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“You do?” I felt like I might cry.
“Of course I do.” She buried her face in my chest and hugged me tighter. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Now, I was certain I was about to cry. “You’re the best thing that ever happened tome.”
“Nah.” She sniffled. “You have a super yacht. I have… big hair.”
I hugged her tighter. “And I love your big hair. Don’t ever forget it.”
“I won’t ever forget any of this, Coley,” she said. “I won’t.”
We hadstrawberries and champagne out on the deck. We saw porpoisesandseals. “This is the most sea life we’ve ever seen in an outing!” Chase exclaimed on the ride back to Boston Harbor. “It’s incredible.”
“It’s Jenny,” I explained. “Animals love her. It’s like they’re showing off for her, you know?”
Chase grinned at us, then poured us another glass of champagne. “If she’s our good-luck charm, I hope you guys come out with us again soon. This is the best day I’ve had in a long time.”
“Me too,” Jenny and I said simultaneously.
Once we returnedto the harbor, I called my driver and instructed him to pick us up at the Haven. “We’re not going home?” Jenny asked. Her hair was windswept, and her cheeks were pink from the champagne and all the sun.
“Not yet.” I grinned at her. “We have one more item on our agenda.”
When we pulledup outside the sports complex, her jaw dropped. “No way,” she said excitedly. “We’re at theThunder’srink?”
“Yep,” I said proudly as I helped her down from the Escalade. “I wanted you to see the team. Also, we’re meeting someone.”
She blinked at me. “Who’re we meeting?”
“Me!” came a screech from nearby in the parking lot. “I told him he couldn’t keep you hostage this time.”
Shirley hustled to us from her car. She sprung herself at Jenny and wrapped her in a tight hug. “I needed to put eyes on you.” Shirley pulled back, tears shining in her eyes. “Now pinch me,” she instructed. “I need to make sure this is real.”
Jenny laughed and pinched her.
“Ow!” Shirley said, laughing. “You convinced me.”
“It’s the least I can do.” Jenny linked arms with her, and they followed me into the rink. “You look good, Shirl. Nice and tan. Cruising agrees with you.”
Shirley nodded vigorously. “It was the best trip of my life. And thank you so much for the flowers. You didn’t need to do that.”
“Yeah, I did.” Jenny shrugged. You’re always doing nice things for me, and I’m sorry if I made you upset.”
Shirley put a finger to her lips. “Not another word. Everyone has problems—that’s part of being human. I’m just so proud of you two for working through them. That’s the secret sauce to any lasting relationship.”
“Thanks, Shirley.” Jenny sounded like she was getting choked up.
“My pleasure. Now, enough about all that. We’ve gotThundergear for you. I’m going to go get it.” She hugged Jenny and hustled off, eager to spoil Jenny with hoodies, T-shirts, and water bottles emblazoned with my team’s logo.
“I think Shirley has a girl crush on you,” I said. “Did you notice she didn’t even say ‘hi’ to me?”
“You know you’re her favorite.” Jenny winked at me. “Shirley seems real maternal if you ask me. She’s just trying to make me feel comfortable.”
I threw my arm around her. “Are you comfortable?”
“Yeah, except it’s freezing in here. Brr.” She snuggled up next to me. “It being an ice rink and all.”
Just then, Shirley returned with an enormous selection of Thunder gear. I selected an oversized, cozy fleece hoodie for Jenny, which she pulled on with a big grin. “This is awesome, Cole. I feel like I’m part of the team!”
