Chapter 148 Draft Night
Three days later, Lenora stood in front of the mirror in their hotel room in Rome, trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach.
Tonight wasn’t her achievement.
It was Lenold’s.
But somehow she felt just as nervous as he did.
She smoothed the silky emerald dress over her hips and took a deep breath.
Strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind.
Lenold’s reflection appeared in the mirror, breathtaking in a tailored black suit.
His blue eyes met hers.
And just like always, the rest of the world faded.
“You’re doing that thing again,” she whispered.
He kissed the side of her neck.
“What thing?”
“Looking at me like you forgot how to breathe.”
A crooked smile lifted his mouth.
“That’s because I do.”
Lenora turned to face him.
His hands settled on her waist.
Her fingers adjusted the knot of his tie.
“Nervous?”
He exhaled slowly.
“A little.”
That honesty made her heart ache.
Lenold Davenport had always seemed fearless.
But she knew better.
She knew the boy beneath the confidence.
The one who cared deeply.
The one who carried the weight of every dream like it mattered more than oxygen.
She cupped his face.
“No matter what happens tonight, I’m proud of you.”
His eyes softened.
“You’re the reason I got here.”
Tears stung her eyes.
“Lenold.”
He rested his forehead against hers.
“I mean it. Every hard day. Every road trip. Every moment I wanted to quit.”
His voice grew rough.
“You were my reason to keep going.”
Lenora kissed him gently.
“I love you.”
He smiled.
“I love you more.”
The draft was being held at Stadio Olimpico, transformed into a glittering event space filled with athletes, scouts, reporters, and families.
Lenora sat beside Lenold, their fingers tightly intertwined beneath the table.
The giant screen overhead displayed highlights from his college career.
Every check.
Every goal.
Every championship moment.
Pamela sat on Lenora’s other side, filming everything.
Lilibeth was already crying.
Kylen had somehow smuggled in snacks.
“Historical events require carbohydrates,” he whispered.
Lenora laughed nervously.
One by one, names were called.
Each time another player stood and embraced his family, Lenora’s heart pounded harder.
Lenold remained outwardly calm.
But his thumb stroked the back of her hand in a steady rhythm.
Finally, the commissioner stepped to the podium.
“With the seventh pick in the first round…”
The room seemed to stop breathing.
“The New York Rangers select Lenold Davenport.”
Lenora gasped.
Then the world exploded.
Cheers.
Applause.
Lilibeth’s shriek.
Pamela crying.
Kylen pounding Lenold on the back.
Lenold turned to Lenora.
For a moment, he simply stared at her.
His eyes were wet.
“I got drafted.”
She threw her arms around his neck.
“You got drafted!”
He kissed her hard, uncaring of the cameras flashing around them.
When they pulled apart, he pressed his forehead to hers.
“I couldn’t have done this without you.”
Lenora’s tears spilled freely.
“Yes, you could.”
He shook his head.
“Not like this.”
After interviews and photographs, they slipped away from the crowd and wandered through the quiet streets of Rome.
The city glowed under the moonlight.
Street musicians played softly near the Trevi Fountain.
Tourists laughed.
Water shimmered under golden lights.
Lenora leaned against Lenold’s side.
“So.”
He glanced down at her.
“So.”
She smiled.
“You’re an NHL player.”
He grinned.
“You’re going to make me say that every day, aren’t you?”
“For at least six months.”
He laughed and kissed her temple.
“Good.”
They stopped at the fountain.
Lenold pulled a coin from his pocket and handed it to her.
“Make a wish.”
Lenora closed her eyes and tossed the coin over her shoulder.
Lenold did the same.
She turned to him.
“What did you wish for?”
He wrapped his arms around her waist.
“If I tell you, it won’t come true.”
She narrowed her eyes playfully.
“Fine.”
He brushed his nose against hers.
“But I’ll give you a hint.”
“What?”
“It involves you. A white dress. And me trying not to cry.”
Lenora laughed.
“You’re definitely crying at our wedding.”
His grin widened.
“Absolutely.”
The next morning, they were awakened by pounding on their hotel room door.
Lenora opened it to find Pamela holding her tablet like it was evidence in a criminal trial.
“Breaking news.”
Lilibeth bounced beside her.
Kylen yawned behind them.
Lenora stepped aside.
“What happened?”
Pamela entered and thrust the screen toward them.
The headline read:
Rangers’ First-Round Pick Lenold Davenport Signs Rookie Contract
Lenora squealed.
Lenold blinked.
“That was fast.”
Kylen shrugged.
“When you’re talented and ridiculously handsome, organizations move quickly.”
Lilibeth clasped her hands.
“We’re moving to New York.”
Lenora laughed.
“We?”
“Emotionally, yes.”
Pamela scrolled further.
“There’s more.”
She turned the screen.
Another headline appeared.
Journalism Graduate Lenora Hayes Offered Position at The New York Ledger
Lenora froze.
“What?”
Pamela smiled.
“They emailed this morning.”
Lenora’s eyes widened as she opened the message.
The newspaper, one of the most respected in the country, was offering her a full-time investigative reporting position.
In New York.
The same city where Lenold would begin his professional career.
Her hands trembled.
“Oh my God.”
Lenold read over her shoulder.
Then he lifted her off the ground and spun her around.
“You got it!”
She laughed and cried at the same time.
“We’re moving to New York.”
He kissed her.
“Together.”
That evening, they celebrated on the rooftop of their hotel.
Candles flickered.
The Roman skyline stretched around them.
Lenora sat curled against Lenold’s side, still staring at her job offer.
“This feels insane.”
He kissed the top of her head.
“It feels right.”
She looked up at him.
“NHL player.”
He smirked.
“Investigative reporter.”
She smiled.
“We’re kind of impressive.”
He laughed.
“Terrifyingly so.”
They fell quiet.
Lenora traced the line of his jaw.
“Do you ever think about how close we came to losing all of this?”
His eyes darkened with emotion.
“All the time.”
He took her hand and kissed her engagement ring.
“But every bad thing led me to you.”
Lenora’s throat tightened.
“And every good thing feels better because I’m sharing it with you.”
He kissed her slowly.
Softly.
Like he still had a thousand ways to say I love you.
When they pulled apart, he rested his forehead against hers.
“New York.”
Lenora smiled.
“New York.”
“Rookie season.”
“First job.”
He grinned.
“Wedding planning.”
She laughed.
“Your mother is going to have opinions.”
He groaned.
“So many opinions.”
Lenora nestled closer.
For the first time, the future wasn’t a question mark.
It was a map unfolding in front of them.
Bright.
Exciting.
A little terrifying.
And absolutely beautiful.
Because no matter where life took them—
from high school hallways to college campuses, from Italy to New York—
they were still the same two people who had chosen each other against all odds.
And as the lights of Rome twinkled around them, Lenora realized their greatest adventure wasn’t behind them.
It was just beginning.