by V. L. Locey
The Ravens hit the ice to thunderous applause and some kickass music by AC/DC. We all went to our feet to clap and stomp. Bryn made a lap of the ice, stick over his head, and then went to the bench instead of his net. Once the starting roster—minus Bryn—had been introduced, we all remained standing as the owner of the Ravens walked out on the ice. He stood where the anthem singer would stand shortly, a short man with no hair but a bright smile and began talking about Bryn Mettler. How he had been the face of the Ravens for ten years. How he had battled against injury and self-doubt and public opinion to lead the Ravens to the Stanley Cup finals last season. Yes, they had lost, but the LA team had to push them to a game seven. I stood and clapped through the entire speech.
When the owner called Bryn over to get the fancy gold extra effort trophy—voted on by the fans—I shouted and wept into my mittens. The fans all loved him and showed that love by sheer noise. I could not have been prouder of my man than I was at that moment. And he was glowing with pride. God, he was beautiful. So strong and toppy and loving.
Liam tapped my elbow and handed me his relish-soaked napkin to dry my eyes. I kissed his head and then blew my nose on a small clean spot that I found. Once the ceremony was over, the Ravens lined up on the ice as did the team from North Carolina. The anthem was sung, and another season began. Sitting there with Liam and Kelly and Adam while we watched Bryn, I honestly could not imagine my life being any better.
After a big win on the season opener, I kissed Kelly and Liam goodbye and shook Adam’s hand.
“We’ll be over tomorrow to go to that fall festival thing but then Bryn is out of town for four days,” I was telling Kelly who was busy trying to keep Liam at her side as the throngs pushed and shoved to leave the barn.
“Okay, then we’ll do dinner tomorrow night instead of Saturday night. Do you still want Liam to come over?”
“Yes, please! He can keep me company.”
We arrived outside and I zipped up my jacket. Fall was settling nicely on Pittsburgh, tinting the air with chilly pumpkin-time goodness. Maybe I could do a blog post about our day at the fall festival tomorrow. People still loved hearing about Liam, and Bryn of course.
“Cool. We’ll see you around noon tomorrow.”
Kelly bounced off with Adam and Liam, blending into the bodies heading to their cars. After I lost them, I ambled around the arena to the players parking lot and slid my ass into Bryn’s car. The seats were already warm, and I snuggled deeply into all that luxury while I listened to an audiobook. He slid behind the wheel about an hour later, looking dapper as hell in a sharp blue suit, white shirt, and gray tie, topped with a thick winter coat that went to his knees. His hair was perfect, his eyes tender, and his smile genuine.
“You look quite comfortable,” he said as he buckled his seatbelt.
“I think I could live in this car.” I sighed then feigned sleep. He chuckled, patted my thigh, and eased the Mercedes into traffic. Feeling a little sleepy, I dozed for a bit, awakening when the engine quieted. I yawned and stretched. “Sorry for dropping off. I’m still not used to the old nine-to-five grind, I guess.”
“Working in town is doing wonders for your web design skills though.” He unbuckled his safety belt and gave me a peculiar look. “Would you like to take a small walk?”
I looked out the window, rubbed my eyes, and then looked again. We weren’t home. We were at the West End Elliot Overlook Park, which was one of the most scenic vantage points to see our lovely city from. At night it was breathtaking.
“Why are we here?” I unbuckled as well then exited the car. There were just a few people here, most with cameras, as the view was truly spectacular. A chilly wind rich with fall whistled over us, tugging at Bryn’s coat and my Ravens scarf. I felt a little warm now but the scarf had felt good in the arena. He took my hand, fingers sliding between mine, and we walked under shade trees and past flower gardens that were bursting with mums in various shades of orange and yellow. People smiled at us as we meandered past. I felt oddly out of sorts. “Why did we come here?”
“Don’t you like it here?”
“Sure, it’s beautiful, but it’s going on eleven o’clock and your after-game cup of—”
He tugged me along, never really answering me until we were standing under a streetlamp looking out over the Three Rivers. Several people milled around us, most silently moving past or looking down at the sights.
“Michael, this has been a special night for me,” Bryn said, pulling my attention from the city I loved nearly as much as he did. I turned my head to look at him. Someone shifted around in my periphery, a small person in a purple coat like Kelly had. “I thought I could share this night with you, here, where we can see the city that has been so good to us.”
“Yeah, it’s a great…what are you doing? Bryn? Oh no.” I slapped my mitten-covered hands over my mouth when he went down to one knee. “No, oh sweet sister Sue.”
He pulled a small jeweler’s box from the inside of his coat, flipped it open, and held it up to me.
“Michael, I love you deeply. You make me smile and fill my soul with love and laughter. You heat up my nights and brighten my days. You are the sun in my life. Will you marry me?”
A sharp wind hit me in the face. The cold air made my eyes water which just added to the liquid streaming down my face.
“Yes!” I shouted into my mittens. Bryn laughed, got to his feet, and kissed me breathless. Then, with infinite tenderness, he peeled off the mitten on my left hand and slid a slim platinum band onto my quaking ring finger. I tried to say something, but I couldn’t, so I threw myself at him and kissed his beautiful face.
People were clapping and shouting, one broke from the mob and launched herself at us.
“I’m so happy for you guys!” Kelly shrieked in my ear as she pressed kisses to our cheeks. She too was crying. We pulled her in for a hug. Soon, Adam, with Liam on his hip, appeared, and the two of them got into the massive family embrace. “I call dibs on best person.” She giggled among the sniffles and hiccups.
“Uncle Mike, so now I can now be a flower thrower?” Liam asked. I held out my hands for him and Adam handed him over. Bryn wiggled in close.
“You can be whatever you want,” I told him then angled him just right for a great big three-way hug with my fiancé. “You can wear whatever you want too,” I added in case he wanted the pretty dress that usually went with the flower person role. We were all about acceptance in the Kneller/Mettler family.
The child’s eyes went wide.
And that was how we ended up with a flower thrower dressed as Captain America at our wedding.
The End
A note from the author…
If you enjoyed Life According to Liam, I’d be incredibly grateful if you could leave a review on a major retailer site, like BookBub, Goodreads, or on your personal social media platforms.
Reviews are the reason someone else might decide to give this book a try!
Deepest thanks,
*squishy hugs*
V.L.
Other books by V.L. Locey
LGBTQ Releases
Holly & Hockey Boots
Life is a Stevie Wonder Song
Blue Line Collection #1
Improper Fraction
Playmaker – A Venom Novella
The New York Nightwings Collection
An Erie Collection
Nightside—An Erie Vampire Tale (coming 10/23/19)
Love is a Walk in the Park – Coauthored with Stephanie Locey
Tales of Bryant
Nine Small Sips
Shake the Stars
Cayuga Cougars Series
Point Shot Trilogy Boxed Set
Snap Shot—Cayuga Cougars #1
Open Net – Cayuga Cougars #2
Coach’s Challenge – Cayuga Cougars #3
Overtime – Cayuga Cougars #4
One-on-One – Cayuga Cougars #5
A Star-Crossed Christmas – A Cayuga Cougars Short
Harrisburg Railers Series
Coauthored with RJ Scott
Changing Lines—Harrisburg Railers #1
First Season—Harrisburg Railers #2
Deep Edge—Harrisburg Railers #3
Poke Check – Harrisburg Railers #4
Last Defense – Harrisburg Railers #5
Goal Line – Harrisburg Railers #6
Harrisburg Novellas
Neutral Zone – A Holiday Novella
Hat Trick
Save The Date
Owatonna Eagles Series:
Coauthored with RJ Scott
Ryker - Owatonna Eagles #1
Scott – Owatonna Eagles #2
Benoit – Owatonna Eagles #3
Arizona Raptors Series:
Coauthored with RJ Scott
Coast to Coast—Arizona Raptors #1
Across the Pond—Arizona Raptors #2 (coming 11/10/19)
Colors of Love Series
Lost in Indigo – Colors of Love #1
Touch of a Yellow Sun – Colors of Love #2
The Good Green Earth – Colors of Love #3
Slow Dances Under an Orange Moon—Colors of Love #4 (coming 2/19/20)
M/F Releases
Pink Pucks & Power Plays (To Love a Wildcat #1)
A Most Unlikely Countess (To Love a Wildcat #2)
O Captain! My Captain! (To Love a Wildcat #3)
Reality Check (To Love a Wildcat #4)
Language of Love (To Love a Wildcat #5)
Final Shifts (To Love a Wildcat #6)
Clean Sweep (Venom #1)
Twirly Girl (Venom #2)
Tape to Tape (Venom #3)
Angle Play (Venom #4)
Flow (Venom #5)
Blueline (Venom #6)
Roster Addition (A To Love a Wildcat novella)
Meet V.L. Locey
V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee.
(Not necessarily in that order.)
She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a flock of assorted domestic fowl, and two Jersey steers.
When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand.
vllocey.com
[email protected]