Page 45

Dozer

I leave through the player’s entrance for the last time this season, and even though we’re not at home, I immediately find Marissa waiting for me. She’s come to all of our playoff games, and having her with me has made the experience even better.

She makes a sympathetic face, holding her arms open for me. “I’m sorry you lost,” she murmurs when I wrap her in a hug. “You played good. The whole team did.”

“I know,” I say. “They just played better.”

With my arm around her waist, we head out of the arena, and I let out a big sigh. She glances at me. “How’re you doing?”

I shrug one shoulder. “I’m disappointed, obviously. It sucks to get knocked out in the semi-finals, but I’m looking forward to having a break.”

She bumps her hip against mine. “You sure you won’t get bored seeing me every day?”

Stopping, I turn to face her and kiss her thoroughly. “Not a chance. I’m excited about seeing you every day. To waking up next to you as often as you’ll let me.”

She grins, tracing a finger down my chest, her eyes following its path, making it seem like she’s feeling a little shy. “I’m looking forward to having you around more too. It’ll be hard in the fall when you start being away for a week at a time again, though.”

I gather her close, kissing her nose, and when she raises her face, kissing her lips again. “It won’t be any worse than it’s been this last season. If anything, it’ll be better, because there’ll be no weird, we like each other but we’re too afraid to say it, energy between us for the first few months.”

She grins. “That’s a good point.”

“We’ll have our vacation together next month, just the two of us, which I’m especially looking forward to. There’s no way I’ll get bored spending time with you, Marissa. I love you. And there’s no one else I’d rather be with.”

Her smile pulls wider. “I love you too, and I don’t want to be with anyone else either.”

She kisses me, then, and I wallow in this feeling. We haven’t been saying I love you for long, and hearing those words makes me feel amazing every time she says them. I’m not sure how I managed to convince such an amazing, accomplished, beautiful woman to give me a chance, but I’m determined to spend the rest of my life treating her like the princess she is.

When we separate, she smiles up at me, her face the picture of happiness, and that look is enough to wipe away the lingering disappointment of our recent loss. As much as I love hockey, and as much as I’d love to win the Stanley Cup, this right here is the thing I want forever.

Hand in hand, we walk into the future together.