Bridge over troubled waters

44| Everything To Me

Corey

Being back home is a little crazy. I haven't been here in a while but everything is still so familiar. I can just look at a place and the memories hit me like a truck. I struggled as every other kid did growing up, so some of the memories I don't want to remember, but luckily for me I had someone who was with me through it all and never let me get lost in the mess. And now we're back where it all started and we're together and the memories are that much sweeter.

Today we were having a family cookout with my brother and Baileys brothers who were in town for a little bit. There was going to be good food and good times as we all get together for the first time since before Christmas. Growing up our families did everything together and it was inevitable when us kids grew up our time together was being cut short. But we always find our way to each other eventually.

I hang out with Bailey's dad Bill and brother Brady as my dad and her younger brother Bennett and my brother man the grill. I sit on the porch while the girls were inside just talking while making desserts. They were largely outnumbered and liked to keep their distance as much as they can.

"You know... I've been thinking a lot lately" I start.

"That's scary" Brady chirps and I send him a glare. I swear sometimes he is my blood brother.

"I want to propose to Bailey" I announce and it falls silent, "and pretty soon too." I feel everyone's eyes on me as Bill starts to smirk.

"And why do you want to do that" he asks me.

"Because I've known my whole life that I was going to marry her. Even when I was nine years old and I was told that I was going to a hockey tournament with the coach with the cute daughter I knew that little girl was going to steal my heart.

And she did. I can't tell you when it happened, sometime in high school when I realized that I didn't think this girl could be just something to me, that she was going to mean everything to me. I remember sitting in the hallway outside of my class waiting for her so we could walk in together. I remember those nights she walked over to our house and she would knock on my window so we could sit outside and just talk about whatever was on our minds. I remember going out on the ice and not going into my net until I saw her there with my jersey on behind the glass.

And I know that the rest of my life will be filled with precious memories. Mornings tangled up together watching the sun rise. Late mornings messing around on the ice like we did when we were kids. Spending the whole night sitting in bed just talking together, sharing our dreams, making new ones.

I know it's not going to always be these perfect days where nothing goes wrong. I'm a professional athlete for fucks sake, I know it's not going to be easy. But if I have her with me at least I know whatever I'm going to go through I can get through it with her by my side. And she knows that I will never let a tear hit her face before I catch it.

I know it's crazy to think of us to get married when we've been together for not even two weeks. But it's crazier to think that we waste another second not being together" I explain.

"And what happens when she gets hurt" her dad wonders.

"Then we heal, together" I say.

He just looks at me because that's his little girl. And I know he wanted her to be with me, he has told me many many times before, as has everyone else in the family. But out of us five kids she's the only girl so her parents and my parents were pretty protective of her.

"You promise you won't take her from us" he asks me making me laugh.

"I promise that we will be back as much as we can. This is home and you guys are forever our favorite place to be. For all the big moments we will make sure you guys are there and for all the small moments we will make sure you know" I promise.

He lets out a long sigh as he shakes his head. "I don't like the idea of giving her away. But at least I know there isn't anyone better to give her to" he smiles.

"I promise you I will do my best to make her happy" I insist.

"You always have.

I remember when she was in middle school and you guys had your first school dance. All your friends were going as a group of girls and a group of guys then there was you two. I asked her if she wanted to go with her girlfriends like everyone else and she said no, she wanted you. Then prom comes around and I ask her who she wants to go with again. There was a lot of guys I know who wanted to ask her but in the end it's going to be whoever she said. And she said you. I asked her if she was sure, that she could go with anyone she wanted to and she didn't have to do everything with you. But she wouldn't have it any other way. She loved you too, even if she was too busy to realize it. And although it took you guys a little too long to get together, you still have the rest of your lives to make up for lost time" he insists.

"That's the plan" I smile.

Bill ends up going to the grill to make sure my brother and dad weren't messing up the food leaving me with Brady. He turns to me and just smiles. "I'm going to ask you something and you can't freak out" he claims.

"Have you met me" I tease causing him to chuckle.

"Yeah, but my wedding is getting is getting closer and closer and before you get caught up in a wedding of your own I wanted to ask you something" he claims.

"Alright, what do you got for me" I wonder.

"I was wondering if you would be one of my groomsmen" he admits and I smile. "Kaitlyn is asking Bailey to be in her wedding party too so you guys can walk out together."

"Only if you guys will be in our wedding" I insist.

"It would be a honor. Not going to lie, I was starting to think you guys would never get together. But I couldn't be happier for you guys. I got to watch you both grow together and I've seen you guys do some amazing things. I can't wait to see what your forever holds" he says and I smile.

"Yeah Brady, me neither."