Hadley stands behind me and wraps her arms around my waist. She doesn’t say anything and I’m grateful. I feel her lips press against my spine before she steps away. “Are you ready for tomorrow’s game? Still feeling good about making the playoffs?”
“Yeah, feel really good. As long as we play hard, we should make it.” I don’t want to talk about work or our engagement, so I ask, “Where do we want to go this summer?”
As I finish cooking dinner, I listen as Hadley rattles on and on about possible destinations. Ten years with her means we’ve visited nearly every place under the sun. We both love traveling and we try to go as often as we can. When we sit down at the table, Hadley keeps glancing at me.
“What is it, baby?”
“You’ve kept a beard for like ten years. I don’t even know what you would look like without one now.”
“The same with less hair on my face.” She laughs and I smile. I grew one after the night she came up to me at a frat party. She said I would look better with one, so I stopped shaving for a while. Hadley gave me her promised kiss, too. Ever since, I’ve kept it, keeping it trimmed and under control. She loves it and I’ve gotten used to it. I absentmindedly scratch my cheek. “Do you want me to shave?”
“Hmm.” Whether she’s pretending to mull it over or is actually thinking, I’m not sure. “No. I don’t want my future husband to lose his appeal.”
Her words make me chuckle. There’s not much in this world that could tear us apart, certainly not a beard. We’ve been together long enough, know each other well enough, and love each other enough to work through any issues that have come our way over the years. She’s my other half. I’m happy that she’ll be my wife one day, too.
Chapter Three
Hadley
I’m chomping on a bag of chips in front of me, reading the sports section on my iPad, while Luca is up in the weight room running before he heads off to the arena. There are three games left in the season and the Bucks have to at least score two points with each game to land in the playoffs.
Luca is feeling the pressure.
“Hey, baby, are you ready?”
I look up and see him in a gray suit ready to head to the game. “I thought you were running.”
“I’m done. You riding with me?”
“Yep.” I hop off the stool and grab my wristlet. Luca is a man of few words when it’s game day. I’m used to his directness. I’m sure some think he’s being rude, but that’s not it at all. He’s being a captain.
Before I reach the door, Luca grabs my arm and pulls me back to him. I don’t even register what’s happening until he sticks his tongue in my mouth. I fist my hands through his hair and hang on for the ride.
God, he can kiss. Ever since our first kiss, I was a goner. I knew that I didn’t want anyone else to ever kiss me. Only my Luca.
“Have I told you how much I love you in my jersey?”
“All the time, and since I’m your good luck charm, it helps.” I brush my lips against his, letting his mustache tickle me. I always wear my number seventeen Nebraska jersey with the words “my girl” on the back. I feel such pride with it on because I’ll always be his.
“Come on, baby, let’s go.”
And just like that, we’re off to the arena.
~ ~ ~
I’m biting my nails. I never bite my nails. This can be the greatest night in the history of hockey if Luca and the guys can hang on. There are four minutes left in the third period. The score is five to one. Darryl had a hat trick and Luca got the other two points. They have to have two points for the playoffs. It would give them a cushion for the other two games. They could wrap this up with ease.
My leg is bouncing and I’m texting Amy to make sure she’s getting the highlights together to run immediately after the game. I’m staring at Luca. His face is stone as he skates forward to take the face-off.
God, I love that face.
I watch intently as each second ticks away. I pray to the Hockey Gods that they get this point. They need this point so badly.
Sadly, it doesn’t come. But, Luca and the guys can ease into the playoffs with the last two games.
I wait out by the car with a couple of the other hockey girlfriends and wives. They ooh and ah over my ring. I admit that Luca did well. Of course, everyone is wondering when we will start having kids. I shake my head and say ‘never’.
It’s a conversation that sticks in my head vividly. Luca had been drafted to the Mustangs and that night we had a long discussion about us.