“I may have added that one in on my own. I like to be very proactive about my jobs,” he grinned and bent forward to kiss me. “Seriously though, Jac. Need to make sure you know that to me, loving you means helping you and saving you if necessary, not because you need it but because I want to be part of every piece of your life.”
“I know,” I whispered with a smile. “I think I’m okay with the rules… as long as they only apply to you.”
“They fucking better,” he growled and kissed me hard.
“I love you, Kyle.” I sighed into his kiss, happiness settling into my bones like a fire lit after far too long living in the cold.
“I love you, Cinderella.”
Who knew it was true—that just one night could change the rest of my life?
Six months later…
THE CLAPPING AND CHEERS DROWNED out my ecstatic laughter. I looked around at all the bright lights flashing as I stood and waved at the crowd. My heart was still pounding in my chest and from my experiences like this, I knew it would stay that way for awhile.
Anything that was worthwhile, anything that you poured your heart and soul into, doesn’t come overnight. No, I’d been pouring and pouring and pouring, and today, all of my hard work and time and late nights and fought-through insecurities had finally paid off.
Today, I was celebrating, and I was doing it surrounded by the people who loved and supported me.
It was to the point where my face hurt from smiling because I was so happy. I was beyond happy—over the top happy. I’d been smiling since I woke up this morning, waiting for this moment.
Alright, I always woke up smiling now that waking up meant waking up next to Kyle.
I squeezed his fingers that were intertwined with mine, glancing up to my Prince Charming with his hair glinting gold in the midday sun. He grinned down at me, his eyes glowing with love and pride as he bent down and gently kissed the top of my head.
“You are so badass, Cinderella,” he murmured against my hair.
“You think we should let them in now?” I teased, looking at the eager faces of the crowd.
“I think they’ve been waiting long enough.” He winked at me.
This wasn’t an awards ceremony. I hadn’t just raced down the mountain for another career-setting win. I wasn’t staring out into a crowd that was excited to see another gold medal slung around my neck. I wasn’t in snow gear or on skis. Hell, I wasn’t even on the mountain.
I was standing in downtown Aspen in front of the storefront I’d purchased six months ago, the bright teal logo beaming above the door reading Jac’s Juice Bar.
For a split second, everything that led to this moment flooded back to me like a summer shower before the rainbow.
After Kyle was injured, I went back out on the mountain the following days and took the gold in every race I competed in. And he was waiting for me at the bottom of the slopes each time even though I told him to stay home and recuperate. I found that by the time I got to the bottom of the slope, I didn’t even bother looking at the time on the screens, my eyes only cared about finding him.
Over those next few weeks, things with Andrea’s arrest worked themselves out as best as they could. She was banned from the US Ski Federation and ended up pleading guilty by reason of insanity. She was sentenced to serve her term in a psych ward instead of prison. Sometimes, I still thought about that day… about her… but hating her wasn’t an option for me, not with the kind of love I had in my life.
Once the World Cup was over, we celebrated. I never really celebrated. I took the gold, went home, watched every available episode of Star Wars, and then went back to training. Before, winning had never felt like enough. Now, I had more than enough before I even hit the slopes.
That night, I felt his happiness, but I also felt a weight settle on his heart.
“Move in with me, Jac,” he said roughly. “Please.”
Of course, I’d thought about what would happen when it was all over—what I was going to do, where I was going to go. Normally, I’d go visit my parents for a few days and then get back on the mountain while the snow was still good.
Maybe it was that moment of shock when I thought I might lose him or maybe it really didn’t take long to break habits that weren’t healthy for your heart, but my typical knee-jerk reaction to push away as soon as anyone tried to get closer didn’t come. Instead, I nodded frantically before smashing my lips to his, whispering yes as he pulled me up onto his chest, and then screaming it as he fucked me.
“This is incredible, Jac!” Marissa drew my attention as the mass of people outside began to filter in. Wide-eyed delight written on all of their faces.
Similar compliments slipped from Jessa and Tammy’s lips, Ally’s hands clapped together before she pulled me in for a hug.
“I love how the logo came out, Al,” I said as she hugged me tight. “You are a genius.”
“Thank you, but it was all your idea, Jac. This is amazing! And to see my work hanging on the outside of a building—So. Awesome!”
Aside from Marissa, I’d never really had girlfriends. Jessa and I had grown close because of the gym, but I always attributed something like that to proximity and not my sunshine personality. But when Kyle was hurt, they treated me like I’d been their friend forever.
Jessa and I now worked out at the gym together, although a little less now that her baby bump was growing noticeably. Channing met me on the mountain to ride when she wasn’t teaching. And Tammy, Ally, and Marissa always made sure the whole group of us found a way to hang out once a month—doing karaoke, if Ally had anything to say about it.
This was the life.
I smiled, my eyes searching for my Prince Charming.
But it wasn’t only personally that things had changed. The following year at the beginning of the season, I injured my knee and had to pull from my spot in the Winter Olympics after the doctor said it was a no-go.
I’d been beside myself. Skiing was still my dream and Kyle had supported it one-hundred-and-ten percent. Whatever I needed, he made it work. Whatever my training schedule, he made time for us around it. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner.
He climbed into the hospital bed after they’d finished running tests and giving my knee a few shots after my fall and held me until the tears stopped from the news I wasn’t going to be competing this season. Then, he pulled out a piece of paper from his back pocket.
It was a real estate listing for the space we were currently standing in.
I looked up at him completely confused how real estate was supposed to make me feel better about my knee, to which he cupped my face like he always did when he needed me to know that we were along for this ride together, and then murmured, “I think it’s time Jac’s Juice Bar made its way into the world.”
I laughed because I thought he was joking. I’d just fallen. I’d just torn up a whole bunch of shit in my knee. I was still acclimating to the thought that I wasn’t going to the Olympics for the first time in years.
“C’mon, Warrior,” he said hoarsely. “You’ve got too many dreams to conquer to stay down now.”
I didn’t know what I’d done to deserve him, the man who always took any of my setbacks and turned them into a strength.
Four weeks later, with only a Googled education on how to start a business, we closed on the site of my juice bar and the craze of the last six months began.
Thankfully, those friends that had become engrained in my life overnight were there in a blink to help. Channing and Wyatt with their insights on opening a business. Ally with her graphics skills. Tammy helping to create a timeline for everything that had to be done before opening and then helping me paint and decorate and turn the space into something beautiful. And Jessa and Marissa, who’d tasted hundreds of juice recipes until we finally narrowed it down to the twenty on the menu.
“You okay?” Kyle whispered in my ear and I sagged back against his chest.
“Perfect.”
“You want to make the
first one?” He nodded over to where Marissa was standing at the counter with Shawn, looking at me to take her order.
Some days, I felt like a fool for letting what happened with her brother come between us, for trying to protect her from a truth that she deserved to know. But then I reminded myself there was no point in dwelling on the past. She knew now and our friendship was stronger than ever.
I smiled. “Yeah.”
Kyle followed me as I weaved through the pastel bistro tables that sat on the white tile floor he and Chance had installed three weeks ago. After that, they built the dark wood bar on which sat a variety of slow juicers and blenders above small refrigerators that housed chilled ingredients and produce. While they built, Tammy, Jessa, and I painted the walls a light teal to match Ally’s logo.
I wanted it to feel quirky and fun inside, a place where you could be excited to try some crazy juice concoctions that were out of your comfort zone because that was what this place had been for me.
Out of my comfort zone.
Just like Kyle.
But I’d learned that it was all the things that seemed over the top that made life worth living.
And, because it was my juice bar, it wouldn’t be complete without an abundance of Star Wars’ references.
My grin widened as I pulled on a Storm Trooper apron that was embroidered with the title “Storm Juicer”.
“What can I get you?”
Marissa pretended to mull for a second before deciding, “I think I’ll have my usual… the Jedi Green Juice.”
“Shocker.” I winked at her. Jedi Green was my specialty.
I spun and let Kyle handle the next order as I pulled out fresh spinach, pineapple, green grapes, dumping everything into the Vitamix and adding a cup of ice. The roar of the blender was like the cheers of the crowd at the end of the race. This was it. The first drink of my dream.
Kyle leaned around me and kissed my cheek.
Our dream.
“Proud of you, Cinderella.”
The day flew by in a blur. Jessa jumped behind the bar about an hour into it to help when the line got too much for Kyle and me to handle. It was insane. By the time everyone but our friends cleared out, I think I had enough fruit on my apron to make two more smoothies.
And it was only the first day, I thought as I sagged against the counter.
Instantly, strong, secure arms wrapped around me, protecting me from the overwhelming thoughts I didn’t have the strength to keep at bay after a day like today.
“Today was incredible. Can you believe it?” Kyle grinned against the shell of my ear, giving it a small kiss as he continued, “We’ll get a system down over the next week or two, don’t worry, Princess.”
I sighed and fell back into his embrace, feeling the hard slabs of marbled muscle against my back, always there to keep me strong when I needed them.
“Thank you.” I tipped my head up to his. “Thank you for everything that you’ve done and everything that you do for me. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to say it enough but I wouldn’t be here without you… because of you, I’m slowly, surely, and finally becoming the me I’ve always dreamt of being, and I’m stronger for it. Thank you for supporting me and loving me and being a part of all of my dreams. I don’t think I’d want them half as much as I do if you weren’t in them.”
My heartfelt thanks was rewarded with his warm lips crushing mine. It felt like years had passed since I’d kissed him, that was how frantic we’d been since I cut the ribbon earlier.
Vaguely, the claps and cheers in the distance reminded me that we weren’t alone. I pulled back with a grin, peeking around the width of his arm to see Wyatt with his arms wrapped around Channing, they’d come over as soon as they’d finished at their winter sports academy for the day; then there was Emmett sitting on one of the chairs with Ally in his lap, his fingers toying absentmindedly with the engagement ring on her finger.
Jessa still sat on the counter stool that Chance had forced her on about an hour ago, concerned that being on her feet and rushing around was too much exertion for the baby; her secret eye-roll told me that she felt otherwise. Still, she sat to ease his mind, the most blissful smile on her face as Chance’s hands rested on her belly.
I looked to the other side of Kyle as he continued to murmur endearments in my ear to see Nick, one arm holding his daughter, Lila, and the other wrapped firmly around Tammy’s waist as she held their new baby girl, Sutton, and talked to Jessa. I rarely saw any emotion on that man’s face except when he was with one or both of his women.
And finally, Marissa and Shawn stood at the counter, murmuring and laughing between themselves. I had a feeling things were about to get serious between those two real soon.
“Hey, guys,” I said, making an insufficient attempt to clear the emotion from my throat. Everyone’s conversation slowly dimmed and their eyes turned to me. “I just wanted to thank you—all of you—for the roles you played in making this dream of mine come true.”
Kyle’s hand went discreetly to the small of my back when he heard my voice waver.
“It’s been a long day and I’m sorry, but I’m going to get emotional about it here for a minute if you wouldn’t mind bearing with me. I promise that when I’m done all after-hours juices will have alcohol added to them, except you guys.” I gave Tammy and Jessa a quick smile before going on, “Ever since I was a kid, becoming a professional skier was my dream. And I worked damn hard for it and, even in spite of my injury, most days I think I got there.”
“Hell yeah, you did,” Marissa chimed from her seat.
“But over the past year and a half, I’ve learned that life is too big for only one dream.” Tears made my view of the room a bit slippery. “I’ve learned that sometimes things can seem a little up in the air, sometimes fear can have you teetering on the edge of something new and the thought of diving in makes you feel like you’ll be going in too deep… But life is about enjoying the ride with the people who bring you up from the bottom and push you over the top with their love—” I broke off in a hoarse whisper as the words struggled to get over the lump in my throat. “Life isn’t just about the dreams, it’s about the people you share them with. So, thank you, for sharing in this dream with me. I love you all.”
There was more I wanted to say, Star Wars puns that danced in my head, but I couldn’t get anything else out except a sob, seeing all my girls wiping their own eyes and even the guys nodding their heads, tight smiles telling me that they felt my words just as much.
Kyle pulled me back into his arms and kissed the top of my head as I took a few steadying breaths.
“Time to clean up?” I said with a watery half-grin, looking up at him from the cocoon of his chest.
“Almost.” He winked deviously at me before turning back to the group. “I promise, the alcoholic drinks are coming but there is something I want to say, too.”
Instead of addressing them like I had, he turned back to me and reached for my hands.
“Jaclyn Blanchard.” My eyes widened as his voice suddenly deepened into that raspy molasses that always went right down to my soul and covered it with the warm sensation of pure love. “It’s a fucking honor to be by your side. Not only when you’re Jac, the gold medalist, or Jac, the woman who saved my life, but also when you’re Jac, the girl who makes corny Star Wars jokes and loves juicing enough to turn it into a business.”
Tears streamed down my face. And here, I thought his speech was going to lighten the mood, not make me want to bawl my eyes out.
“It’s an honor to spend my days next to someone who is so strong and so kind, who works her ass off for what she wants, and who takes pride in her success. I want you to know how proud I am of you.” He coughed to mask the catch in his voice. “I need you to know how much I love you.”
“Kyle…” I breathed out his name with the very last strand of air left in my lungs.
He gave me a brave smile that said he was struggling just as hard to hold it together as I w
as.
“It’s an honor to go through life by your side.” My mouth dropped just as he did—onto one knee. “And it would be the biggest honor, my biggest dream, if I could be by your side as your husband.”
He pulled a box from his pocket, hidden by his apron all this time, and popped the lid to reveal a bright square-cut diamond.
My free hand shot up to cover my mouth even though it didn’t quite hide the sob that left it.
“So, Cinderella, would you save me one more time and make my dream come true by becoming my wife?”
The lack of collective gasps from around the room told me that all my friends were in on this. I realized I wouldn’t want it any other way.
With a smile my face felt like it couldn’t contain and tears I didn’t want to hide, I dropped down to my knees, too. Love had made us equals and I wanted to say yes looking straight into his eyes.
Laughing and crying at the same time, I answered, “Yes, Prince Charming, I will marry you.”
There was an instant of raucous shouts and cheers and then I heard none of it as his lips touched mine. Strong arms claimed me, locking me against his chest, and as he stood, my legs wrapped around his waist to go with him.
Several more kisses later, we finally disentangled from each other to accept the hugs and congratulations from the group and make good on the promise of the celebratory alcoholic smoothies.
And that, right there, was what life was all about. Not the destination… Not the journey… In the end, it was about those who were with you and loved you along the way—the ones who saw you for who you really are, the ones who supported your choices, and the ones who, no matter what, found a way to be by your side.
“So, does this mean I’m going to be Mrs. Jedi Masters?” I teased once I was in his arms again.
“How did I know that was coming?” he groaned even as he smiled.
“Because this is my fairy tale,” I retorted.
“Ah, right.” He grinned and then mocked, “Once upon a time, in a juicery far, far away…”
My head tipped back as I laughed. “I love you.”
The Winter Games Box Set Page 171