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maggie

N ever in my wildest dreams did I think the crabbiest goalie in the NHL would be scared, his voice breaking into a high-pitched scream, as I raced down the muddy roads.

The rush of adrenaline wasn’t one I was expecting, but it buzzed through me, making me drive a little faster and cut the turns a little sharper.

He’s always so damn serious. Sure, I’ve seen him come undone in the bedroom, but watching him come apart in the passenger seat, cursing between his screams, was exhilarating.

My cheeks are actually sore from smiling.

Finding ways to get this broody goalie to let loose is my new pet project.

After pulling me in for a kiss, one I think he may have needed to regain his sanity, we walk hand-in-hand, catching up to the rest of our group in the water cave.

It’s hotter than balls outside, but as soon as we step inside, the cool air instantly soothes the heat.

Another reminder of the hot and cold that’s been the Grand Canyon-sized divide between us these past several months.

My stomach flips wondering if we’ve finally found enough band-aids and common ground to fill that damn crater. Because today has been… perfect.

“God, I could live in here.” Vladi’s moan echoes throughout the cavernous space as he steps into the sparkling blue water, a full body shudder making the muscles in his back flex before he turns back to help me in behind him.

“That’s because it’s freezing. I’m curious what your body temperature is because I’m beginning to think you are actually made of ice.”

“I do wonder sometimes if that’s true,” he huffs with a laugh. “Come, I’ll keep you warm.”

He pulls me to a somewhat secluded spot, sitting on a partially submerged rock and relaxing into the comfort of the water.

I don’t waste the opportunity to climb onto his lap, straddling him and looping my arms around his neck.

By the hardness I’m feeling, he’s not that upset about my driving.

Shockingly, my mind is not on being physical with him. Today is just about… us .

I smile at him through my lashes. “Today’s been fun, Wolfie.”

He nods his head, pursing his lips before he speaks, “It has been fun. A near-death experience, but yes. Perhaps fun is the best way to describe it.”

I roll my eyes, unable to help the smile and warmth filling my chest at his admission. “ Perhaps? I think we need to work on your words.”

He furrows his brows, pouting his lips with playful irritation. “What’s wrong with my words?”

“You’re so…stiff. So formal. We need to loosen you up a bit.”

“Stiff is an accurate word for my current situation,” he says, pulling me down with a bit of force onto his lap.

“You know what I meant.” I playfully smack his chest. Though, I’m certainly not mad feeling how he responds to me. “I just meant…I li ke seeing this side of you. Out here in the real world. You’re kinda…fun.”

“ Kinda fun? You use the word kinda too often. You do know it’s ‘kind of’, right? I think we need to work on your words, lisichka .”

“Sorry for being trendy, Wolfie. You’re always so serious with your words ,” I grumble in my best, but horribly imitated, Russian accent as he rolls his eyes.

“You’re usually so closed off. But today’s been New Vladi Day.

Maybe we should make this a national holiday?

” I jump, rubbing against Vladi’s length.

“Ohhh! We could have a party and celebrate this every year like St. Patty’s Day.

Oh my God, St. Vladi’s Day! I bet the Riders PR department would have a field day with that. ”

His eyes widen, his grip on me tightening with panic. “Do not make that a thing. I swear, if you tell Bougie…”

I burst into a fit of laughter knowing the shitstorm Bougie would cause planning a parade for Vladi.

“Just this once, I’ll keep it from Bougie.

But, trust me, Milwaukee would flood the streets for that.

You know you’re kind of a big deal, right?

You hold a shit ton of records. You sell more jerseys and tickets than anyone else on the team.

Do you ever stop and celebrate everything you’ve accomplished?

You won a fucking Stanley Cup before you came to Milwaukee!

” I tilt my head. “What did you do on your day with it? You got a day, right?”

He shrugs his shoulders. “I did. I relaxed at home with The Cup sitting on my coffee table while I read a book.”

My heart sinks, wondering why this man wouldn’t do something amazing with his day.

Then again, at his core, that’s who he is.

But I see little flecks of fun peeking out from behind his dark exterior and I know, deep down, he’s so much more than what he lets on.

“ That is what you did with The Cup? You didn’t drink vodka from it or eat cereal out of it? ”

He cracks his neck, another one of his nervous tics I’ve noticed. “ No. Nothing like that. My dad was still alive, so he was able to see it, which I was thankful for. I had a chef prepare us a nice dinner. But that was it.”

I blink, not at all surprised, but still a little sad that was all Vladi did. “Well, if, no… when the Riders win the Stanley Cup, you have to do something more fun than reading. I mean, reading’s great, but you have to do something crazy with it! God, I have so many ideas.”

A wide grin cracks across his face as he pulls me in tighter, his lips just a breath away from mine. “You’ll have to help me plan the day then, when we bring The Cup to Milwaukee.”

I swallow hard as my pulse races. Biting the inside of my cheek, I realize he just implied a future.

For the first time, I’m starting to feel like maybe that could happen.

I lean into his chest, hiding the smile creeping across my cheeks.

For once, Melissa Joan Heart is not going bonkers in my chest, she’s just…

calm. Every day this week, she’s been beating faster and faster with hope.

Hope at the way this man irritates me, the way he turns me on, how he takes care of me, and now…

talking about something in the future involving us .

I love seeing this side of him. I want more of this, more of him, and I finally feel like it’s time to give Melissa a little credit and let her take over.

Melissa, you were right. Let him in. Just don’t fuck this shit up.