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But I have to say Frank has shown a maturity that I didn't think he had, and I believe he's come to realize that if he wants to ascend to the position of GM either here or with another organization, he has to politic his way there The other reason I'm not worried about it is because Ryker was and still is the hottest goalie in the league

And that's not just personal bias I'

He's retained the league lead for highest save percentage and he's a shoo-in for another Vezina Trophy The Cold Fury organization will pay good money to keep him on this team, and he will be worth every penny

Eleven seconds

With Chicago on the power play, the tension in the arena is thick The puck is being passed about in Ryker's territory, center to left winger, back to center, over to the right winger, across the crease to the left winger, inds up and sends a blistering slap shot at Ryker He catches it neatly in his glove with only 37 seconds left

I think I en

I think they may findthe Cup through for the celebration laps

The puck is brought back to the face-off circle, no more than twenty feet to Ryker's left Alex Crossman lines up for the drop Ryker puts his htly on his skates to keep his lightning-fast reflexes accessible The ref takes his position, holding the puck in the air between the two face-off contenders

The biscuit drops, and the second it hits the ice and the players start scrabbling for possession, the clock starts its countdown Every person save one in this arena follows the puck with hungry eyes

Every person but me

I watch Ryker because I want to see theto himself and the world that the Brick Wall still has it I want to see the light in his eyes and the smile on his face, and I want to revel in his happiness

The horn blows to signify the clock has reached zero and en o berserk, nearly blowing off the roof of the arena with the screalove and stick to the ice, skates to the center, and o down into a pile of ars

There's hugs, backslaps, stick slaps, helmet bumps Three of the players pick up Pretore and carry him out onto the ice Zack and Ryker take a --well, as hard as you can get with all of those pads on They're then joined by Alex and Garrett, and I have to sether

Since we caether Me, Ryker, Alex, Sutton, Garrett, Olivia, Zack, and Kate Add in Violet, Ruby, and Ben, and we have quite the hootenanny e congregate I think Alex and Garrett were a tiny bit intimidated by me the first time we all went out, but then they realized that outside the walls of that arena, when I'm out with my man, I'm just plain Gray Brannona woman in love and all that shit

I have to move aside for a few e red carpet fro their way down to accept the trophy stand steady I look behind me and I see the two Hall of Fa it into the tunnel on a rolling cart

I feel his eyes on me, that's how much of a connection I have to him I turn to the ice and Ryker breaks away froe of the rink, the toes ofover the lip He coht before e of the red carpet and look up at him

Way, way up at hirows by about three inches in his skates He pulls his lance down at it, barely able to contain the s another holographic heart to the side with ht after he asked me to marry him and I said no

Well, in fairness I didn't say no I just said "let's not discuss it right now" We had just way toowith the fallout fro the GM position after the board vote Even though the executive team had approved it, some members of the public did not think I needed to stay We were just starting the playoffs and I didn't want there to be any distraction to Ryker To me To the team Take your pick

So Ryker had that heart added and toldto say yes, so I went ahead and added you to my mask"

And that was that

And he's right I's to settle down and for me to ease into est reason I wanted just a little ht I was nuts, but I really didn't want to rub our relationship in her face While I wasn't going to take a backseat, I felt itreceived the final divorce papers a feeeks before I wanted Hensley to have time to settle as well

As it stands, Hensley has accepted things the way they are She's h and Ryker has voluntarily given her irls She lives so close, in fact, the girls stay one ith her and one ith Ryker

I still have h Ryker has asked me to move in I just can't do itnot until we're irls I want it to be official before I becorained so permanently into their lives I want , not only to irls as well

Who are fucking terrific, by the way

Who would have known that I would be such a natural with kids? My dad says he knew it all along, but damn if I did But it's trueI've become very close to Violet and Ruby, and that'sso much time with their dad I believe they've truly coh they're only five and seven, I believe they are intuitive little creatures and they know I make their dad happy, thus that makes them happy

So it appears that everything is wrapping up tidily Claude is in jail awaiting trial; I'er of the Cold Fury; I'm in love with a wonderful man who has wonderful children; and we just won the Stanley Cup cha that could ht better

Ryker picksaround my waist, and raises me up so I can kiss hiive him the kiss of a lifetime

"Whatcha thinking about?" he asks me as he letsour fingers locked together

"Aboutyou," I tell him simply

"So now you're ready?" he asks skeptically

"Hey," I say with a bit of a whine "I've always been ready I just didn't think the world was ready for us But now it is"

"In that case," Ryker says as he drops down on one knee in front of htly taller than him

I' us That ht now as the tea each other while ait for the formal presentation of the Cup But none of that matters

It's just me and Rykerhis eyes latched to mine