Chapter Twenty-Nine
Ruby
The past two days have flown by in a blur of activity.
Between work, helping Mom and Beck at home, and attending Dash’s games, I’ve been going nonstop.
I love it, but now I’m realizing why having a boyfriend has ranked so low on my list of things to do.
Because carving out extra time to spend with Dash isn’t easy.
At least his games happen after the salon closes for the day.
But I’m texting him at work. Video chatting in the evenings. Thinking of him when we’re not together. Even now, while I’m walking into the rink with Beck talking my ear off about all the hockey stats he’s learning, my mind keeps drifting back to Dash.
It feels like we’ve been dating for months, but it’s only been a week. As busy as I’ve been, I’ve loved every single second spent with Dash. My only regret is not telling him how I felt when he admitted to wanting to keep me.
I wanted to. I still do.
But it seemed as if he only said that as a knee jerk reaction after our heated make out. It’s not like he meant that he’d actually move across the country. His whole life is in Utah. And even if it wasn’t, his family is in Ohio.
Sure, we’ve shared some very special moments. A connection that has been unmatched by anyone else in my entire life. But even with that, I’m mature enough to recognize the result of a dopamine high. It wasn’t a confession; it was simply endorphins.
And we’ve been able to have fun together since then. My lack of response didn’t seem to make him like me any less. Which only proves my point: he didn’t really mean it; this relationship is about us having fun.
All’s good in hockeyboyfriendland.
Beck and I enter the friends-and-family suite, where his mom and sisters wait for us. As soon as Danae spots us, she waves us over. “Hey, guys!”
We make it to the group, and Donna wastes no time greeting Beck with a hug. “How’s Mr. Beckett this evening?”
Beck steps back, excitement rolling off him. “I’m ready to see these guys finally defeat the East!”
Everyone shares a laugh.
“Same, my guy.” Danae gives him a fist bump, the exact same way her brother would. “You can sit by me tonight. I’m gonna lose my mind if we beat them.”
Beck nods like he gets it.
We take our seats just before the guys skate out onto the ice, music blaring with their arrival. It’s the last game in the series, the final show of skill before either the East or West claims the victory.
Everything pauses when it’s time for the national anthem to be sung. The lovely rendition sparks patriotism and pride in my heart.
As I look out over the arena, this place I never would have stepped foot in if Beck hadn’t won those tickets, my eyes go a bit misty. So much has transpired since Dash came to town. Not just on the ice, but between us.
I’d been living on autopilot, doing all the necessary things to be a good daughter, a good business owner, and a decent human to those I come across. But I hadn’t really been feeling anything. Hadn’t allowed myself to.
Then Dash walked in, and for the first time in months, it felt as if my heart started beating again. It begged me to get closer to him, even when my brain told me not to.
I’m glad I listened to it.
I may not have Dash forever, but I had him for a little while. And his light, his addictive personality and sweet, fun-loving demeanor, helped remind me of who I was before life got hard. He brought me back to myself.
I’ll be forever grateful to him for that.
Maybe once the heartbreak of losing him ebbs, I’ll be able to move on with someone else. Way, way in the future, of course. For now, I’m soaking this all in. Letting myself pretend that Dash and I have more time than we do.
The game starts, and the players zoom across the ice. They’re so fast, it’s sometimes hard to keep up with who’s who. I’m always looking for twenty-five, keeping my eyes peeled for the hockey boy who stole my heart.
Before long, the East scores the first goal, taking the lead. Tension seems to rise on the ice with both teams locked in battle. There’s what looks like multiple scuffles between players in the first period, but no serious fights.
Finally, the West scores, with one of Dash’s teammates making the goal. By the second period, I’m surprised Beck has any voice left from cheering his heart out.
“You’d better get something to drink, big guy.” Danae says before turning her attention to me. “I’ll walk him over to get something, if you’re okay with that.”
“Oh, sure.”
The two head for refreshments, only for Dash’s mom to take the seat Beck just vacated. “This game is something else,” she huffs, crossing her legs and clasping her hands together.
“It’s been a rough one.”
“Right now, I’d say it’s anyone’s game.”
Nodding, I note, “The East team looks determined. I’m kind of thinking we might lose.”
Donna blinks at me. “Don’t let Dash hear you say that.” We share a laugh. “Speaking of, I spoke to him. About his injury, I mean.”
“Ah.” I rub my hands down my thighs. “And how did that go?”
Donna lets out a weary sigh as she stares out at the ice.
“It went fine. He’s just worried about what will come after this, and I don’t blame him.
He’s loved hockey for so long and…” She pauses.
“I had hoped that by the time he retired, he’d have found a good girl to settle down, be ready to start a family. ”
My heart does some wild acrobatics as I picture Dash holding a sweet, tiny baby.
“He tells me the two of you have been having a wonderful time together,” Donna says, her gaze straying to mine. “I know we’ve all joked that we’d keep you and not him if you two don’t last, but…”
She angles toward me, all hint of humor leaving her face. “I really hope you two can make this relationship work. I don’t mean it lightly, either. Dash needed to meet you, Ruby. It’s like you came into his life at just the right time.”
I swallow, blinking past the emotion welling inside me.
“I don’t want to pressure you to do anything you aren’t ready for,” she adds quickly, likely registering the panic on my face. “I’m only asking you to consider it. Consider him. Seriously.”
Does she think I haven’t? All I’ve done since agreeing to our first date is think about Dash, wish that things could be different for us. But my life is here, where I’ve built my business. No one and nothing, not even Dash’s good intentions, can change that.
“I will,” I say anyway, not wanting to disappoint her.
“Thank you, hun.” She pats my hands and stands. “I’d better take a potty break. My bladder isn’t all it used to be.” Waddling away like she can barely hold it together, Donna leaves me somewhere between laughing and crying.
Before I can worry myself over all she said, Beck and Danae make it back to their seats. Beck holds not one, but two sodas, in his hands.
“Really?” I let my gaze move past him to Danae. “Double the caffeine?”
She shrugs. “He asked, and I couldn’t say no.”
I shake my head and chuckle. “Spoken like the fun aunt.”
She gasps. “How’d you know? Danessa’s kids love me.”
I bet they do. It’s not hard to picture all of Dash’s family getting together at holidays, him being an uncle to his nieces and nephews. He probably lavishes them all with gifts. Just like he did for me on Sunday.
I force myself to refocus on the game. Ruminating over what could be won’t help me when it comes time to say goodbye to him.
The second period heats up with the West taking the lead. It looks as if all hope is lost until my boyfriend works his magic and scores a goal, bringing the Stars up to two points.
To my shock and delight, Dash looks up at the friends-and-family suite and blows a kiss our way. My way? Who knows. All I know is that I’m dancing and losing my mind to his goal song, just like the rest of his family.
Both teams end up tying and are forced to go into a sudden-death style overtime. It’s madness in the arena. Fans are booing and cheering as the wild scene unfolds before us.
My attention is glued to the ice as one of Dash’s teammates steals the puck from an East player, then passes it to Dash. My man cuts across the ice, smooth and skilled, before flying around the back of the goal and slapping the puck into the net, right under the goalie’s nose.
I leap to my feet, screaming my support as Dash’s teammates nearly tackle him.
Then I’m jumping up and down, catching Beck in my arms. Hugging Danae, squealing like a little girl who just got a brand-new pony for her birthday.
Crying tears of joy at seeing the utter bliss on Dash’s face as he skates off the ice with his team.
Even if everything we’ve built over the last few weeks crumbles once he’s gone, this moment makes everything worth it.