Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 177

177: HOPE

Hope’s POV

“So.. this was the reason why you’ve been so nervous all this time?”

It took him a while to answer, but I waited patiently, watching as he struggled to find the right words.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I was planning on doing it on our last day here to make everything special, but I feel like my hear is going to explode waiting for that day.”

“You’re nervous?”

“Yes,” he admitted with a deep sigh. “I don’t know how Forest did it so easily like he told me, too, but I can’t even keep my calm on our first day here.”

He shook his head, looking frustrated with himself.

“I can’t believe I messed it up,” he muttered to himself.

“Why would you be nervous?”

“What?” he asked, looking back up at me.

“Did you think I was going to say no?”

He pursed his lips and scratched the back of his neck. “It’s not that-Honestly, I don’t know. It hasn’t been a long time since we’ve been together.”

“Some people may even think that I’m proposing too soon. But I just know that there’s no other person for me in this world other than you. I also know that getting married is not really mandatory when two people are in love. So, that’s fine with me,

too.”

“As long as we’re in love-”

I cut him off with a kiss before he could spiral any further.

His lips softened against mine, and for a few seconds, everything else disappeared.

Once we separated, he was looking at me with furrowed brows, as though he was still trying to process what had just happened.

“This is the most I’ve heard you talk, Levi.”

“I told you, I’m nervous,” he muttered. “I’m even more nervous than during the finals. Heck, I’m more nervous than my debut game.”

“Levi.” I whispered.

“I could have lost all of those games, but if I manage to lose you because of this, I honestly don’t know what to do.”

My heart clenched at his words.

He cursed under his breath. “I even practiced all of this. I rehearsed this really well with Forest after I booked the trip. It was supposed to be on our last night. The dinner and set-up have already been prepared, but I messed it all up.”

I stared at him for a while before breaking my silence.

Aug 13

Hands Off The Ice King

“You.”

I didn’t even know what else to say.

There were so many things I wanted to tell him, but somehow, none of the words seemed enough.

I wrapped my arms around him, still holding onto the velvet box. He immediately placed his arms around my waist and held me close like he was afraid I was going to disappear right in front of his eyes if he didn’t do so

“You’re so special to me, do you know that? So special that I even find you cute right now,” I muttered.

He pulled back slightly, and I could see the embarrassment written all over his face.

We separated, and that was when I finally gave the box back to him. He looked at it for a second before he finally held onto it, his fingers tightening around the small velvet box.

“Nothing has been messed up.” I started off. “It honestly doesn’t matter at what time and date you’re going to propose to me. All I know is that being here with you is already as special as it is. I already told you-you made one of my dreams come

true.”

I smiled at him, hoping he could see how sincere I was.

“We can also have that fancy dinner on the last day without any problem.”

He stared at me for a moment before a small smile appeared on his lips.

“Now,” I pointed to the ring he was holding. “Say what you’ve rehearsed. I want to hear it.”

The water still flowed around us, and the sun cast everything with a pretty orange hue.

He let out a deep breath and began.

“Hope Henderson. Before you came into my life, I was an uptight asshole who was too miserable to even acknowledge that he was miserable.”

A giggle already escaped my lips from the very first line.

Of course, that was how he was going to start.

It seemed he had eased up a little bit more now, his shoulders relaxing as he continued.

“From a person who hated being touched the most, I became the man who always craved your touch. From the man who thought I could only love hockey and it was all I had, I became the man who lives for you and for the simple moments that make life worth living.”

My smile slowly softened.

“I still remember the day when I requested Beth to cut you off the team and to bring Nate back. I want to slap my past self for letting you suffer because of my trauma. I know I will never get those days back, but just know that I will spend my whole life trying to make up for what I did.”

My chest tightened.

I remembered those days, too. Even though it was filled with uncertainty and pain, all of those memories had led us to this moment. So, even then, I wouldn’t change a thing.

“There is a life far beyond us, but I always want to treasure you at every second. I want to help you make your dreams come true. I want to be by your side both at the lowest points of our lives, God forbid.”

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Hands Off The Ice King

I giggled again, even as my eyes began to sting.

“And the highest. I cannot assure you that I’m the perfect man, even though I’m pretty close to the pinnacle of a dream man: according to Apollo Magazine.”

Even during a moment like this. Levi still had to find a way to make me laugh.

“But I can assure you that I’ll always strive to be perfect for you-not because you pressure me to, but because I only want the best for you.”

His voice softened.

He closed his eyes for a moment and let out a deep breath. When he opened them again. I could see the way his eyes shined, like he was holding back his tears.

And that was the moment I lost it, too.

If he, who was someone who didn’t cry easily, began tearing up because of this, then, of course, tears streamed down my

face.

I didn’t even realize how emotional I had become until one tear rolled down my cheek, followed by another.

He reached up for my cheek and wiped away my tears gently. His thumb lingered against my skin. his eyes never leaving

mine.

“I know how cheesy this sounds, but you’ve melted the Ice King.”

I couldn’t help the small smile that appeared on my lips.

“You really have.” he added softly.

My heart squeezed.

“So, Hope Henderson, please marry me.” he ended the speech with that.

A soft sob escaped my lips while he continued trying to wipe my tears away. He waited for me until I calmed down, giving me all the time I needed.

And when I finally did, I gave him my answer

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