Give Into Me.

Moving in with Tyler seemed to make the time fly by.

September flew by in a wink between the World Cup and the NFL season starting and with October bringing hockey back at full-speed it was a whirlwind too, by the time November arrived Tyler and I had settled into a rhythm of living together. We learned each other's little quirks and annoyances, made a system out of his games and mine, and managed to not completely panic when the holiday season settled in and we realized we'd have to deal with both of our families together for the first time.

Thanksgiving was easy as only my half of our clan celebrated the American holiday and our traditions ran pretty deep. So just like the year before and the many years ahead of that the Reichman family plus Tyler spent Thanksgiving afternoon watching the Cowboy's game at AT&T Stadium then had dinner afterward. Friday afternoon after my mom and I had "Black Friday" shopped until we almost dropped my family switched gears and took in a hockey game at the AAC.

Everything was so simple for Thanksgiving and I wish I could say Christmas was the same, but that would be a total lie.

Christmas was a whole other ballgame, since it was my first Christmas living with a significant other I knew I wouldn’t be heading off with my parents to Corpus Christi. But, I had no idea the Reichman family would change their plans all-together to accommodate Tyler and I. Instead of meeting my family from Houston down at the beach the 4 other Reichman's decided to come up to Dallas, throw in all of Tyler's relatives including his grandma coming in from Toronto and it made for one anxiety ridden Adleigh. I was so flustered with having all of our relatives spread out between our house and my parent's I found myself laying on Hannah and Luke's couch one night chugging wine straight from the bottle.

At 24 I had finally realized why my mother hated the Holiday's.

To get everyone together at least once Tyler and I had a dinner party, we hired a chef and invited both families and all of our close friends, cranked up the Christmas carols and spiked the eggnog. Although our parent's had met before this was the first time our extended families had mingled and to say I was nervous was an understatement, but things went well and I found myself leaning against the kitchen island during the party amazed at how smooth it was going. Our lives jived, we weren't failing at this "relationship" thing at all, and moving in together had been nothing short of amazing. (Except for those times where I sent Tyler down the street to Jamie's when he did something stupid, but those times were few and far between.)

We kissed 2016 goodbye at the Stars' annual New Year's Eve party at the Victory Hotel downtown, celebrating the highs and lows of the year and welcoming in 2017 with open arms. The boys prayed for a long season ending with the Stanley Cup in their hands, Hannah hoped for a smooth sailing wedding, and I just wanted to make through the rest of the NFL and NHL seasons, as well as Hannah's wedding without losing my mind.

As much as I wanted to savor the new year, I couldn’t help but want the end of the month to arrive. January was a busy month for us, well actually it was just a busy week! As the 23rd and the 30th were two very important days to Tyler and I.

His birthday and our anniversary.

When the 23rd finally arrived I was so excited, Ty and I had made it through our first year together! It was full of firsts and although we had experienced a few differences and a couple fights here and there we were so in love and it was clear to everyone. I honestly have never been this happy in my life, so waking up on my first anniversary with the love of my life beside me? It was one hell of a feeling, but of course it fell on a Monday and also a game day.

However, unlike most game days where Tyler sleeps until 9 or 10 pushing the limits to get to morning skate on time he crawled out of bed with me bright and early spending time with me before I went off to work. As I curled my hair he brought me coffee setting the mug on the countertop before pressing a kiss to my cheek, "Thank you, baby."

Tyler grinned at me from his perch on the edge of the bathtub, "No problem, beautiful."

"So, I'll be headin' to the arena after I get off work. Do we have any plans I need to know about for after the game?"

A smirk crawled across Tyler's face and I knew he had something up his sleeve, "I was thinking dinner? You're off tomorrow right?"

I nodded turning off the curling Iron, "I am, so I should grab an outfit for dinner after the game?"

Tyler stood behind me brushing the hair off my neck pressing kisses to the newly exposed skin, "Wear whatever you want, Adi. You're going to look amazing in anything."

"Any reason you're trying to butter me up with compliments this morning?"
"Can't a guy compliment his girlfriend of a whole year?" I grinned down at the white tiles lining the bathroom floor, a whole year It was music to my own ears. "Not to mention, I just really love you."

"Think you love me enough to go start my car?" Tilting my head up I saw Tyler try and fight a laugh before nodding his head.

"Yes, dear."

Latching my hands around his neck I kissed him lightly careful not to transfer any lipstick onto his lips, "I love you, Tyler."

A few hours later my desk became a landing area for gifts, first it was the flowers this time the correct bouquet of white and red roses arrived with a card that only read "I love you. - TS". They made my office smell lovely and no matter what mood work put me in just looking at the overflowing vase made me smile. Then it was the food, around lunch enough Italian cuisine showed up to feed half of the office turning our lunch breaks into a feast. Not only was I enjoying this whole anniversary thing but so were my co-workers! Right before I was getting ready to head out for the day Delaney knocked on the glass door of my office, a large box in his hand.

"Delivery, again." He dropped the black box into one of the chairs opposite of me eyeing it as if he wanted to know what was inside.

Standing I walked around to see "Valentino" embossed on top of the box, "Oooh, fancy."

"Open it up damn it, not all of us get fancy gifts from our boyfriends!"

"Oh shut up, Adam got you a Rolex for Christmas!" Del rolled his eyes leaning against a cabinet watching me as I began lifting the lid to the mystery box.

A pristine piece of white cardstock sat on top of the tissue paper, "I'm so lucky you WALKED into my life. Happy anniversary, Adleigh. Love always, Tyler"

Valentino heels had always been my weakness, the Rockstud collection called my name every time I looked at the catalog and Tyler knew that. But he is no better, in fact he is a bit more a "brand whore" than I am, but it does tend to come in handy when he's shopping for gifts. The boy can do no wrong, I always end up loving whatever he gets me.

"Shoes." Delaney and I almost cooed in sync as I snatched the tissue paper with one hand revealing the pair of black leather Rockstud booties I had been eying for months and the matching handbag. My lips were parted as I held one of the shoes in my hand, they were beautiful.

And this gift sure as hell topped what I had gotten Tyler for both his birthday and our anniversary combined.

"Wow, Tyler knows how to shop." The brunette placed the shoe back into the box carefully, "I can't believe you two have been dating for a year, oh young love."

I rolled my eyes, Delaney was only 2 years older than me, "Sometimes I can't believe it either, it's crazy."

"It is crazy, you met him in a bar and you turned him down repeatedly but here you are all in love and living together."

Well when you put it like that it does seem absolutely insane. "Guess I like 'em a little crazy."

Del smiled wrinkling his nose up, "At least this one is crazy about you and not actually crazy, or just plain stupid."

"Amen to that," Looking over at the clock behind Delaney's head my eyes widened I really needed to get a move on or I would be late to the game. "Well, I really need to get out of here or that lovely boyfriend of mine will be upset I missed puck drop!"

"Can't have that, get outta here!" The blonde waved his hand towards the door as I gathered my purse and gifts into my arms. It was quite the task but I made it outside to my car without dropping the glass vase of flowers or the box holding over two grand worth of leather. With all of the goods settled into the passenger's seat I hit the road headed for home I needed to change into something for the game and plan an outfit for Tyler and I's dinner date after words.

Dark jeans, a white shirt, and a black leather jacket combined with my new booties made game night stylish and comfortable, but planning an outfit I could fit into my purse is always a struggle. After staring at my side of the closet wasting precious minutes I decided on a grey skirt that I could tuck my white t-shirt into that also went with my new shoes, once it was folded and tucked into the bottom of my bag I called for an Uber and fed the boys. Marshall sniffed around at my feet as Cash dove head first into his bowl of food, "Be good babies, Dad and I will be home later."

"And your first Star of the evening, the Sharp-Shooter, number 10, Pattttrickkkkk Sharrrrrppppp" a squeal escaped the small blonde girl who clapped and cheered in my lap as her dad took a lap around the ice, I couldn't help but giggle too as Madeline Sharp bounced around on my knees. Her mom smiled next to me holding her youngest daughter who was asleep tight against her chest, in the past year Abby Sharp had become one of my closest friends although we were in two different places in life she knew what it was like to be in my spot and she had helped me immensely as I adjusted to being a WAG.

"Are you ready to go see your Dad, Maddy?" I asked tickling the toddler's sides as the arena cleared of fans.

"Yes! He made lots of goals, are you excited to see Tyler? Mama said it's your -versary." The child's language made me giggle as I nodded my head.

"I am very excited to see him, we're going to dinner to celebrate."

"Dinner? It's bedtime Miss Adi."

"It's bedtime for you Madeline, big people get to stay up late." Abby told her daughter as we stood and gathered our things, the child took in the information while settling her baby doll also clad in a Dallas Stars jersey in the crook of her arm.

Maddy held my hand as we rode the elevator downstairs her blonde head leaning against my thigh, I too was tired but my evening was not even close to being over. When the doors opened a new wave of energy hit the tot as she set off to the family lounge to wait for her father, as Abby followed after her I headed for the bathroom to change my clothes into dinner attire. Not ten minutes later I returned to the room my jeans stuffed into my bag bare legs ready to hit the town to finally celebrate with my man as I plopped down into one of the sofas lining the room a few of the wives whistled my way.

"Look at you hot stuff, showing off them little legs!" Jennifer Spezza commented holding both of her children on her lap.

My cheeks felt a bit warm with all the attention but I knew it was all in good fun, without these girls spending almost every night at the hockey arena would suck. "Just working my anniversary presents. Tyler sure knows how to shop!"

"Trust me I've been eyeing your feet all night, maybe he can teach Jason a thing or two!" Jen laughed and I did too.

As small talk washed over the room and children settled down the high of the game my eyes flipped back and forth from my cell phone to the doorway. My focus was on an email from the travel agency that's planning Hannah's bachelorette get-away when Maddy Sharp's tiny voice filled the room. Her call for her father made me smile bringing my eyes up to the entrance of the room as Patrick picked up his little girl I saw my own favorite hockey player right behind him. Standing I smoothed my skirt shot a smile at Jen and made my way over to Tyler who was poking at Maddy making her giggle and wiggle in Pat's arms.

"There's my favorite girl," Tyler's words made me smile still bringing that warm and fuzzy feeling to my stomach even after a year.

"There's my favorite hockey player."

Before Tyler could respond more than just a smirk Patrick Sharp interjected, "That was incredibly cheesy, even for you two."

"Shut up, Sharpy." As if on cue Tyler and I both scolded the dark haired man, busting out in laughter after the words escaped our mouths in sync.

"Weirdos, Madeline they're weirdos." Patrick mumbled as he and his daughter left our side, when they were gone my arms wrapped around Tyler's neck bringing his head down to my level.

"Hi," I whispered his lips just an inch away from my own.

"Hi beautiful."

"What do you say we get outta here?"

Tyler closed the gap between our mouths answering my question without words, kissing me until my head spun from lack of oxygen. Out of embarrassment I hid my face in the crook of his neck catching my breath from the kiss that had all the eyes in the room on us. "We should go now."

"Good idea," I pushed my hair back and looked around the room catching winks from my friends.

Climbing into Tyler's car I had no idea where we were headed, it was nearing 10:30 and there were few places downtown that served dinner this late.

Well, unless you're Tyler Seguin.

Quickly the black SUV came to a stop just a few blocks away from the AAC at the Victory Hotel, one of the most beautiful hotels in the city and the place where the Stars' held most of their events throughout the year. As I tried to figure out just what we were doing at a hotel when I had been promised dinner a sharply dressed man opened the door for me, with skeptical eyes I stepped out the January chill hitting me as Tyler handed his keys to the Valet and a bag from the backseat to boy who I assumed to be the bellhop.

Without so much as a word Tyler laced his fingers with mine leading me towards the hotel's grand entrance, a man opened the door for us with a customary "Good evening, Mr. Seguin."

As my eyes adjusted to the chandelier and abundance of light filling the lobby I leaned into Tyler's side, "Ty, what are we doing here?"

"This is surprise number 3." Number 3? Just how many were there going to be today? Before I could ask anymore questions Tyler was walking and I was back to following, down the hallway he went to a room with a woman standing outside the door.

"Good evening, and happy anniversary. May I take your coats?" Shrugging out of our coats Tyler and I handed them to the woman who then opened the door to a ballroom filled only with one table and low lighting, the soft hum of a guitar played throughout the room.

Hand in hand Tyler took us to the single table in the middle of the room where two plates, two wine glasses, and one candle sat, "After you, ma'am."

Sitting across the table from Tyler my mind was racing, things were happening out of nowhere and confused was just an understatement! Were we having dinner here? We never ate at The Victory. Were we staying here? What about the dogs? I had promised them we'd be back later. I was lost in my own train of thought when Tyler's hand started waving in front of my face.

"What? Sorry," I blushed bringing myself out of the fog.

"I asked if you wanted red or white wine."

"Sorry, red is good." Tyler nodded pulling a bottle of red wine from the bucket of ice beside the table easily removed the cork and poured two glasses.

He picked up his own glass and raised it start a toast, picking mine up he began, "To us baby, I'd say this year hasn't been easy but for the most part it has been. You make my life so easy-going, and so much more beautiful Adleigh I cannot imagine it without you, and I don't ever want to. I love you, happy anniversary the first of many."

Clinking our two glasses together I blinked back the tears Tyler's words had brought out, "To us. I love you too, Ty. I can't wait to celebrate a hundred more of these."

"I could die a happy man if I got to spend a hundred more of these with you."

The cheese factor was high in that one but it still gave me butterflies to hear Tyler talk about our future, "Okay, Thomas Rhett. So what else is up your sleeve for this fine and strange evening?"

"Dinner, here obviously. Dessert also here, and then I thought maybe we'd use this?" From under his plate Tyler pulled a white card with a big black V printed on it, a keycard.

"So we're staying here tonight? What about the boys?"

Tyler let out a puff of air like a stifled laugh, "The boys are fine, Jamie is letting them out and putting them in the mud room for the night."

Our first course arrived causing a break in our conversation, as I stirred the soup in front of me letting it cool I jumped back in. "So just you and me? No barking, no sharing our bed with 2 fur children?"

Tyler smirked from across the table his spoon stopped moving as his tongue ran across his lips, "Correct, just you and me."

"Sounds like a good idea to me." Flipping a curl off my shoulder I went back to my soup trying to stay casual but inside I was already dying to get upstairs, in the midst of a long hockey season, the holidays and having two dogs who loved their dad more than anything getting alone time was pretty difficult lately.

Plates came in and out, talk of hockey, the end of football, our plans for the All-Star game in LA, and the ongoing planning of Hannah's wedding bounced around as glasses of wine turned to champagne and savory turned sweet. The last dish to dance out of the kitchen was what could have been death by chocolate, the words "happy anniversary" were scrawled on the plate in chocolate too and my sweet tooth screamed to eat the whole thing but my stomach was saying "STOP IM AT CAPACITY".

My sweet tooth won, and despite Tyler and I's relatively strict diets we polished off the whole thing. Once the table was clear of all signs of food Tyler's hands gathered mine his thumbs tracing patterns across my knuckles as the soothing music swirled around us. "So, surprise number 5?"

Tilting my head I gave him a questioning look, "Please tell me this is the last surprise?"

"I would, but that would be a lie and we don't lie to each other."

"You're lucky I love you, and your honesty, Seguin." Tyler shook his head and dug into his pocket for surprise number 5.

Watching Tyler dig into his pocket brought back the memories of our one month anniversary as he fished around for the box that eventually held my beloved Star necklace. Since then more boxes had appeared, the Texas earrings for my birthday, the "S" necklace from Christmas, and the Pandora bracelets now full of charms from different cities he played in.

The only little box missing was the one that could change my last name.

My mouth ran dry after that last thought and it was like time was moving in slow motion waiting for his hand to resurface from beneath the tablecloth. Were we even ready to get married? Just because Hannah was doing it didn’t mean we had to. Well not right now anyway. But maybe it wouldn't be so bad? We're 24, people get married way younger than that. My heart rate was picking up and I knew that if I thought about it any longer I was going to need a paper bag or a Xanax.

Tyler's fidgeting drew me out of the spiraling thoughts but only for a split second as I saw the ring sized box sitting in the palm of his hand. My eyes must have widened or maybe he just knows my anxious self well enough to grab my hand before I could start hyperventilating, "Hey, don't freak out okay? Just listen to me."

No words just a nod.

Tyler's fingers popped the top to the little navy box and to my surprise there wasn't an engagement ring inside, well at least not one from this century.

"This was my nana's ring, she stopped wearing it a long time ago and when I was 20 she told me to find the right girl to wear it for her. Someone who loved me the way my grandpa loved her, for a while I thought I'd never find her and the ring would just sit in my room up in Brampton forever. I'd never met someone who showed me the love and affection those two had for each other. That was until I met you. I met you and my world flipped upside down, Adleigh. I would have never believed someone 5 years ago if they'd told me I'd spend months trying to convince one girl to go out with me. But you changed all that, I had never wanted something or someone as bad as I wanted to be with you. You are the most hard headed, stubborn, and blunt, but somehow most caring and kind souled person I've ever met. And I love all of that, I love you more than I ever thought I could love someone. And my nana? She loves you too, from the moment she met you and my whole family they love you too. Hell, I think if I ever let you go they'd kick me out of the family. So I guess what I'm trying to say here is, I found the person my Nana said I would, and she's you."

Tyler stopped taking a breather from his speech to pick up the ring between his thumb and forefinger as I swallowed my throat dry as tears rolled down my face, "So, Adleigh Ruth Reichman, I would be honored if you'd wear this ring as a promise that I want to be with you forever. Through everything baby, I want to be with you and only you for the rest of my life and I'm not saying we should get married right now but I'm saying I want that one day I want you and me Adleigh Ruth, no one else will ever compare to the love that I have for you and that you have shown me in the past year. You, are the one for me."

Tyler held the vintage thin gold band with an oval shaped diamond up for me to look at and as he told me that I was it, and that he wanted me for the rest of his life my heart swelled and more tears began running down my cheeks like a water fall. As I sobbed staring at Tyler's hand my head began to nod up and down but that wasn't good enough of an answer for Tyler.

"Is that a yes?" He asked staring at me like his life depended on my answer.

"Uh huh, yes. Yes," I croaked out sniffling as I continued to nod, "Absolutely, I want you forever, Tyler. It would be my pleasure to wear Nana Kate's ring."

Through watery eyes I watched as Tyler crouched in front of me pushing the gold ring up my ring finger until the diamond stared back at me the light of the candle dancing off in different directions, it was absolutely beautiful and I was absolutely in shock. "I love you, Tyler Paul."

Leaning in Tyler's brown eyes came closer and closer to mine until they closed to soak in our kiss, as our lips moved I thought of that saying about brown eyes. You know the one? "Brown eyes are only brown eyes until you fall in love with someone with brown eyes." It was in that moment I knew it was true, for in Tyler's brown eyes I found so much more; I found love and lust, a safe place to land, my other half, and my future.

Something I had never found in the blue-grey eyes of Noah, and for that I was glad.

When Tyler pulled away from our kiss his thumbs wiped under my eyes ridding the stray tears from my face, then he offered me his hand pulling me from the chair before moving along with the music, a simple slow dance for two at near midnight on a Monday in January.

Even a year later we still hadn't gotten the whole conventionality thing down.

We danced for almost half an hour Tyler spinning me around and dipping me into kisses like we were ballroom dancers, we were so terrible at it but we were having a blast. It was practice for Hannah's wedding we dubbed it but eventually the yawns were becoming like screams for sleep every few minutes. At quarter past midnight we made our way upstairs as Tyler held me against his chest in the elevator I felt the rumble of his voice beneath my ear, "I know it's late but surprise number 6 is coming up."

"No more surprises." I mumbled too tired to express interest in anything that didn’t involve sleep or at least a comfy bed.

"Last one I promise," Tyler's lips pressed against my head as the elevator stopped on the floor reserved for suites only.

Like a zombie I watched as he slipped the keycard into the door a green light flashed before the door popped open, the lights were already on and a quick look around revealed that Tyler had been planning this for a long while. Red rose petals littered the floor leading to both the bed and the bathroom, two fluffy white robes laid across the large bed, and a bottle of champagne chilled in a bucket near the window overlooking downtown. It was a picture perfect scene and I only wished I was so exhausted so that I could enjoy it a little more.

"You're really good at this surprise thing," I commented stepping into the room taking in the scenery from the middle of the carpet.

Tyler smiled which produced a yawn his hand covering his gaping mouth, "Thank you, but I uh, I'm tired. And I know you're probably tired too…"

I nodded, pulling my legs up one at a time to remove my new shoes bringing me back down to my original height, "That I am, maybe we should just.."

"Sleep?" Tyler finished as he tugged at the tie still wrapped around his neck.

"Yeah, lets just sleep. Together, you and me, no dogs, no alarms, just us." Wrapping my arms around Tyler's waist I looked up at his now sleepy eyes awaiting a response.

"Have I ever told you how much I love you Adi Ruth?"

Pushing my left hand up his chest I smiled, "Yeah, and this is now a constant reminder. But the feeling is mutual, Ty, oh so mutual."

Not 20 minutes later the lights were off and the two of us were settled into the California King sized bed my head resting on my favorite spot on Tyler's chest left hand tracing patterns up and down his washboard of a stomach. For as tired as we were sleep was not washing over us, but for me I knew why. There was one burning question I just needed to know the answer to before I could catch some Z's.

How long had Tyler had the ring?

"Ty?" I practically whispered checking to see if he was even still awake.

"Hmm?" He responded and I knew he was just barely conscious.

"How long have you had the ring? I mean when did you bring it back to Dallas?" Was it way back in July when I met the rest of his family for the first time? Was it September when he returned from the World Cup? Or had his mom brought it down from Brampton over the holidays?

Tyler's lips pressed quickly against my hair before answering, "I had Cassidy get it from my old room when we played Toronto in November, when I got it back to Dallas I had it cleaned and the diamonds tightened. Jamie's had it hidden at his house since Thanksgiving."

"So you've been planning this for a while?"

"I thought about giving it to you on Christmas, but I didn’t want it to be like a surprise engagement thing. I felt like promising you forever was more of a private thing, so uh here we are?" His answer was beautiful, so thoughtful and planned out that I couldn’t help but smile to myself pressing a kiss to his bare skin beneath my lips.

"I'm glad you waited, thank you for today. For every little thing Tyler, it makes my gift look like nothing." Gifting Tyler was always difficult, he had everything and enough money to buy whatever he didn’t so I never knew what to get him. This time I had decided to have his 2016 Team Canada jersey and pucks framed and hung in the pool room, it was small but meaningful.

"You know I love everything you get me, baby. It's not a competition."

"Says the guy who would always win."

"I can't help it I know what you like, now get some sleep maybe we can enjoy the rest of this surprise in the morning."

"Only if you're lucky, Seguin." Tyler's laugh moved through my own body.

"Oh baby, I'm already the luckiest man in the world."

And maybe he was right, because I sure felt like the luckiest girl in the world knowing I would get to spend the rest of my life with Tyler Seguin.