Meet Me at the Rink

Chapter 42

~ Austin ~

"You guys wanna go grab a bite to eat?" I ask coming down the stairs in a pair of jeans and a hoodie. "Sure, I'm down." Jack says looking up from his phone. "Yeah." Ally says opening the back door to let Easton back in before locking the door behind him. "Alright, let's go. Get your shoes on and meet me in the truck." I say. "Easton, come on buddy, let's go for a ride." I add as Easton follows Ally out the door to the truck. Once Ally is far from the house and in the truck, I stop Jack in his tracks to talk. "Okay, text them that we're leaving the house now and once we're getting closer, text them that we're almost there." I say to him.

Ally thinks that we're grabbing a bite to eat but little does she know is that everyone but Jack made an excuse to leave the rink early to head up to the cabin to help get everything ready for the big surprise I have planned for Ally. When we get in the truck, I back out of the driveway as Ally asks to go to Wok Box for a late-night bite. After we got our food, we hop back in the truck and eat before buckling up again. "Anyone up for a ride down to the lake?" I ask. "Austin, it's dark and cold outside." Ally replies. "Come on Als, you and I used to go down to the lake at night all the time to watch the ships come in." Jack says. "Alright, fine!" She replies.

As we were driving along, I notice Ally had fallen asleep before we left the city lights behind us. This is good because she won't be asking twenty million questions. "Okay Jack, we're turning onto the road now." I whisper giving him the signal to text the group and let them know to get into their hiding place. "It's done." He replies as I turn into the driveway to the cottage. I put the truck in park and tell Jack to take Easton with him and follow my mom down to the boathouse where everything was set up by the water for this very special surprise I have for my girl. "Ally... Ally baby wake up." I say softly as she stirs in her seat. "What's wrong? What's going on?" She asks keeping her eyes closed. "We're here." I say. "Mmm" She grumbles as I unbuckle my seatbelt and get out, going over to her side of the truck and opening the door.

"Come on beautiful, wake up." I say, leaning across from her to unbuckle her seatbelt. "I don't wanna get out." She says groggily. "Want me to carry you?" I ask as she nods. "Alright, it's gonna have to be a piggyback." I say as she opens her eyes a little, hopping on my back. "Night." She says laying her head on my back and closing her eyes again as I close the door and begin to walk down to the waterfront where the surprise is waiting for us.

"Ally, wake up, you've gotta see this." I say as I come to a stop down by the boathouse. She doesn't budge. "Ally." I say again. Leah grabs some snow to form a snowball before throwing it at Ally, causing her to jolt awake. "Hey! Who threw that?!?" She exclaims snapping out of her sleep and scanning her surroundings as she jumps off my back. "Jack I know that was-" Ally shouts but stops when her eyes land on the homemade pond hockey rink by the dock and boathouse. "Austin what's-" She says in a calmer tone as she turns around and sees me down on one knee on the ice surface beneath our feet.

"Allison Munroe, my beautiful Ally girl. From the first time I laid my eyes on you at the game, you were not only a fan in the stands watching a Marlies game with your best friend. To me, you were and continue to be the most beautiful girl in the world." I say as Ally stands there in front of me with happy tears forming in her eyes. I take the puck out of my back pocket and take her hand, placing the round disk in hers. She looks down to read what it says. We met at the rink now will you meet me at the altar and be my forever? As more happy tears trickle down her cheeks, I reach into one of my other pockets and pull out a small velvet box. "So ally, what do you say? Will you marry me?" I finally ask as she nods and says "Yes" Through sobs as I put the ring on her finger before standing up, picking her up as she places both hands on my cheeks and kisses me as our families and best friends come out of their hiding places.