Page 32

I paused, screaming at the lump in my throat to exit, as I took a breath.

“So wherever you came from, whatever stuff you’ve done, whatever choices you’ve made, are behind you.

Tonight, we start over. Embrace the people who are caring and loving you each day.

You have a great future ahead of you. I want you to give school everything you have as an education will get you where you want to go.

You work your tail off and know that hard work will get you everything.

Remember, champions don’t show up and get everything they want.

They show up and give everything they have. ”

My eyes found Fern as she gave me a nod.

I didn’t share a lot about my past except with the kids at my events.

The verbal abuse and neglect from my bio mom.

Her addiction that made her choose drugs over me every time.

I knew I was about as far from a perfect man as there was, but I also knew God put me in foster care so I could play a role in the lives of others.

I knew I had hockey talent because I was expected to use it for others.

I walked into the parking lot when my mom grabbed my hand.

“What a magnificent evening. That is a man who’s used his star to light up the sky for others.”

I giggled. “You’re such a poet.”

“Did you see the smiles in there?”

“I did. It was pretty great.” He was pretty great.

We walked as the winter wind whipped around us, instantly freezing me to my bones.

“Cosa sta succedendo tra te e quell ragazzo?” She nudged me with her elbow.

“What’s going on between us?” I wanted to scream that his arms around me felt like everything. “Nothing, really. I’m off to my next nursing tour, and he’ll be playing hockey.” I hoped with everything in me it wasn’t true.

“He’s smitten with you,” she sang.

My laughter cut through the brisk night air. “I can be pretty cool. But smitten, I don’t know.”

She squeezed my hand. “Oh, honey, it was written all over his face.” We reached the car. “Shoot, Fern, I left my gloves at our table. Would you be a dear, and go get them?”

Her raised brows told me it was anything but an accident. “Yes, I’ll be right back.” I focused on appearing to be laid back, walking at an average speed of an average human because if I was alone, I’d be hurdling cars to get to the only person I wanted to see.

She yelled. “I’ll pull up to the door.”

Once back to the banquet room there was only Gabe and a woman wearing a deep green wrap dress and high heel black boots. Her hair was wavy, blonde, and she was laughing like a freaking hyena as they boxed up Minnesota Wild banners.

Their backs were toward me, and as much as I hated it, jealousy floated to the surface as I watched her say something quietly to him.

“That’s probably a bad idea.” He laughed and continued to fold another banner.

I had no right to feel what was boiling up. He wasn’t mine. Well, maybe for a bit, but not forever. This was his life. He was a professional athlete with women around every corner.

Dave had told me some stories about the fans and the length they would go to get what they wanted. It was likely a dream come true for most single players. Who could want more than big-busted women throwing themselves at them?

Then the woman bent over practically putting her ass in Gabe’s face. I realized I was quickly running out of reasons to not stab somebody and needed to get out of there.

I then made the perfect exit, and he never knew I was there. But that’s not what happened. In typical Fern fashion, I turned too quickly and smashed my face in the door that was next to me.

“Shit!”

“Fern?”

I heard his voice, but the stars and little yellow birdies circling my head blocked my view. “I’m fine, really. Uh, my mom forgot her gloves.”

“Are you okay?” The hussy in the dress that barely contained her big old knockers wrinkled her nose at me. Witch.

“I’m good, really.”

“Fern, this is Selena. She helps the Wild with promotional events.”

I nodded, wishing I could disappear in a poof of smoke. “Nice to meet you.”

“Selena, thanks for everything, I’ll just haul the boxes back to the arena tomorrow.”

She put her hands on her waist as a smile as sweet as maple syrup on crack made its way across her lips. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. Thanks for all of your help tonight.”

“Anytime.”

She grabbed her purse from the table and shimmied her way out the door. Sayonara .

He took my hand and gently pushed my bottom into a chair. “It looks like Doctor Gabe is ready for service.”

My stomach plummeted to the floor when he dropped to his knees in front of me and touched my lips with his. After a long moment, he pulled away and pushed a piece of hair off my face. “No blood, just a bright red mark. Hopefully it doesn’t hurt too much.”

I shook my head.

His grin confirmed he knew he liquefied me. He scanned the empty room before his hands pushed my knees apart, and he moved closer as his fingers slid to the back of my neck and pulled me to him before kissing me so deeply I may have passed out for a second before he pulled away.

“Can I see you tomorrow?”

Could I live on a diet of gummy bears and Reese Peanut Butter cups forever and ever? Hard yes. “I’d like that.”

“I have film and practice so I’ll pick you up at five. Wear a sexy dress.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Don’t you be telling me what to do.”

“You like it when I tell you what to do.” He growled as a little chill walked up the back of my neck. “Please wear a sexy dress because my mouth waters at the thought. I’m taking you out for a fancy dinner.”

“I’ll be ready.” I knew my eyes told him for more than dinner as my uncontrollable cheeks grew hot.

I made my way to my mom’s car, and she gasped at the red mark on the side of my face.

“Fern, what in the hell happened to you? Why do you have a mark on your face?”

“I was being cool Fern and took out a door with my face.”

She grimaced. “Please tell me handsome Gabriel didn’t see?”

“Of course, he saw. You know I constantly make an ass of myself.” I buckled as she started to drive. “He doctored me up.”

“Oooh,” she giggled.

“Stop. Do you think anything would happen in a banquet room?”

“Well, you’re my daughter, and back in the day, I didn’t really worry about where things happened when I was hot and heavy with your pop, if you know what I’m saying.”

“I think you’re saying you were a little slutty?”

Laughter filled the front seat. “Not slutty. Just adventurous.”

“Please stop.” I plugged my ears as she punched me in the shoulder.

“Did I ever tell you that you were conceived in a cornfield after a night on the town? I’d told your father we’d been married five years and had lost our spontaneity. So he drove into a cornfield, and bam, nine months later, there you were.”

“My ears are melting. For the love of God, stop talking.”

“You’re fighting a smile.”

She poked my ribs, and I giggled like the Pillsbury Dough Boy.

“Spill it.”

“Gabe said he’s taking me to dinner tomorrow night and to wear something fancy.”

She clapped her hands as we slid into traffic. “This is so exciting!” A horn blew to our left as she screamed, “Scendi dalla strada, idiota!”

“Not if you kill us tonight. Keep your hands on the wheel, crazy lady.”

“Did you bring any fancy clothes home?”

“Nope. I shipped all my stuff from my last apartment to the one I’m heading to. I only have a few nice things to wear for Tawnee’s wedding weekend.”

“Well, it looks like we’re doing some shopping tomorrow,” she dramatically gasped. “We’ll make a day of it at the Mall of America! Doesn’t that sound fun?”

“As fun as a fork in my eye.”

Fifteen hours later, we were walking into Macy’s in the good old Mall of America as my mother greeted every person she passed with a chipper good morning .

We arrived at the sexy dress section, and she started piling every dress she saw into her arms.

“Mom, I’m not crazy about most of those.

” Yes, I was a buzz kill when it came to shopping.

Was that part of my decision to choose a career that allowed me to embrace scrubs?

Maybe deep down, but only because I loathed taking precious hours of my life to try on stuff with an 88. 86 percent chance of hating it.

“You can never determine how a dress will fit on the hanger. You must put it on and feel the dress. The right one will speak to you every time.”

I grabbed a blue dress and used a fairy tale whisper. “This one is telling me my boob will likely pop out at dinner.”

“Fern, everything I do is in your best interest. Maybe I?—”

“You know they make medication for the way you act.” I bit my lip to not let a singular giggle slip out.

“You just shut your mouth young lady. I know what I’m doing, and I will find the perfect dress for you. And I must see every last one you try on. Do you hear me?”

I raised a brow, knowing she remembered the moment.

Yup, when I was prom dress shopping with my typical shitty shopping attitude, I refused to let her into the dressing room.

She was yelling, and, as many normal mothers watched, she used a chair, climbed over the top of the dressing room door, and crashed onto the floor beside me.

Her overly enthusiastic attitude about everything was sometimes a lot to take.

Did she find me an amazing prom dress that made me feel perfect for the big dance?

Yes. Did I mention my need for a beautiful dress last night, knowing she would help me?

Yes. Did I have all the confidence in Minnesota that she’d pull the same thing off today? Yes, but I’d never let her know it.

“Don’t you give me that look, Fern Ethel Novotny. You gave me no choice but to throw my body over that fitting room wall. You needed me.”

“Fine. I’ll try on the dresses and let you see them. Happy?

She grabbed two more from the rack beside her. “Oh yeah. Mama’s happy.”