The Proposal

Chapter 13

Emme's perspective

As the boys finished their final warm-down laps, I skated onto the ice, my heart fluttering with excitement. The rink was buzzing with the sound of skates slicing through the ice and the occasional shout or laugh from the team. I had decided it was the perfect time to hand out the remaining wedding invitations in person, and I couldn't wait to see their reactions.

I glided gracefully across the ice, trying to look as confident as possible despite the butterflies in my stomach. The guys spotted me and, with a mix of curiosity and amusement, slowed their pace to watch me approach.

"Hey, Emme!" Ryder called out, flashing me a wide grin. "What's up?"

"Hey, Ryder," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "I've got something for you guys."

As I reached the center of the rink, I pulled out a small stack of envelopes from my bag. Each envelope was neatly addressed and contained a personalized invitation to our wedding. I skated over to where the boys had gathered, their expressions shifting from curiosity to surprise.

I handed out the invitations, one by one, starting with Ryder. "Here you go," I said, handing him the envelope. "I thought it'd be fun to give these to you in person."

Ryder looked down at the envelope, then up at me, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "Thanks, Emme! I've been waiting to get one of these."

Next was James, who took the invitation with a mix of pride and amusement. "You know, if I didn't know better, I'd say you're trying to steal my thunder."

I laughed and shrugged. "Just wanted to make sure you all felt included."

The rest of the team followed, each one reacting with a mixture of enthusiasm and teasing remarks. Luke, Carter, and the others all took their envelopes with wide grins and playful jabs at James.

"Man, I didn't know you were so popular," Luke joked, peering into his envelope. "Must be nice to have such a beautiful fiancée."

"Yeah, yeah, just make sure to save us a dance," Carter added with a wink.

Once all the invitations were handed out, the guys gathered around me, still buzzing with excitement. Ryder skated over to me, a broad smile on his face. "This is awesome, Emme. Thanks for doing this. We're all looking forward to it."

I beamed, feeling a wave of relief and happiness. "I'm glad. It's going to be a great day, and I wanted you all to be a part of it."

James skated up next, pulling me into a warm hug. "You did great, Emme. Thanks for taking the time to do this."

I hugged him back, feeling his warmth and support. "Of course. I wouldn't have it any other way."

As the boys started to disperse, heading to the locker room to finish up their cool-down, I took a moment to skate around the rink, letting the cool air wash over me. The excitement and anticipation for the wedding were building, and seeing the team's reactions only made it more real.

I finally skated off the ice, feeling a mix of satisfaction and contentment. Everything was coming together, and despite all the stress and challenges, it felt incredible to see the happiness and support from the people I cared about.

Heading to the locker room to meet James, I couldn't help but smile. The day was getting closer, and with each passing moment, it felt more and more like everything was falling into place.

As I waited for James to finish changing, I paced the hallway outside the locker room, feeling a mix of anticipation and nerves. The practice had been intense, and now we were heading to Coach Lennox's office to personally deliver an invitation to our wedding.