Chapter 38
thirty-eight
MADDOX
It’s the day before New Year’s Eve, the second to last day of what has turned out to be a pretty good year. I got my dream job as Sheriff of Evergreen Lake. It meant returning to the small town I grew up in but it also led me back to her, Ruby “Reindeer” Olsen. Sure, when I got here she was engaged to another man but he fucked that up—thank you, Joel—and thanks to the magic of Christmas, I can finally call the woman of my dreams mine. Tomorrow night, we’re having our first official real date and I have something up my sleeve, but first, we are spending the afternoon ice-skating and drinking hot chocolate. This doesn’t count as our first date, it’s just an afternoon of fun that’s kinda like a date.
Hand in hand, Reindeer and I skate around and around the ice rink. Her blond hair flies behind her, even with her purple beanie pulled low on her head, she looks cute. She looks cute in everything she wears but that beanie of hers makes her extra cute because it makes her hazel eyes glow.
Dropping my hand, she skates ahead and I take a moment to just watch her. She’s so carefree right now. She’ s smiling brightly, I don’t think I have ever seen her so happy. Catching up to her, I take her hand in mine again and tug on her hand, causing us to stop in the middle of the rink. Pulling her to me, I slide my arm around her waist. “You know, I always wanted to bring you here.”
“We should make it a tradition. On the second last day of the year, we will go ice-skating and follow it up with hot chocolate before you take me home and?—”
Leaning into her, I whisper, “Fuck you in the ass.”
She slaps me on the chest and shakes her head. “Oh my God, you’re addicted.”
“Yep, have you seen your ass?” And for emphasis, I squeeze her ass.
“I was going to say, you can take me home and cook me chicken Alfredo”—she leans into me and huskily murmurs in my ear—“and then fuck me in the ass.”
“I knew I loved you for a reason.” There are so many reasons why I love this woman, and I will remind her each and every time that I do. I’ve never felt so deeply about someone before, and I think that’s because she’s always been the one for me.
“It better be for more than just f-u-c-k-i-n-g my a-s-s.” She spells the naughty words because a few little kids are in earshot right now.
“You know it is but that’s in the top five of my fave things about Ruby Olsen.”
“And what might be on this top five list of yours?”
“You really want to know?” She nods. “Okay, well, number one, your heart. It’s bigger than my coc—ego.” She chuckles and the sound is music to my ears. “You'd do anything for those around you, even if it put you at a disadvantage. Two, you’re adventurous and open to new and crazy adventures.”
“Like skinny-dipping in December with your sister,” she reminds me, and it’s my turn to laugh .
“Yes, things like that. Three, you took a gamble and opened a bookstore with a wine bar in a small town.”
“I did do that and it’s the best decision I ever made. I know it’s not using my English Lit degree to its fullest potential, but I love what I do.”
“I know you do and it shows because Read Between the Wines is thriving.”
“What’s number four?”
“Your a-s-s, which I don’t need to elaborate on but just to be safe, I better have a squeeze and yes, it’s still fine and I can’t wait to get up close and personal with it later tonight.”
“Fiend,” she teases.
“Yet you still love me.
“That I do, Maddox. That I do.”
“And that brings me to five, you love me unconditionally and just as much as I love you. I never thought I’d get a second chance with you, but Fate had other plans for us. Now that I have my shot, I’m not taking it or you for granted. You’re it for me, Ruby Olsen.” I might be coming on a little strong right now but I want nothing but honesty between us. She and Joel weren’t honest with one another and they nearly got married. When I marry Ruby, and I will, I want there to be no doubt from either one of us when we say our “I dos” to one another.
She just stands there, staring at me. Her eyes are primed with tears and one falls over the edge, reaching out, I wipe it away. “Mad, you and I have the same top five but in place of my career in number three, yours would be for following your heart to the academy and achieving your dream of becoming sheriff.”
She lifts her hands, cups my cheeks in her palms, and presses her lips to mine. “I’m so happy you came back to town.”
“Me too, Reindeer, me too … now let’s go home and I’ll?—”
“Fuck me in the ass?” A mother skating by gasps in shock, causing Reindeer’s eyes to widen and for me to chuckle. She slaps me in the chest, and it causes me to laugh harder.
“I can do that but I was going to say, I need to feed you … because you’ll need sustenance for what I have planned tonight.”