Arrow Hawk: Gronk Smash! (Book 5)

Arrow Av Is Getting Married...To Brooke Johnson!!

One Week Later...

Nikita Zadorov races onto the ice. He gets the puck, and even though he is a defenseman, he wants to make the winning shot and show these punks who really rules the ice. The skates against the surface drum in his ears as his heart rate quickens.

Closing in on the goal, he reaches back with his hockey stick and slams it against the puck with as much force as he can muster. Almost in slow motion the puck makes its way towards the goalie that reaches out and leans over, but losses balance and falls as the shot completes itself.

The crowd booms in his ears and his teammates swarm around him. Nikita searches for Brooke Johnson in the seats near the bench. She is standing up, jumping, shouting and clapping. He is filled with pride and honor at the sight. Brooke had pushed him to do more in the tough times, and she is here for the end result.

She'll always be there won't she? There's no getting rid of her. Nikita smiles to himself as he sits down in the bench area. Brooke runs over and enters the bench, passing the coach, who is reveling in Nikita's shot.

Brooke reaches over the players and finds Nikita at the center, smiling at her. She wraps her arms tight around him and is hoisted in the air. Brooke stumbles a little bit, but Nikita keeps her close so she won't fall and kisses her.

"You did it!" Brooke exclaims. "You beat the Ducks!"

"I did it! I got Avalanche, uh, a win!!" Nikita laughs.

She is set down and all the players finish celebrating the dramatic finish and win of the game. Then they all head to the showers. Nikita kisses her cheek and walks into the showers. He takes off his uniform with ease and gets into the shower. All of his teammates follow seconds later, chanting about the great game they played and their hopes for the playoffs coming up.

"Hey Zady!" a voice calls out. Nikita turns around and spots his captain, Gabriel Landeskog. "Nice game-winning goal there bro!"

"Thanks, Landy. And hey, no tell anyone, but I got major plan in mind...I gonna propose...at least I think that English word...to Brooke!"

"What? Zady man, that's awesome!" Gabriel playfully punches his teammate in the shoulder. "When are you gonna do it?"

"No know."

Gabriel shrugs, slaps him on the back and walks off, unable to keep from laughing and being happy.

Nikita's mind drifts into a daydream, as he heads to the showers and gets in. Brooke flows toward him in a snug white dress and trailing bottom. A veil is lazily draped over her face. Through the small mystery, a smile shines through and he cannot mistake her eyes for another's.

She walks hazily toward him, down a red carpeted aisle of a church, with tall windows of Jesus and Mary stained onto them. The sun shining through them, leaves marks of blues, pinks, red, and violets, over her pale skin. No one is in clear view besides Brooke, all the blurred faces melt away into the pews as Brooke cups a hand around his cheek and says, "I do."

The vision fades away and Nikita gets out of the shower and dresses himself. He is on a mission to get her the most beautiful ring. Being a professional hockey player for the Colorado Avalanche, the price is irrelevant.

He steps out of the locker room and sees Brooke leaning patiently against the wall across from the door as she usually does after his games. She runs up to him and again and jumps into his arms, a smile creases across her face the moment she sees him.

"Hey baby." He leans down and gives her a long kiss on the lips. "I go out with guys for bit, but I be home tonight...okay?!"

Brooke frowns and breaks away from him. "For once, please, could you just spend after-game with me instead of the guys?"