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Something was going on. Kip was sure of it.
Scott was being more secretive than usual, for one thing. It wasn't just his boyfriend, though. Every single Admiral he talked to looked like they were a deer caught in headlights every time he started even the simplest of conversations with them.
Scott was planning something, it was obvious. And honestly, Kip was nervous. The last time Scott had been like this, he had surprised Kip with money to pay off his entire college tuition. He had gotten better over the years, of course, much to Kip’s relief, but there was always the possibility that he would go back to his old habits. The last thing Kip needed was another instance of Scott trying to pay for things he should let Kip handle on his own.
Then one morning, Kip woke up to the smell of scrambled eggs and pancakes., and got up quickly to investigate.
“What are you up to?” he asked, wrapping his arms around his partner.
Scott shrugged, his focus still intent on the task in front of him. “Making pancakes. Would you like some blueberries in yours?”
“Of course,” Kip readily replied. How Scott even needed to ask, he had no idea. Blueberries, after all, had been a staple of their diets, and of their relationship, of course, since the very beginning.
Soon, pancakes were on plates and they were sitting down, Kip marveling at the smell wafting from the food in front of him. Scott had always been a passable cook, of course, but owning the Kingfisher with his teammate had really opened his eyes to a whole new world. He used more spices and flavor combinations than ever before, and Kip was proud of him for it. Their kitchen was nothing like Kyle's, of course, but Kip loved it nonetheless.
“So did you have any plans for this day off?” Kip asked with a smile. Scott was the one in charge of the Kingfisher’s staff schedule, and Kip had immediately been excited when he saw that they both had off that weekend, and Monday as well. Scott frequently coordinated their time off so that it was simultaneous, of course, but occasionally, he had extra paperwork to do, so Kip was home alone. He usually took advantage of that time, of course, and would do housework. Not that they didn't enjoy doing that together, of course, but Kip personally enjoyed having as much time available for other activities as possible.
“I thought we might check out that museum exhibit you’ve been wanting to see,” Scott suggested. “If that sounds like a good idea to you?”
Kip looped his arms around his neck and kissed him. “Good? That sounds perfect.”
The second they set foot in the exhibit, Kip didn’t know where to look first. There were artifacts older than he could even fathom, and texts that Kip devoured eagerly, wanting to know what secret wisdom the ancients had to share.
The best part of all, though, was that he got to share all of this with Scott. He still had memories from the early days of their relationship when they didn't get to do anything together because Scott was so afraid. Those stayed fresh in his mind despite all of the memories that contradicted them now. So while Kip walked around, taking in each new fact he learned with Scott by his side, he marveled at not only the priceless artifacts they were seeing, but also the simple miracle of getting to share this experience with the man he loved.
They were finished looking through all the museum had to offer by the time they were both ready for lunch. Hand in hand, they walked the few blocks that separated the museum from the Kingfisher.
Kip started serving himself, but he stopped when he felt Scott's hands at his waist and on top of his hand. “Let me.”
Kip hopped up on one of the bar stools. Kyle, it seemed, was nowhere to be found. He was likely restocking their supplies, Kip was sure, and he had no complaints about it, not when he got to watch Scott as he moved, his hips swaying to the beat of the music playing, even though Kip was pretty sure he was unaware of it. Seeing Scott like this, so relaxed and carefree, was one of Kip’s favorite things.
Once a drink was in front of him, Kip found that Scott was next to him again, their fingers automatically interlaced under the table.
“Did you have a good day?” Scott asked, his body so close that his lips brushed Kip’s ear.
Kip hummed his assent. Every day with Scott was worth remembering, of course, but for whatever reason, Scott had decided that today was going to be a day filled with Kip’s favorite things, and he wasn't complaining about it in the slightest.
Wait. It had been a day filled with Kip’s favorite things. There was a possibility, one that Kip almost didn't even dare to think, let alone voice. After all, if he was wrong, he would just be disappointed.
It was still there, though, that shining beacon of hope, and it persisted, no matter how much Kip tried to squash it. Especially when Kyle emerged from the office and handed Scott an envelope without saying a word to the bar’s owner. It was all very suspicious, but Kip didn't say a word about it. After all, he didn't want his hopes to be crushed if he was wrong. The envelope was bulging, but what was inside could be one of any number of things. The last thing Kip needed to do was jump to conclusions. In Kip’s experience, that never led to anything good.
At the same time, though, Kip couldn't stop thinking about the envelope no matter how hard he tried. It occupied his thoughts as they walked hand in hand through the city, their free hands pointing out interesting things they saw, nothing escaping their notice, no matter if if was a restaurant they wanted to try or a new building being developed. And as they approached their apartment, Kip found himself wondering how the day could get any better.
That was, of course, before he saw what Scott had arranged to be brought into the apartment in their absence.
There was a table and chairs set up, a laptop beside Scott's usual chair.
“What's all this?” Kip asked.
Scott shrugged. “As a history buff, I know you've said there are people you would've loved to meet. Well, this is your chance. I have biographies of some of the people I know you would invite to a dinner party pulled up on my laptop. We can search for the answers to your questions. And before you ask, yes, you can go back and read these later. I've downloaded them all to your Kindle so you can listen to them all in their entirety later.”
Kip was overwhelmed. His friends, sister and parents knew him well, of course, but no one else had ever done anything like this before. That Scott had gone through all this effort meant more to Kip than he could possibly say. “Let’s see who we’re having dinner with.”
They spent the next two hours talking, laughing, and interviewing their “guests..” Kip learned more than he ever thought he would about so many people he had admired for years. He had thought he had done plenty of research on them before, but to have unlimited access to heroes like Edward II, Oscar Wild was better than he could possibly have dreamed it would be. Scott had even thrown in Captain America, which had made Kip laugh.
“Did Wyatt put you up to this?” he asked. They had become friends with the Centaurs’ goalie over the years when Ottawa had come to play against the Admirals. Unlike other teams, every single one of the Centaurs frequented the Kingfisher when their captain suggested it.
Scott nodded. “Once it was on the table, I couldn’t resist,” he admitted with a smile.
Part of the appeal of this dinner, Kip knew, was his other dinner companion, the man who had orchestrated all of this to begin with. Kip had seen Scott be selfless like this more times than he could count, of course- after all, he was always willing to lend Kip a helping hand financially when Kip would let him- but there was something about this, what he had planned for them tonight, and this entire day, that was different- above average, even for him.
Kip had almost forgotten about the package that had been passed to Scott earlier that day, but then all of a sudden, there was a small black box in Scott’s hands, and Kip’s heart was beating faster and faster.
“Every moment with you… Well, honestly, I never thought I could be so happy,” Scott admitted. “In fact, for the longest time, I thought hockey would be the only way I’d ever have something meaningful in my life. But with you, Christopher Andrew Grady, every moment is an adventure, and happier than the last. Having someone in my reserved seats as I play a home game, and in my corner whenever something goes awry, whether that’s on the ice or at the bar we both love, is more than I could have ever hoped for, the greatest joy of my life.”
He knelt and opened the box, a beautiful golden ring inside. Kip couldn’t see it in detail, though, the tears that had suddenly sprung to his eyes obscuring his vision. “Kip, will you make me the happiest man in the NHL- no, the happiest man in the world- and do me the honor of marrying me?”
“Yes, of course,” Kip replied, his voice a whisper to avoid the embarrassment of becoming a blubbering mess.
He pulled Scott up, their eyes locked as they leaned in. They had kissed more times than Kip could count over the years, of course, but this kiss was different. After all, this one sealed the promise of a future, the life Kip knew they had both dreamed of for a long time.
That life was now going to be theirs, and Kip couldn’t wait to see where it led them.