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Chase grinned at us, then poured us another glass of champagne. “If she’s our good-luck charm, I hope you guys come out with us again soon. This is the best day I’ve had in a long time.”
“Me too,” Jenny and I said simultaneously.
Once we returnedto the harbor, I called my driver and instructed him to pick us up at the Haven. “We’re not going home?” Jenny asked. Her hair was windswept, and her cheeks were pink from the champagne and all the sun.
“Not yet.” I grinned at her. “We have one more item on our agenda.”
When we pulledup outside the sports complex, her jaw dropped. “No way,” she said excitedly. “We’re at theThunder’srink?”
“Yep,” I said proudly as I helped her down from the Escalade. “I wanted you to see the team. Also, we’re meeting someone.”
She blinked at me. “Who’re we meeting?”
“Me!” came a screech from nearby in the parking lot. “I told him he couldn’t keep you hostage this time.”
Shirley hustled to us from her car. She sprung herself at Jenny and wrapped her in a tight hug. “I needed to put eyes on you.” Shirley pulled back, tears shining in her eyes. “Now pinch me,” she instructed. “I need to make sure this is real.”
Jenny laughed and pinched her.
“Ow!” Shirley said, laughing. “You convinced me.”
“It’s the least I can do.” Jenny linked arms with her, and they followed me into the rink. “You look good, Shirl. Nice and tan. Cruising agrees with you.”
Shirley nodded vigorously. “It was the best trip of my life. And thank you so much for the flowers. You didn’t need to do that.”
“Yeah, I did.” Jenny shrugged. You’re always doing nice things for me, and I’m sorry if I made you upset.”
Shirley put a finger to her lips. “Not another word. Everyone has problems—that’s part of being human. I’m just so proud of you two for working through them. That’s the secret sauce to any lasting relationship.”
“Thanks, Shirley.” Jenny sounded like she was getting choked up.
“My pleasure. Now, enough about all that. We’ve gotThundergear for you. I’m going to go get it.” She hugged Jenny and hustled off, eager to spoil Jenny with hoodies, T-shirts, and water bottles emblazoned with my team’s logo.
“I think Shirley has a girl crush on you,” I said. “Did you notice she didn’t even say ‘hi’ to me?”
“You know you’re her favorite.” Jenny winked at me. “Shirley seems real maternal if you ask me. She’s just trying to make me feel comfortable.”
I threw my arm around her. “Are you comfortable?”
“Yeah, except it’s freezing in here. Brr.” She snuggled up next to me. “It being an ice rink and all.”
Just then, Shirley returned with an enormous selection of Thunder gear. I selected an oversized, cozy fleece hoodie for Jenny, which she pulled on with a big grin. “This is awesome, Cole. I feel like I’m part of the team!”
“That’s perfect because I want to introduce you to them.”
Shirley fussed over us and insisted on packaging all the gear while I brought Jenny down to the ice. The rink was a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility that helped me attract top talent. Players from all over the continent wanted to come and play for the Thunder because we had the best rink, gym, and accommodations. I intended to keep it that way. Since I’d hired a new coach, the players seemed happier. Happier players won games, and winning games mademehappy.
The players lined up on the ice. I’d called the coach earlier and told them to expect us. I led Jenny carefully down the steps to the rink, grinning. “Good afternoon, gentlemen. Sorry to interrupt practice, but I wanted you to meet my girlfriend, Jenny. Guys, this is Jenny. Jenny, this is the guys.”
The players all smiled as they skated up to Jenny, shaking her hand, ribbing her about dating me, and complimenting her sweatshirt. She grinned back, talking about the previous night’s game, charming them by remembering some of their plays, and agreeing that dating me was a questionable choice. But she squeezed my hand when she said it, and I knew she was teasing.
We watched them practice for a while. Shirley fetched us burgers and fries from the team’s private chef. Jenny deemed dinner “to die for,” and I felt as though I died alittle inside from happiness as we sat, eating our burgers, watching my hockey team run drills, Jenny at my side in her fleeceThundersweatshirt, Shirley fussing over both of us before heading out.
I squeezed Jenny’s thigh as we watched practice. And then I said, “I never would have done those terrible things I threatened you with. I want you to know that, Jenny. I’m not that guy. I was just so upset.”
She turned to me and gave me what looked like a sad smile. “I know that. You’renotthat guy, Cole. You’d never do anything to hurt Audrey or James like that, or even Elena. I knew you were just mad. And people lash out when they’re mad.”
I nodded. I was ashamed that I’d threatened to expose Audrey and Elena. At the time, I was ready to go nuclear to get Jenny back. But now that we’d reunited, everything seemed better. The anger that had me in its grip had dissipated, and I felt calm. Peaceful. “I’m still sorry I said those things.”