Page 46 of Any Second Now (Fort Collins Blizzard Hockey #2)

ATTICUS

S o much has happened over the past year, but all I’m focusing on is Raleigh Hayes.

“I can’t believe how dark it is out here,” Raleigh whispers, as if she will disturb the carpet of stars above us with a voice too loud.

I reach my hand over and grab hers.

We’re lying on our backs in Arches National Park in Utah on a soft fleece blanket, staring up at the gorgeous carpet of stars above us. There’s a remarkable quiet stillness in the national park at night. Sure, there are other people around stargazing, but we can’t see or hear them.

I managed to snag a campground reservation at the Devil’s Garden. It’s the only campsite in the entire park and a tough slot to get. Six months ago, I had to wait at my freaking computer for the clock to turn midnight Utah time for reservations to open for this night.

The look on Raleigh’s face when she woke up that morning was worth it .

We’ve been sleeping in the Pink Palace for the past three weeks as we’ve traveled around some of the western states.

Well, it’s more like the Pink and Purple Palace these days as we had that same artist who painted the chicken and mountain mural come back and paint a hockey inspired mural on the other side, including lots of Blizzard purple and yellow coloring.

Also, I had the Pink Palace basically gutted. If we were really going to drive around for a month—and we’ve spent time in Yosemite, Yellowstone, some gorgeous drives in California, and now we’re working our way up through Utah—we needed some upgrades. Like, a lot of upgrades.

I’d have preferred to buy a bigger RV, but Raleigh insisted on keeping it.

Now there’s real wood floors, a mini sectional sofa, a table that secures against the wall when we’re not using it, incredible lighting, and the tiniest luxury kitchen we could fit in.

Also, the bedroom is basically all bed, but it’s raised a few steps so we could have custom storage built underneath.

The bathroom is still my least favorite part as I can barely fit my body inside of it, but I’m surviving.

The RV is now basically a luxury studio apartment.

The view of the sky through the high stone arch—reddish orange in the day but a black outline at night—is incredibly striking. There’s a poetic clarity to the pitch-dark skies and the bright stars and planets shining on the black surface of the solar system.

“This is what happens when there’s zero light pollution.” I squeeze Raleigh’s hand. This is an astounding place to be, on so many levels.

“I remember reading that this spot is certified as one of the darkest skies in the world,” she whispers.

“Pretty amazing.” There are so few people around us right now. The parks are busiest in spring and fall. It’s so damn hot in Utah in July and August that tourists tend to stay away. Today was no exception .

“I think this is my favorite place to see stars. And we’ve seen some incredible ones.” Raleigh lets out a happy sigh.

“We really have.” While in the national parks, we’ve been making it a point to find the best spots for stargazing.

It’s been beautiful, that’s for sure, but doing this with Raleigh is everything. She’s everything I never knew I needed in my life.

All those years I insisted I’d never get serious with someone. But it turns out, I had already met the one for me. No one else had a chance.

And Raleigh? She had to go through a few husbands to get to me. But she’s here now. And I try to convince her all the time to make me husband number three, but so far she’s resisted the idea.

Maybe one day. I can be patient. I can wait forever.

“And we can see more planets here.” I pull out my phone and click open the stargazing app we’ve been using. I point it through the majestic stone arches and let the app match the constellations with what we’re currently witnessing in the vast night sky.

“Let me see.” Still holding my hand, Raleigh scoots closer and peers up at my phone. “Wow.”

“Milk Way.” I point. “And that’s Mars, Jupiter, Saturn… and there’s Venus.”

The night has offered us a relief from the high daytime temperatures. We’ve been doing hikes early in the morning before it hits mid-nineties in the afternoon.

I’ve also managed to continue to ease Raleigh out of her fear of water by bringing along the kayaks and taking easy paddles on calm, beautiful lakes.

She hardly ever flips the kayak these days.

And I hardly ever flip her on purpose.

Just occasionally.

“I don’t want this trip to end,” Raleigh whispers.

I lower my phone and turn my head to her, bringing our lips together. She rolls to her side and slides a hand onto my chest. I sigh with happiness .

This truly has been the best year of my life.

When I wasn’t traveling with the Blizzard, Raleigh was my priority. My teammates endlessly make fun of me for making such an about face on love, but nothing they say could change how I feel and act about this woman.

Having her with me has made everything in my life better, even hockey. I have more to play for. More to motivate me. Much more to come home to.

I deepen the kiss, and Raleigh moans softly into my mouth, pressing her body against the side of mine.

“I love you,” I say when she pulls away to take a breath.

“You’re okay, I guess.” She’s aiming for nonchalance, but she gives herself away with her heated gaze and the way her breathing is heavier after kissing me.

In a swift motion, I flip her onto her back and lower myself between her legs. She’s got a soft smile for me.

“Fine. I love you too.” Raleigh wiggles beneath me, sending heat rushing through my body.

“That’s better. Now let’s go home and you can show me just how much.”

And with that, I swoop up Raleigh and the blanket and carry her back to the Pink Palace.

The End