The Day Has Come (Counting on Hockey #4)

Chapter 13: Paradise

April, right before playoffs

*

Cole and I decided to take our Bahamas trip right before the playoffs so we both have free time to relax. We have the entire two weeks to spend on the island. We haven't left our bungalow yet, we've lounged around the place, swam endless hours in the ocean, playing card games, and eating weirdly good take out food.

Tonight, we've finally decided to leave the small beach cabin and have a nice dinner out at a small restaurant back at the main resort. It's a five-star restaurant, and the one real served meal we've had in close to two weeks.

I pick out a short, white and floral patterned strapless dress, pairing it with white wedge heels. I leave my hair naturally wavy and don't even bother with makeup, because this ocean water is doing something that I can't explain to the color of my eyes and face.

"Ready to go?" Cole asks me, him in a plain blue t-shirt and grey shorts.

I slide a pair of pearl earrings into the holes in my ears and turn back to him from the mirror. "Yep. Let me grab my phone".

I grab my phone off it's charger next to the open window and we head down the wooden walkway to the main part of the resort. We walk slowly, our arms swinging between us, taking in the fresh ocean breeze once again.

The Real Fire Grille sits looking over the beach with an outside seating area. It's lit with tiki torches and bulbs on wires that resemble Christmas lights. The inside of the restaurant, the tables have small fires in the middle that some of the food is cooked over by chefs.

"Anderson, for two", Cole says as we reach the hostess podium. The hostess, dressed in a Hawaiian flowered dress, starts to look over a tablet in front of her.

The hostess asks another girl standing next to her, dressed in a similar outfit, to show us to a table. She obeys and walks us to the back of the room, then out the door to the beach side seating area. "Here you are".

Cole and I choose our sides of the table and sit in the woven wood chairs. To my left, the ocean waves crash softly onto the pure white sand, the wind blowing us the faint smell of salt.

We order after a few minutes, I getting a tuna steak seared in white wine, and Cole gets a flame grilled steak with mushrooms and blue cheese. We sit and watch the water and the shore before we turn to conversation about when we get back home in Saint Paul. We have to play the Dallas Stars when we get back, and they've almost gone undefeated this year, only losing six games.

Our dinner was absolutely amazing, and we shared a chocolate fudge cake that had to have been the best dessert I have ever had. Now, with only two other couples on the seaside deck, we watch the sun set over the watery horizon in the distance. It's breathtaking to see this once, let alone every night for the past week and a half.

"Meredith", Cole starts. He grabs my hand. "So, we've talked about this time and time again, and I've never found the right time, because I wanted this to be perfect. Meredith Eleanor Jude Adams, I love you dearly, and I have since the day I met you back in Maine, and we have gone through so much since then. You know I'm not good at saying these kinds of things, so I'm just going to ask".

Cole moves off of his chair and kneels on one knee next to the table. I gasp and put my hand over my mouth in excitement. He pulls a velvet box out of his pocket.

"Meredith, will you do me the greatest honor in the world, and become my wife?"

I just stare at him for a second, staring into his handsome, star gleaming eyes.

"Oh my god", is all I can say. "The answer has always been yes. Yes, yes, yes", I squeal.

Before I know it, I push myself off the chair and practically throw myself at Cole. We are both kneeling by the side of the table, our arms wrapped around each other. I move just enough that I can plant a kiss on Cole's lips. "I love you so much", I whisper between kisses.

After a moment, there is clapping going on around us. Cole and I stand up and he slides the ring onto my finger. It's beautiful, more than I could have ever expected. I look up at Cole, before giving him another kiss. "This is more than I could have ever asked for".

"You are more than I had ever dreamed of before. And yet, here you are. Saying yes to marrying me", Cole replies, then takes my hands in his. "I thought this would be the perfect place to propose to the perfect girl. All I needed was the ring and for you to say yes".

"What if I hadn't of said yes?" I question him jokingly.

Cole looks down at me. "Mere, you would have said yes to marriage if that promise ring was an engagement ring", he replies sarcastically. I laugh.

After a few moments, Cole and I decide to go back to our bungalow for some later night swimming. I pick out my last new bikini, which is a peachy cream color, and Cole changes into his black swim trunks. I ask Cole for the box that my ring came in, and set the ring in it, so I don't lose it in the water.

We jump into the water from the back deck on the cabin. I end up close to Cole, then my legs wrapped around his waist. His hands hold me up under my butt, and we start to make out. My arms are wrapped around Cole's neck.

My handsome boyf....fiancé. He's all mine.