Epilogue
“I CAN’T BELIEVE you’re not better at ice skating,” Hunter says as I waddle like a penguin toward him.
“Shut up. I told you I can’t skate.” A child skates past me in a blur, as if to punctuate how slowly I’m going.
He laughs. “We need to get you practicing every day. I can’t have my future wife be such a bad skater.”
The words “future wife” send a flutter through my belly.
“I’m not that bad!”
“You’re terrible.”
“Okay, Mr. Hockey Superstar.”
Grinning, he takes my hands in his and helps me stabilize myself. “Don’t worry, princess. I got you. I always got you.”
“I know.”
He pulls me closer and kisses me. His kisses are still the best thing I’ve ever experienced.
I don’t get them as often since he got signed by the Boston Bruins and is mostly in Boston now.
Boston’s not so far from Concord, though, so he comes to see me as much as he can, and I go see him when my schedule allows.
But it’s been hard. I miss him like crazy.
Luckily, there are no NHL games from December 24 to December 26, so Hunter came to spend his three-day break with his family and me.
My mom has been staying with us at the penthouse, and we’re having Christmas Eve dinner tonight at Hunter’s grandfather’s estate.
Celeste won’t be there, but I saw her a week ago, and we had an early holiday dinner together and exchanged gifts.
Her divorce from Hunter’s father was finalized a few months ago.
Hunter’s father pled guilty to the murder of his first wife.
He got life without the possibility of parole.
A weight seems to have lifted off of Hunter ever since.
And he didn’t have to testify at any trial, which was another huge relief.
But, of course, having his father actually admit to what he’d done was healing for my boyfriend.
Sometimes I stop what I’m doing and just marvel at how everything turned out.
It feels miraculous in many ways. A year ago, I wouldn’t have thought any of it would be possible, but it all worked out, just like Hunter promised. I feel blessed.
“You’re too tense,” Hunter says, guiding me along on the ice. “Loosen up a little. I won’t let you fall.”
I do as he says, relaxing my shoulders. Everyone else at the ice rink seems to be professionals, skating fast and carefree. I only see a couple of people struggling like I am. Okay, fine, I’ll try to skate more often.
“This is actually fun,” I admit.
“I know it is.”
“When do we have to be at your grandfather’s for dinner?”
“Around 7.”
“I made him some cuff links as a gift. Do you think he’ll like them?”
“He adores you. You could give him a leaf and he’d be obsessed with it.”
I laugh and stumble. Hunter steadies me. “You’re hilarious.”
“Princess, my Grandad will do anything for you. So will I. Every damn day, I thank the day we met.”
My heart flip-flops, remembering that day at the diner. “You rescued me.”
“Yeah. And then a few months later, you rescued me.” He stops skating, wrapping his arms around my waist. Skaters whizz past us, but we might as well be all alone. We share a soft kiss then pull back and stare at each other.
“I don’t think I told you how much I love you today,” Hunter says.
“You told me this morning.”
“Hmm. Once a day isn’t enough.”
I smile sweetly at him. “Maybe you should tell me every hour, on the hour.”
“That can be arranged.”
I place my palms flat on his chest. “I love you so much it literally hurts sometimes. And I miss you like crazy when you’re in Boston.”
His eyes soften. “I know, baby. I wish we could be together every minute. But you need to get your degree and graduate.”
I nod, knowing he’s right, that I need to finish my education. I need to have my own foundation, even though I’ll never have to worry about money with Hunter. He tucks my hair behind my ear and kisses me again.
“Outta my way!” a little kid shouts as he zooms past us. “You can’t just stand there kissing, that’s gross!”
Hunter and I crack up, and I nearly fall down, but he grabs me just in time. “I love you,” he says. “And it’s time we head home so I can fuck you properly before dinner.”
“No, babe, I am fucking you properly.”
“Mhmm, whatever you say, princess.”