Off Sides

you say you will
But I love you still
I need you
More than anyone darlin'
You know that I have from the start.”

    I bust out laughing and notice a smattering of applause from the people around us. Paula just smirks at me and I lean over and give her a quick hug. Yes, I have missed her terribly.
    “Oh, God. Please don’t tell me I have to sing just to sit with you two?”
    I look up and see Emily standing there. She’s stunning with her glossy dark hair and those same bourbon eyes that Ryan has. She’s wearing her brother’s jersey —#73 —just like me.
    I stand up and give Emily a quick hug and she sits down next to me. She knows Paula but not enough to give her a hug so they both just mutter, “Hey” to each other. And now I’m ready to get on with the show. I want to see my man.
    ***

    I don’t know if it will ever change but every time I see Ryan step out from the tunnel and skate onto the ice, my body quivers. It must be part nerves but if I’m honest with myself, it mostly has to do with the fact that he’s just so damned hot in his uniform. And I could not be prouder of him. He made it to the NHL and his dreams have all come to fruition. The man is simply amazing and he deserves every bit of it.
    Ryan skates by, giving me a little wink and my smile stretches from ear to ear. I’m vaguely aware of Emily and Paula talking but my focus is on Ryan. I get so nervous for him on game days. Today, before he headed over to the arena, he seemed a little off. I’m assuming he was just anxious about the game, which is understandable. They are playing the Pittsburgh Penguins and they are #1 in the Atlantic Division.
    I’m surprised when the lights in the arena dim just slightly and the announcer says in that deep baritone voice, “Will Danny Burnham, please turn your attention to the Jumbotron at center ice.”
    Suddenly, a spotlight is on me and I feel a million prickles run across my skin. My face immediately heats up with embarrassment as if I just got busted sneaking in after curfew. I drag my gaze up to the giant scoreboard and the screen shows the camera is focused on me, Paula and Emily. I take note of the stunned expression on my face and Paula is waving happily at the camera. Emily just has her mouth turned up in a smirk.
    What. The. Hell? Did they do this as a prank?
    Before I can turn to them to ask, the video of us blacks out and the words “You Are My One and Only” flash onto the screen. My breath catches in my lungs and my head is literally buzzing. That’s what Ryan and I call each other. I have no clue what is going on but I sense it’s something big.
    And then Ryan is on the video. He’s in his uniform and the video only shows him from the waist up. I glance out to the ice but with the lights dimmed, I cannot see him. And then Ryan starts talking on the monitor.
    “Danny...you are my one and only...just as I am yours. My life with you is almost perfect...but not quite. The only way to make that happen is if you will agree to be my wife.” He takes a pause, then a deep breath, and then he says with the most devilish smile on his face, “And I figure if I asked you in front of all of these people, you would never embarrass me by saying no. So will you?”
    The screen blanks out for a second and then the video comes back up of me sitting there in my seat, looking bewildered. Paula and Emily are looking at me expectantly. The arena is eerily quiet.
    Then I hear from just behind me. “So, will you?”
    I swing around and Ryan is standing there in the aisle —just a foot behind my seat —in all his full hockey regalia. His smile is gone and he is looking like he might be sick any moment if I don’t say something. He reaches out and I see he has a black velvet box in his hand. He opens it up and inside is the most exquisite diamond ring I have ever seen. The sparkles flying off of it are in danger of causing me to have a seizure. I stand up and step out into the aisle, staring into those copper eyes. I see promise, hope and love shining back at me. I see my future and my salvation.
    Everything seems to be in slow motion and I hear a few people scream out, “Say yes!”
    I walk up to the step where Ryan stands and then walk past him to the step above. He turns his body, following my movement and I’m sure he thinks I may be bolting. But I’m not. I just want to put myself within better reaching distance to his enormous height.
    And then I launch myself at him, wrapping my arms