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“When you mentioned me having my own built-in fur coat,” she said. “When you make references to us being shifters together or us as a family. When you seem like you’re on board with all of this.”
“I am on board with all of this,” I said. “One hundred percent on board.”
“I know. I mean, I know you are now. And that in and of itself is amazing, too. For a long time, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to get you to support me, and it’s almost surreal that we’re here now.”
“Remember, Marley, we have our back-up if things go wrong. And we’re going to have a whole medical team there to support you if you need it. But we’re going to go in hoping for the best, alright?”
“Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.”
“Exactly.”
“I’m getting a little worn out,” she said. “How do we get off the ice?”
“I’ve got you,” I said.
I guided her toward the edge of the pond, where I got off the ice first, planting the blades of my skates firmly into the compacted snow before turning to help her off the ice, lifting her, and helping her sit down on the blankets I had laid out for us.
“Done for the night?” I asked.
She panted as she nodded. “I think so. That’s more of a workout than it looks like.”
I laughed and started undoing her laces. “Lots of keeping the core under tight control,” I said. “Have fun, though?”
“Yes, and I love my skates,” she said. “They’re so nice. I can’t wait to skate with everyone else.”
“Then comes the Olympic training, yeah?”
“Damn right,” she said, grinning.
I handed her boots to her, and she slid them back on as I worked on undoing my own ice skates and getting back into my shoes. When I was done, I plopped back onto the blanket, looking up at the stars.
Marley followed suit, resting her head on the point where my arm met my torso. I wrapped that arm around her and pulled her in close.
For a while, we both just watched the slow arc of the stars above us as the moon started to duck behind the trees. It was getting late, I guessed. Not only because of the transit of the moon, but because of how heavy I could feel my eyelids getting.
"Thank you for this magical night," Marley whispered to me in the silence. “I didn’t realize how much I needed to just...have focused time with you for a little while.”
“You feeling a little neglected, sweetheart?” I asked, looking down at her. “We can make more time for stuff like this. I just figured you’ve been busy, and I didn’t want to create problems for you by asking for more time.”
“I have been busy, and you have been, too,” she said. “But yeah, I think it might be good to make some more time just for us to spend real quality time together. If you think that’s okay.”
“Of course I do,” I said. “I’d love nothing more than to spend all the time I possibly can with you. And hopefully, all of this craziness will settle soon so we can have some proper time together the way any husband and wife should.”
She nodded. “In the meantime, we’ll just have to steal it from everyone else.”
“Marley Lucas, Time Thief,” I teased.
“Oh, it has a nice ring,” she said admiringly. “Especially when you use my married name.”
“You think so, Mrs. Lucas?”
“Oh, say it again,” she said, rolling over to look down at me.
“Mrs. Lucas.”
She kissed me, slow and lingering. “One more time,” she whispered, brushing her nose against mine.
“Mrs. Lucas,” I said, matching her volume and intensity.
