From Friends to Lovers

Two Years Later…

Ryan McDonagh POV:

One minute was left on the clock for the second overtime. It was game seven in the Stanley Cup Finals. We were playing the Minnesota Wild and it was all tied up. I had the puck and was skating it into their zone.

Quickly I looked around and made a pass to Steps hoping that he’d be able to shoot before his lane was cut off. He played with the puck a little bit before passing back to me. I looked around for a good pass. Time was starting to run down and I didn’t know how much longer we’d be able to play like this. Everyone was getting tired and it was showing in some of the plays.

“Mac Truck!” Cally called from across the ice, tapping his stick down repeatedly showing he was ready for a pass that he could quickly shoot in.

I sent the puck his way and it connected. Cally then made a move and buried it into the net winning the game for us. The New York Rangers had just won the Stanley Cup.

Everyone skated over to our faithful Captain in a celebration. We went through the handshake line congratulating everyone for a great series. Then, as the Wild skated off to go to their locker room, they let our family come onto the ice. I looked around for the love of my life, Sandra Kelley.

I found her hugging Gabby, who tied the game up to force the multiple overtimes, and couldn’t help but smile. She was so happy that we had won after getting so close but just not making it to the finals the past two years.

“Mind if I cut in?” I asked with a laugh as she threw herself into my arms.

“She’s a keeper, Mac, don’t let her go.” Gabby told me with a smile before skating off to find his girlfriend.

“Ryan! I can’t believe you assisted the winning goal! I knew you could do it! I love you so much!” She rushed out.

“I can’t believe it either! I love you too, Sandra.” I replied before pulling her in for a kiss.

After I was interviewed and we were waiting for everyone else to be I looked down at Sandra and couldn’t help but smile again. She had been there for me through thick and thin. I honestly don’t know where I would be without her. She had become so close to me and the guys and none of us could picture me with any other girl. I knew I couldn’t risk losing her.

Then the Stanley Cup came out and Ryan Callahan, our game winning goal scorer, lifted it above his head making the Madison Square Garden crowd go berserk.

“You lift that Cup, Cally!” I heard Steps yelling over the roar making Sandra and I laugh.

It was passed around teammate to teammate as we excitedly skated around with it acting like little children who had just received a life supply of candy. Then it was my turn. Gabby handed it over and I skated around with it for a while. I had always dreamed of this moment. The Stanley Cup above my head with the crowd screaming as loud as possible. I passed it off to G and skated back over to Sandra who had tears streaming down her cheeks.

“They’re happy tears don’t worry. I’m just so proud of you!” She exclaimed, hugging me again.
“You ready to party for a few days and then just crash?” Steps asked as he skated over with his girlfriend.

“You know it!” I replied.

Ryan McDonagh’s Day with the Cup

“We are eating ice cream out of this thing right now.” Sandra demanded as she put her hair up in a messy bun and looked at the Stanley Cup. “God I can’t believe this thing is in your parents’ living room.”

I had brought her home with me to Saint Paul for the summer like we usually did every off season. We shared a room in my parents’ house and Steps had just brought the Cup over a few hours ago from his place.

“Do we have enough ice cream to fill it up?” I asked her with a laugh.

“Is that a challenge?” She asked me as she pulled four cartons of ice cream out of the freezer and grabbed two ice cream scoops. “Start scooping, McDonagh, there’s two more where that came from and I can get more.”

“Did you stalk the freezer up just so you could do this, Kelley?” I asked her.

“Is that even a question?” She shot back as she started scooping.

“I love you.” I told her.

“I love you too.” She said and placed a quick kiss on my lips before going back to work.

Later that evening after the Stanley Cup had been paraded around a bit we had it back at my parents’ place. I was sprawled out on the couch with the Cup on the ground by my head and Sandra in my arms.

“Why don’t you guys come outside and bring the Cup? I want some more pictures and the whole family's outside.” My mother requested.

The sun was about to set and I could feel myself getting nervous as I carried the Cup out, my other hand gripping Sandra’s.

“You okay, Ryan?” She asked me, looking up at my face.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I kissed her cheek. “I just have a question to ask you.” I added, putting the cup down.

“What is it, Ryan? Is something wrong?” She asked, an eyebrow raised in question.

“I know I say I love you a lot but I don’t think that you know how much you truly mean to me. You’re my everything, I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you. You’ve helped me work on my game and you’re there through thick and thin. You’re always there for me to lean on and I can’t imagine being with any other girl but you. Sandra Kelley will you marry me?” I asked her, pouring my heart into the speech and slowly going onto one knee. I pulled out the ring I had bought her earlier this summer.

Her hand shot to her heart and she smiled, tears starting to form in her eyes. She started nodding, not able to form words.

“Yes, yes, yes, a million times yes. Ryan McDonagh, you dork, I will marry you.” She managed to get out before I slipped the ring on her finger. The sun was making the sky a nice orange now and we kissed, the Stanley Cup behind us.

My mother took a picture with flash making us pull back from the kiss in surprise, completely forgetting she was there.

“Sorry! It was just such a good moment.” She apologized.

“It’s fine, Mrs. McDonagh, as long as we get a copy. I want that framed.” Sandra told her as she wiped away her tears.

Everyone started clapping and we both smiled. I wiped away the last of her tears with the pad of my thumb and then we got the congratulations from the rest of the family.