
He was right. I never thought I’d find someone like him.
“You knew I’d say yes.”
“Yeah.” He broke into a full grin. “Like I’ve always said—we’re endgame.”
THE END