Change on the Fly (Totally Pucked, #1)

by Maren Moore

She’s going to be angry, I’m sure. She’s like a feisty little Pomeranian, she’ll probably try and bite my fucking head off.

The last time I looked at the glowing numbers on the clock, it was two thirty. The sound of my door creaking open and the covers being pulled back causes me to stir. I crack open one eye and see Holland sliding into bed next to me. I wrap the covers back around us, to keep in the warmth, and loop my arm around her, pulling her against me.

“I love her, Em,” I say quietly. It feels unreal to say the words out loud to Emery, but fuck, it’s a weight off my chest. Because even if Holland decides to never pick up the phone for me again, I’ll always love her. She sits up straight and looks at me with wide eyes. “You love Holland?” I nod. “Fuck, I’m scared. I’m scared I’ll fuck this up and do something that hurts her. I’d rather jump in front of a moving truck than ever hurt her. Not like being with another woman because she’s it for me. But, not giving her everything that I can. What if I end up like Dad?”

“She taught me how to love, Em. It’s not like we conspired behind your back to hurt you. You know how much that girl loves you? She would give me up in a heartbeat if it meant keeping you. She left. The next morning when I woke up, she was gone. Uber'ed back to the city. Left a note and said she needed space, to please not contact her. I feel like I’m fucking dying.”

Reed steps toward me, and if my hand wasn’t full, I would reach out to touch him, but alas, I’m not to this part of the apology yet. “I love you. And I’m sorry that it took me so long to say that too. I’ve loved you since the first time you beat up Marcus in the eighth grade because someone called me a cow. Since the time I sprained my ankle and you carried me all the way home from the ice that day. From the very day we made the rules and said not to fall in love. It was too late then. I was already crazy about you.”

“So, here I am, being completely and totally honest with you. Asking that you give me another chance because love is scary, and love is hard sometimes, but it doesn’t mean that it’s not worth it. And I bought this dwarf seahorse because I went to the pet store and they looked at me like I was insane when I asked for a live octopus, and apparently, they don’t carry them because they’re actually really aggressive animals and are really quite large and…” Before I can even finish rambling, the sea horse is taken out of my hand and Reed’s yanking me to him and his lips are on mine. I missed him so much my chest ached and I didn’t realize how much until now.

“You know, it’s almost like we’re a… team.” Reed grins before he squats down and throws me over his shoulder. I yelp loudly. “Oh god, Reed Aaron, put me down! Right now!”

His eyes are squeezed tightly shut, but he shrugs. “Felt like as good of a time as any. We said we wanted to communicate and be honest with each other, and I want you to move in with me. Hell, I’ve lived next door to you practically our entire lives. If there is anything I’ve learned in the past week, it’s to say what you feel and do it from the start. Don’t beat around the bush and pretend that it’s anything different. I want you here, Holland. I want you in my bed, in my truck, in the stadium when I take home the fucking Stanley Cup. I love you and I want our life to be together. With me. With Evan. With Pickles. And Dill. To be a family. My family.”

“Change on the fly. You don’t stop, you change what you have to and finish out the game.”

“I’m asking for your permission to propose to Holland. I want to marry her, sir.” His eyes fill with unshed tears, and he nods. “You have my blessing, Reed. Always knew you two would end up together.” “You did?” I ask. Mike nods then shrugs. “Just the matter of you both figurin’ it out. Bout dang time.” His smile makes my heart constrict, and I hold out my hand for him to shake. He bypasses it and pulls me into a hug. “Gonna give you a piece of advice, son. One that I don’t want you to ever forget. Love each other, even when it’s hard. Never go to bed mad, and always put your family first.” “I will, Mike, I promise you.”

I take her trembling hand in mine before continuing, “Marry me. Next year, next week, tomorrow. I don’t care. Just marry me. Be my wife. I want to spend the rest of my life waking up to you, reminding you that you are the only woman I will ever love. You’ve taught me how to be a better man. To be patient, to put my socks in the hamper and put the toilet seat down. You’ve taught me how to love. I need you now and for the rest of my life. I promise to love you through whatever trials we face, and hold your hand when things get hard. To never go to bed upset and to always put our family first.”

Looking over at Evan, he steps forward, a shy expression on his face as he pulls the box from his pocket. “Howwand, will you maww-ee Weed and stay with us forever?” Oh fuck, he did it even better than we practiced. Holland sobs and shakes her head profusely. “Of course I will.” She drops to her knees in front of him and pulls him into her arms, hugging her to him. “I love you. SO much.”