Hockey Baby 🏒

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Ashton

    My heart was pounding so fast that I genuinely thought I might have a heart attack as I stared up at Sophie, waiting for her response. I knew this might seem rushed or completely out of the blue for her, but I couldn't bear another minute without telling her how I felt.

    She and Rory were my entire world, and I couldn't imagine life without them. I loved waking up every morning to Sophie and Aurora's giggles and coming home to them every night. I didn't want to spend another minute pretending that I wasn't head over heels in love with her anymore.

    Sophie took a ragged breath as tears escaped from her eyes and slid down her cheek. "Are you sure you want to marry me?" she asked, her voice cracking as she struggled to hold back more tears. I stared at her like she was insane for asking such a ridiculous question.

"I have never been more sure of anything in my entire life, Sophie," I said firmly, squeezing her hand.

    As I held her hand, the weight of the ring in my palm felt like the weight of my entire world. What if she said no? The thought gnawed at me, but I pushed it aside, focusing on her tear-filled eyes.

"But what if my memories never come back, Ashton?" She whispered, fear creeping into her voice and I shook my head as I squeezed her hand tightly.

"All I want in this world is to call you mine forever. I don't care if your memories never return because I can spend the rest of my life making new ones with you and Aurora. I love you, Sophie, with every beat of my heart. Will you please marry me?" I asked, practically begging, but I didn't care if I looked weak. I needed this woman to marry me like I needed air to breathe.

"Yes, of course, I'll marry you," she sobbed, a huge grin breaking through her tears. I slid the ring on her finger, then jumped to my feet and pulled her into my arms.

"Say it again," I whispered, my lips almost brushing hers. She giggled and tightened her arms around me.

"I will marry you, Ashton Maverick," she breathed, and I grinned like a madman before crashing my lips against hers.

    We burst into the apartment an hour later, and I barely had the door shut before Sophie attacked me with kisses. I lifted her off the ground, and she instantly wrapped her legs around my waist.

"Wait," she pulled back just as I was about to kiss her again. "Are we moving too fast? I mean, for me, we technically just had our first kiss, and now we're engaged and about to sleep together," she said, biting her lip nervously. I chuckled, kissing her cheek.

"If you feel we're moving too fast, we can go as slow as you want, Soph. I don't want to pressure you into doing anything you aren't ready for," I said gently, and she sighed, stroking my cheek.

"I love you, Ashton."

"I love you too, Sophie." She tugged at the back of my shirt, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

"Carry me to our bedroom," she whispered. I slammed my lips against hers again, kissing her so passionately that it stole the air from my lungs as I struggled to find my way to our bedroom.

    Later, Sophie laid her head on my chest, and I gently ran my fingers up and down her back. I was so unbelievably happy at that moment that I couldn't imagine life getting any better.

"I can't believe we're actually getting married," Sophie admitted with a giggle as she looked up at me.

"Why can't you believe it, Soph? I'd be a damn fool if I didn't marry you," I said, and she giggled again, blushing.

"I just mean that marrying you has been my dream since I was a little girl. I used to play with my Barbie and Ken dolls and pretend they were us, getting married and having babies," she confessed, blushing even more. I chuckled and kissed her head.

"That's why you'd always jump and drop them whenever I walked in on you playing with them," I said, putting the pieces together. She covered her face to hide how badly she was blushing, but I quickly grabbed her hands and placed them on my chest. "I always knew I was going to end up with you, Sophie. Ever since we were kids, you were special to me. You stole my heart before I even realized it," I teased, and she grinned as she leaned up to kiss me gently.

"I'm never giving it back either because you've had my heart and soul since I was a kid." She gently stroked my cheek, and I placed my hand over hers, my heart swelling with love from hearing her say that.

"That's fine with me because if I can't be with you, I don't want anyone else." She smiled at me lovingly and kissed me again.

"We gotta get going," I sighed, reluctantly pulling away. "I planned a dinner with everyone to celebrate our engagement." She raised her eyebrows at me in surprise as she sat up.

"What if I had said no to marrying you?" Sophie asked as I started to climb out of bed.

"I guess we'd just have an awkward family dinner then," I smirked, trying to imagine the look on their faces. She laughed and shook her head at me disapprovingly.