Chapter 246 He Said Yes

Chapter 246 He Said Yes

POV: Silver Preston

Eli stands there in the snow, looking at me like I have just offered him the world and he does not know if he is allowed to take it.

"You're all in," he repeats quietly.

"Completely."

"Even knowing I'm going to the NHL. That I'll be gone. That this will be hard."

"Even knowing all of that." My voice is steady despite my shaking hands. "I'm choosing the hard thing because it's with you."

Eli closes the distance between us in two steps. Pulls me into his arms. Holds me so tightly I can barely breathe.

"I'm choosing you too," he says against my hair. "I'm sorry it took me so long to figure that out. Sorry I kept doubting. But I'm done doubting. I'm all in too."

I feel tears sliding down my face. Relief. Joy. The overwhelming weight of finally being chosen back.

"We're going to figure this out," he continues. "Whatever it takes. Whatever obstacles come up. We figure it out together."

"Together," I agree.

We stand there in the falling snow, holding each other, both finally brave enough to commit completely.

"I love you," Eli says. "Have since the day I caught you. Will until-- I don't even know. Forever maybe. If you'll have me that long."

"Forever sounds good," I whisper.

He pulls back to look at me. Then kisses me. Soft. Sweet. A promise.

When we separate, both of us are smiling through tears.

"Come inside," he says. "You're freezing."

"In a minute. I need to tell Americus. She's been waiting to hear how this went." I pull out my phone. "She's probably losing her mind right now."

"Tell her thank you. For pushing you. For making you be brave." He kisses my forehead. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow. And every day after that."

I walk back to my dorm feeling like I am floating. Like everything has finally clicked into place.

When I burst into the room, Americus looks up from her laptop.

"Well?" she demands.

"He said yes. He's all in too. We're doing this." I cannot stop smiling. "We're actually doing this."

She stands up. Pulls me into a hug so tight my ribs creak.

"Finally," she says into my hair. "Finally."

Three months later, I stand in a crowded arena in Philadelphia, surrounded by hundreds of NHL fans and families, watching the draft lottery on massive screens.

Americus stands next to me, unusually quiet, her braids twisted back for the occasion. Riley and Maya flank my other side. All of us wearing Yale colors.

"This is surreal," Riley whispers. "We're watching Eli get drafted to the NHL."

"If he gets drafted," I say. My stomach has been in knots all day. "First round isn't guaranteed."

"He's going first round," Americus says confidently. "I've been following the projections. He's a lock for top fifteen."

The arena buzzes with anticipation. Families of draft-eligible players cluster in designated sections. Cameras everywhere.

I had declined to sit in the special family section. It felt too public. Too exposed. I would rather watch from the general seating with my friends.

The commissioner steps to the podium. The crowd quiets.

"With the eighth pick in the NHL draft. The Minnesota Wild select. Elijah Hayes, forward, Yale University."

The arena erupts.

I feel my breath catch. Eighth pick. First round. Top ten.

On the screen, Eli stands from his seat in the family section. Hugs his mom. Hugs his uncle. Then walks down to the stage.

He looks good. Suit perfectly tailored. Hair cut short. Every inch the professional athlete he is about to become.

He shakes hands with the commissioner. Pulls on a Minnesota Wild jersey. Poses for photos.

I watch him smile for the cameras. See him answering questions from reporters. See him living the dream he worked his entire life for.

And I feel tears sliding down my face.

"Hey." Americus squeezes my hand. "Why are you crying? This is good news."

"I know. I'm happy for him. I'm just--" I wipe my eyes. "It's real now. He's really leaving. Moving to Minnesota. Starting his professional career. And I'm still at Yale. Still figuring out my knee. Still not sure what my future looks like."

"You knew this was coming," Riley says gently.

"Knowing and experiencing are different." I watch Eli on the screen. He is scanning the crowd, looking for someone. Looking for me. "We said we'd figure it out. But I don't know how to figure out him being a thousand miles away living a completely different life."

"You'll visit. He'll visit. You'll video call constantly." Maya's voice is practical. "People make long distance work all the time."

"Do they? Or do they just say they will and then quietly fall apart?" I feel panic rising. "What if this is the beginning of the end? What if distance kills what we have?"

"Stop," Americus says firmly. "Stop spiraling. This is a happy moment. Eli just achieved his dream. Be present for that instead of catastrophizing about the future."

I nod. Try to smile. Try to feel the joy I know I should be feeling.

But all I can think is: he is leaving. Really leaving. And nothing will ever be the same.