Ten…
The countdown to the new year has officially started, and there’s got to be at least a hundred people gathered on the makeshift dance floor of our wedding reception venue.
Jax somehow managed to secure the super-cool, modern bistro where he works at the last-minute. Sure, I ended up forking out compensation for all the reservations that had to be canceled, but it was totally worth it. I just hope that Jax won’t have to deal with too many disgruntled customers as a result of this.
From what I could see, only one petite brunette showed up to complain, but at the sight of her knocking on the front door, Jax muttered “oh, she’s back” and sent one of the other bar staff to talk to her.
Nine…
Somehow, my teammates and I managed to pull off a miracle. The hotel ballroom was the perfect high-end winter wonderland for the ceremony, while the reception here at one of Maddie’s favorite restaurants has been awesome and low-key.
The entire bar is decorated in twinkling fairy lights, candles, and Maddie’s favorite flowers. Authentic thin-crust Italian pizza—my wife’s favorite—was served to the guests for our meal, followed by a cake topped with a hockey-playing gingerbread man standing next to a smiling gingerbread lady. Which was perfect.
Eight…
In fact, it’s been the perfect day from start to finish. And it’s definitely not due to my dumb jock brain’s lack of vocabulary that I’m unable to find another descriptor… it’s because “perfect” is the only word for it.
Because the sight of Maddie walking up the aisle in that white dress earlier, her eyes fixed only on me, is an image that’s going to be burned into my memory forever.
Seven…
This time, we did it right. Personal vows, promises that we intend to keep.
Because I mean what I say, and say what I mean, and I’m going to love Maddie for eternity—mark my words.
Coach Torres officiated, which was both bizarre and amazing. A consolation prize for him not getting his karaoke moment at this year’s New Year’s party.
Six…
It meant the world to me to have my family fly down at the last minute to join us. Both of my brothers stood up for me as my groomsmen, joined by Colton and Malachi—my two teammates on my line.
Blood family and found family, side by side.
Maddie’s mom and stepdad were there too, along with Alicia and Paul Plumlee. While I know my wife’s relationship with her parents is complicated, I figured that she would want them there. Thought it might be good for her mom to witness it all, anyway.
I have hope that, in the future, she’ll change her outlook on marriage when she sees how Maddie and I work together as a team, how we support and love each other. Which we intend to do through everything.
When we said “I do,” both of our moms cried.
Five…
After the ceremony came to an end, we took photographs this time that involved no traffic cones.
Well… maybe one. I got Jimmy to steal one from a construction zone so that we could have a little re-creation from our night in Vegas for the wedding album, amidst the other beautiful portraits. Sadly, we couldn’t secure an Elvis impersonator, but Jimmy did a rendition of “Hound Dog” for us to bridge that gap.
Four…
And speaking of the Cyclones, when the dinner and speeches were through, I gathered my teammates and the coaches to give them an extra thank you for everything they’ve done for me, especially over the last two days. We somehow planned an entire wedding and won a hockey game in the span of 24 hours—a feat that I’m sure no other NHL team can lay claim to.
Mal also took a moment to officially announce his post-retirement plans: he’s going to go to Arlington University, his alma mater, to coach the D1 team there. I have a feeling that he’s going to lead that team to many, many victories.
And in the meantime, playoffs are hovering on the horizon, a few short months away, and our team is united on one thing: this year, the dry streak WILL end, and we will be there with bells on, playing our hearts out.
Three…
We’ve been dancing for hours now, the celebrations going strong. Dallas even requested the DJ play “Cyclone” by Baby Bash, and it was almost alarming to see how Jimmy very much moves his body like a cyclone.
I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard.
And now, I’m standing at the center of it all, holding my wife in my arms, and she looks more beautiful than I’ve ever seen. Her green eyes are glowing, her cheeks are pink, and multiple light brown strands have escaped her complicated, braided updo and are falling all around her face.
She looks like a Disney princess—one of those new badass ones who don’t need a man to swoop in and save them, because they’re awesome at kicking ass and taking names all on their own, and the prince is just lucky to be by their side at the end of the story.
So lucky.
Two…
I run my hands down Maddie’s back, calluses skating over her bare skin as I soak in this love-drenched moment. I love her in this dress. I never want her to take it off… but I also want to throw her over my shoulder and march her back to our hotel suite so I can take it off her immediately.
One…
And the most beautiful thing about all of this, when it comes down to it, is that there’s no rush.
We have all the time in the world. Tonight and every night after.
Together.
“HAPPY NEW YEAR!”
The entire bar explodes in cheers and yells as balloons and confetti fall around us and the opening bars of “Auld Lang Syne” swell. All across the crowded bar, people begin to embrace.
I pull Maddie close. “Happy New Year, Mrs. Slater.”
She stands on her tiptoes, arms wrapping around my neck, and she pulls herself towards me so she can kiss me with so much fervor, I almost topple over. Our first kiss of a new year, and I’m already excited for many, many more.
When we finally break apart, I’m hot and bothered in the best way.
“It is a very Happy New Year,” Maddie murmurs as she catches her breath.
And as I look down at my wife, I know that it’s going to be the best one yet.
