Chapter 187: One Hundred & Eighty Seven

EMMA POV

The ring was still catching my eye every five seconds.

I'd been engaged for three days, and I still couldn't quite believe it was real.

Three days.

That's how long I'd been walking around with this massive pink diamond on my finger, feeling like I was living a dream.

At work, everyone noticed. How couldn’t they with how shining and big it was

"Oh my God," my colleague, Marcus, said when I came in on Monday morning. "He actually did it. I was taking bets on whether he'd chicken out."

"You were betting on my engagement?" I asked, shocked.

"Of course, honey, everyone was, with the long distance we thought it was the end and by the," he said. "It was good money. Congratulations girl. That's a statement ring."

"I know," I said, holding up my hand to watch it sparkle in the office lighting. "I still don't know if I believe it's mine."

"Believe it," he said. "That man has finally snatched you. At least he is loyal. I thought it was just call and text for six long months. So you deserve it.”

Six months.

That's how long Ryan had been in Toronto. Six months of sleeping on different continents. Six months of phone calls that made my heart ache with how much I missed him. Six months of knowing he was my future, but not being able to hold him.

And then I went to see him to watch his game, and he took me into the rink, got down on one knee on the ice, and made me the happiest and most terrified person alive.

Because now we had to figure out how to actually do this.

Long-distance engaged.

It sounded impossible.

But looking at the ring, it felt enticing to wanna try it.

After a long day at work. I called Ryan like I did every night.

He answered on the second ring, like he always did.

"Hey, beautiful," he said. "How was work?"

"Marcus was betting on whether you'd propose," I said.

Ryan laughed. "That sounds like Marcus."

"I still can't believe you actually did it," I said. "I thought this wasn’t in your plan for the next three years"

"You thought too much," he said gently. "It’s been torture being away from. And nothing beats now. I want to wake up in the morning, whether far or near from you, with the thought that you’re my wife

I felt tears forming in my eyes.

"We need to talk about the actual wedding," he said. "Because I know you probably have ideas about what you want. And we need to figure out a lot of things. Your mom already called me asking about dates. It’s my first time planning a wedding.”

I laughed.

"My mom called you?" I asked. "How did she know?"

"I called her right after I did it," he said. "I couldn't wait to tell her. And she screamed so loud she nearly took off my eardrums."

I laughed.

"So," he said, "when do you want to get married, wifey?"

"Wifey?" I laughed.

“Yeah, we should start practicing, and you should start getting used to the name. So, when do you want to get married? The ball is your court, baby.”

I took a deep breath. "I haven't had time to think about it. Have never planned a wedding before.”

"Think about it," he said. "We have time. But not too much time. I want you to be my wife, Emma, as soon as possible. I want that more than anything."

"I want that too," I said. "I just... this is scary. Getting married. Building a life together when we're in different countries."

"I know it's scary," he said. "But we can do this. We can figure it out. And in two years, when I get traded back home, we'll be in the same place. We'll build our life together. We'll have everything we want."

Two years.

That was his plan. Playing in Toronto for two years. Build his career. Then request a trade back home. Back to me.

It sounded simple when he said it.

But two years was a long time to be engaged. A long time to be apart.

"What if you change your mind?" I asked quietly.

"About what?" he asked.

"About me. About us. What if you meet someone in Toronto and realize I'm not actually what you want?"

"Emma, my love," he said, and his voice was serious now. "Look at your ring."

"I'm looking at it," I said.

"That's not the ring of someone who's going to change his mind," he said. "That's the ring of someone who thought about this. Who planned this, Who knew exactly what he was doing. I'm not going to change my mind. I'm never going to change my mind."

"How can you be so sure?" I asked.

"Because," he said, "I love you. Real love doesn't just disappear because we're in different cities. If anything, this is going to make us stronger. We're going to have to work harder. We're going to have to communicate better. We're going to have to choose each other every single day. And that's worth it to me. You're worth it to me."

I was full-on crying now.

"Don't cry," he said softly. "You're going to make me cry, and I'm at the gym; you want the boys to tease me," he joked

"You're at the gym?" I asked, laughing through my tears.

"I just finished practice," he said. "I'm about to do some extra conditioning. But hearing your voice is more important than any workout."

"Go work out," I said. "I'll be fine."

"You sure?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said. "But call me tonight before bed?"

"Always," he said.