"You set me up, she said she didn't want to see me until Christmas eve," I tell Aaron as I walk into his house.

"You've been grumpy, so yeah, I set you up," he takes a sip of the martini in his hand.

"How very best-friendly of you," I smile, my voice giving off an obvious sarcastic vibe.

"Come on man, I'm really just trying to help you," he laughs.

"She made it clear she didn't want to see me until Christmas Eve, you literally just jumped on her schedule,"

"So...this is about me jumping on her schedule?"

"Yes!" I yell. "You finally get it,"

"Nick Stones,"

"What?"

"Your forehead is sweaty,"

"Oh piss off," I roll my eyes at the same time the door bell rings.

"Anddd, that should be Liz," Aaron drops his stuff and heads towards the door.

"I am so stressed out," I hear Liz say as they head in the direction of the living room. And she's not wrong, she looks like absolute shit.

"Hey Nick," she smiles, slumping down on the couch.

"Babe, you gon' make it to the Christmas Eve party, right?" Aaron asks, panic obvious in his voice. "It's tomorrow,"

"Yeah yeah sure, it's Christmas eve, I love Christmas," she sighs, her eyes fluttering.

"Okay okay, did you drink?" He sighs. "Babe you smell all vodka and shit,"

"Baby, have I been a shitty girlfriend? You know blowing you off and making you feel like you're not enough?" She sighs, her eyes still fluttering, while Aaron wears a stunned look.

"You are drunk——"

"I'm so sorry, Baby," She whimpers, okay I take that as my cue to disappear to the kitchen.

"Elizabeth, you're drunk,"

"I really don't deserve all the love and patience you've been giving me," her voice breaks.

"Lizzie, what the fuck are you talking about? I love you, in good and bad remember?" I hear Aaron and somehow I listen. It's stupid but yeah.

"It's just that running a business is really not as easy and fun as I thought, I'm messing shit up, making people upset, losing deals," I hear her sniffle.

"Okay Babe, let's get you inside, get you a hot bath and then we will talk about all this, because damn you look like shit," Aaron chuckles painfully.

"Gee thanks, Captain West," she snorts and I laugh to myself.

"Hot shit," he laughs and my phone beeps.

DIANE: how's Aaron feeling about the proposal tomorrow?

NICK: what do you think? He's literally freaked out.

DIANE: Liz seems to think she hasn't been fair to him or some shit, can't wait to see the look on her face tomorrow.

DIANE: how's your shit going?

NICK: my shit?

DIANE: you know you could just stop playing blonde. Okay, I might as well just remind you about the girl my girlfriend kissed and then you watched her with a hug asf boner in a bar full of so many people.

NICK: gee thanks,D

DIANE: seriously, how's your thing? I'm with Terence and Hudson now, they say you've been playing like shit.

NICK: say hi to them for me, and hey, note the sarcasm.

NICK: and yeah, I really miss her and I'm kinda scared she might have everything figured out to the point where she doesn't need me.

NICK: or my dick.

NICK: damn autocorrect.

And then my phone rings. And it's Diane calling. I know she my blow up my phone if I don't answer her so yeah I do.

"Is that the new shit now, type something on purpose and then blame it on innocent autocorrect?" She snorts and I hear her leaving a really noisy place to a place more quiet.

"Terence and Hudson still with you?"

"Yeah of course!' she laughs. "I even have you on speakerphone," she snorts and I panic.

"Screw you, I just walked out of the bar, you think I'll expose your heart to heart to your teammates, shit, bro!" She groans.

"Yeah yeah, whatever," I grunt, heading back to Aaron's enormous living room and getting my ass on the couch.

"On a scale of one to ten, how was the sex?" I hear a couple of shuffles and then I snort.

"Is that why you called?"

"Okay, I called because I was worried that you were shitting your pants about tomorrow night and yeah, I also called because I was worried about your balls," This one makes me choke on a laugh.

"Okay but seriously, rate the fucking sex,"

"Okay, okay," I laugh, as thoughts of Bri riding my cock and saying all sorts of dirty stuff about my body, and sucking on my tattoos, calling her pussy mine——

"Nick!" Diane's screeching voice brings me back to reality. "I'm waiting, the sex? How good was it?"

"On a scale of one to ten, it was a ninety five," I say and I hear her shouts and screams. "Diane you not helping the damn situation,"

"That bitch is in love with your holy-boy-in-public-bad-boy-in-the-sheets shit," she snorts. "Jodie, Yvonne, Bri and I were watching your last game, the one where that idiot punched you and your bitch got up screaming at how much she wanted to dent that dude's skin," she laughs. "Do y'all ever visit the NHL's Instagram, because you should,"

"So you're saying she's in love with me, like so so much," I sigh, my hopes getting inevitably high.

"I'm saying you should be excited for tomorrow," she says and I smile, nodding like she can see me.

"And hey, shave your balls, you gon' be getting lots of pussy action tomorrow night,"

"You say one nice thing to me and you just ruin the moment a second later," I laugh and she does too.

"Yeah, that's my trademark, just get some sleep, okay?" She says.

"Yeah, I'll get some sleep, thanks," I chuckle. "And hey, try not to ever remind me of your girlfriend kissing my girlfriend, okay?"

"Oh my gosh, you just called her your girlfriend, I'm hanging up before you can deny it," And yeah she does. Leaving me to sink in Aaron's couch with my insanely wild thoughts.

I just called her my girlfriend.

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It's Christmas eve.

And just like yesterday, I'm more freaked out than excited. Yes, Diane pep talked me out of ass, but I'm human okay, I can get freaked out.

We usually have this event every year, and we've gone through so many themes. So this year, we're going formal themed. I'm talking suits and dresses.

Suits and dresses.

Dresses.

That only makes me more freaked out.

"Calm down, Nick," I hear Hudson snort next to me.

"Yeah, your knuckles are white as shit," Alex grumbles somewhere behind me.

"You're not the one proposing tonight, so frankly I don't see why you look like you're shitting a brick," Hudson snorts again and I shoot him a glare.

"Do Aaron a favor and don't ruin tonight for him," I mumble under my breath but somehow I think they still hear me. "And stop bothering my life okay, contrary to what you might think, I have something pretty serious on my mind," And I don't know why we had to dress in the same hotel rooms.

"Hey, quick question?" Hudson says as Aaron entered the room. He's already dressed, and rubbing his palms together.

"Liz, her sister, Kimberly, is she coming?" Hudson asks and Terence begins to whistle. Okay, now I'm interested. Why the hell is he asking that?

"Kimberly is an Oscar Award Winning Actress, who may it may not be in Seattle at the moment, but yeah the NHL sent her an invite," Aaron says, wiping his palms on his thighs. "Why are you asking?"

"Yeah, Hudson, why are you asking?" Terence mimicks Aaron's voice and most guys on the team chuckle. Hudson now looks white as shit.

"It's just a question, I mean, she's an actress, so yeah, just wanted to know, Jesus Christ," he grumbles, walking past Aaron and out of the hotel room.

"Hey Buddy, you good?" I ask Aaron as I walk closer to him.

"Well, other than the fact that she's not here yet and she hasn't been replying to my texts," He sighs. "Yeah, yeah, I'm dandy," And then he snorts. "I just don't want to have to walk the red carpet alone,"

"Well maybe she's sensed something's off with you and she's probably decided to walk with her sister," I cock my head to the side.

"I'm I really that transparent?" He jokes but there's a pained sound to it.

"Yeah, she's definitely walking with her sister, I just saw Kimberly Instagram story and it says getting ready for tonight with @lizzie," Hudson says and Alex whistles.

"Look Hudson if everything goes well tonight, Kim might be my sister-in-law, so I'd really appreciate it if you stopped surfing her Instagram like a creep," Aaron says and Hudson laughs.

"She's an actress and the face of famous magazines, everyone watches her Instagram stories," Hudson defends himself.

"I don't watch her stories," Terence pipes up.

"Me neither," Another guy on the team joins and then several others, except Alex.

"Help me out here man," Hudson looks to Alex who shrugs.

"I don't have an Instagram," Alex drops the bomb that fills the entire room with snorts and laughter.

"I'm out of here," Hudson raises his hands in mock surrender.

I laugh and then I pull Aaron's ring from ny back pocket. "Here you go buddy, and make sure you don't lose it," I tease and he laughs.

"Fuck you," he jokes, grinning at me, fear still present in his eyes.

"Hey, I'm happy for you already," I tell him, hoping that it takes away some of the fear in his heart.

"Thanks Man, it's carpet time," He says and Alex snorts behind us.

"You sound like Aladdin," He says and Aaron shoots him a glare as we all head out.

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One by one, Seattle's NHL players step out of their various cars, dressed in suits, onto the red carpet. And as expected, members of the press are already waiting to drill us with questions. On Christmas Eve.

I'm walking the carpet, side by side my favorite dudes, Aaron, Terence, Hudson and sometimes Alex when a reporter walks up to us.

"Oh my god, you all look stunning," She says, her white teeth probably hitting the roof of her mouth. She's probably faking that smile.

"Want a pic?" Hudson grins at her and she buys it, moving closer to him to get some pictures while the rest of us wander around the carpet.

"Aaron West, Nick Stones, how's tonight looking for you guys?" Another reporter, this time a man asks us.

"Well, It's Christmas Eve, and tons of people in the NHL and Hollywood are here, so yeah, it's going to be a fun night," Aaron answers.

"When's your girlfriend getting here?" Another female reporter asks Aaron and then we hear some excited screams behind us.

Okay, I lied.

Many excited screams.

Kim, Liz, Jodie, Samantha approach the carpet. And Brittany. Holy Shit, Brittany.

Brittany.

Lily.

Mine.

Yvonne and Diane follow behind them, but I'm too focused on Brittany to even say hi to them. I'm parting the excited crowd as move in her direction, and my God.....she smiles when she notices me, with all of that fucking golden radiance.

And so I eat her up, slowly, and with my eyes of course.

A golden dress sweeps the carpet, clinging to all her natural curves and tits; clashes with the gold in her hair, in her smile, those Amber eyes that stare at me like they know every move I'll ever make in this life. Like they've known me forever.

"Hey you, staring at me like you wanna eat me?" she teases, bringing me back to reality. Except that in this reality, we're not on a red carpet, it's just the two of us in the middle of nowhere, and we don't care.

"Hey crazy," I grin at her.

"You look hot, the hockey gear doesn't do your body justice," she grins back.

"You look......." I pause because I'm literally out of words. "Stunning, amazing, beautiful,"

"Thanks," she smiles up at me as I take her hand.

"Brittany Cole," a reporter walks up to us.

"Who you wearing tonight?" She asks Bri who smiles.

"I'm wearing me, got that?" Bri winks at the reporter.

"Yeah, yeah, totally," she smiles and then she turns to me. "Rumors are going around that you two are dating, got anything to say to that?" She winks, biting her lip.

"The party is about to start," I tell her as Brittany and I walk away from her. "This is my life, B," I say into her ear because of all the noise.

"Yeah, they won't even let you take a minute," she laughs nervously.

"You okay?" I ask her, my throat bobbing.

"How's Aaron? I'm sure he didn't bargain to propose in the presence of all these people,"

"He's great, he's scared but great," I say as I see Aaron, his right arm around Liz as they both talk to a reporter. Right now, my only hope is that they don't ask questions about a possible marriage proposal, because then everything will be ruined for him.

I spot Diane somewhere on the carpet and she winks at me, mouthing something I don't understand. Kimberly answers questions with her Jason right next to her. Samantha gushes over Brittany's dress and says hi to me, which I return with a stiff nod. Still trying to understand her. I watch Bri and Jodie admire the view of the event hall from the carpet, answering a few questions and standing for pictures with my teammates, my best friends, Aaron and Liz, Brittany, Kimberly, Coach Mike. I don't know but I think I take more than thirty pictures.

I spot Devin saying something to Brittany while I take a picture with the Team Manager and somehow, I feel like they've sorted everything out between them, and I make a mental note to ask her about it later.

And then the party kicks off with an amazing welcome from the president of the NHL. Frankly, I wasn't expecting him to be here. I also didn't know they sent out so many invites.

We all sit four to a round table. I sit with Aaron, Liz and Brittany. Brittany to my right, Liz to my left and Aaron directly opposite me.

The hall is Christmas themed. Reindeers and mini Santas hang on the walls as more men in expensive suits walk in. I'm guessing a hundred plus guests seated here, and that does not include the tall huge hockey players in the room, some with wives and girlfriends too.

"Oh my god, look at that tree! It's so so pretty, I'm sorry but I have an obsession for Christmas trees," Bri gushes at the tall as hell Christmas tree, north of the hall.

"That's okay, Aaron and I stayed up late decorating ours," Liz says and Aaron nods, a nervous smile on his face as he stares at her like she hung the moon up there.

"I got a tree," I whisper to her and she grins. "Wanna help me decorate?"

"Hell yeah," she grins.

The party goes on and on, speeches from tons of VIPs and Hockey Players. My Dad gives a speech too, and honestly, Dad never fails to praise me in his speeches, ever. I used to think I didn't deserve it, but right now, I think I do, I think my father's endorsement is better than that of any team.

And now it's time for the Captain speech.

Everyone's on their feet, applauding triumphantly and excitedly as Aaron walks towards the podium.

"Um, Good evening everyone," he chuckles. "Merry Christmas Eve," He says as we all say the words back. "They told me I was going to give a speech but frankly I have no idea what to say, other than the occasional thank yous for the support all through last season and then this, I am just really really grateful," he chuckles, and then his eyes are fixed on Liz.

"I also want to thank my girlfriend, Liz," everyone gushes. "For putting up with me, and all the travels and the unending shit that comes with dating a hockey player," He walks away from the podium and slowly towards our desk.

And then he gets down on one knee, and shocked gasps fill the room. Liz's eyes dart from Aaron to Bri and I before her eyes start to water and she stands to her feet.

"Elizabeth Summers," he gets the box out from his back pocket. "We met at an airport, I know you hate this story because it's embarrassing so I'm going to stop at the airport part," Everyone chuckles. "A lots changed since I met you. I used to think I was bad person, and that I deserved nothing good, and then you came, not to change me, but to remind me that I was good all along, you do that a lot," Liz chuckles, a tear drop from her eyes. "I suck at being romantic, and I'm sorry if this isn't the ideal proposal you had in your head," he pauses. "Lizzie will you make me the most whipped man to ever exist on this planet?" He opens the box and Bri gasps, "Elizabeth, will you......will you marry me?"

"Aaron, wow, I....." Liz's voice breaks, as more tears stream down her cheeks. "Yeah, yes, shit, yes, oh god I love you so much,"

We are all on our feet as we watch Aaron put the ring on her finger and kiss her. A loud applause fills the room as we all take turns congratulating them. Beside me, Bri whispers,

"I'm outside," she disappears into the crowd in a second and I'm left to follow behind her.

There's a fountain behind the hotel and that's where I finally see her. All that golden, shimmering in the happy moonlight.

I walk towards her, and just like it has always been, I wrap my hands around her waist from behind and she leans into me.

"Life without you, was torture," she says. "And when I say torture, I mean from that moment Mom moved me out of town,"

"It was so hard for me, you know, losing you, losing Mom, losing Rose, it all fucked me up," she sighs, turning to face me. "And then I find you, and then lose you again,"

"I've always been yours, Lily, you know that," I tell her, cradling her face in my hands. "Even when you were three thousand miles away from me, I belonged to you,"

"I love you," she says, our lips touching, both of us scared to give into the electrifying current between us.

"I love you," I say back as she kisses me. And it's just like I remember, the softness of her lips, the sweetness of her aura, the feel of her tongue, the way she wraps her hands around me because I belong to her. I can feel my dick harden and she can feel it too because it pokes right against her stomach.

"Wanna get out of here?" She says into the kiss.

"I think we have to congratulate the new bride and groom," I chuckle.

"Oh shit, right," she laughs. "Come on, and hide your boner,"

"Really?" I grin at her and she laughs more.

"I know I have a lot to explain, but I really want to do it slowly, it's already too much for me, but I think I'm at a point where I can talk about everything without crying," she smiles and my heart warms.

"I'm not rushing, we've got all the time in the world," I say and she smiles against my lips.

We walk back to the hall and Hudson gives me a knowing smile, not before I see Jodie and Alex leaving the hall. Together.