JP mouthed “Thank you” at him.
Tori frowned.“They does?”
“Uh-huh.That’s what a net does — it keeps some things in, like the puck, and some things out, like the ice.”
“See how smart your Daddy is?”JP gave him a warm smile.“Now aren’t we supposed to be reading a bedtime story?”he asked Tori.
“Uh-huh.One about the best hockey pucker.I will tell it.My Dad plays the hockey.Hims skated so fast and hitted the pucker so hard that the goaler said, ‘Mr.Hockey Pucker!Don’t hit me.You can have it in the netting hole.’My dad said, ‘Okay, here it comes.Run away fast, or it will hurt.’Then the hockey pucker Dad put it in, and they winned the game, and everyone loved him.”She grinned up at JP.“Then him hurted his leg, and he got to come home and love on me and Peter and Daddy.The end.”
JP kissed her forehead.“That’s a great story, sweetie.”
Ian thought so too.Especially the part about JP coming home to love on them.Even if the reason sucked.
“I love you, Dad.I love you more than hockey pucking, I promise.”
Ian’s heart melted.
“And I love you more than hockey pucking too.”JP hugged her tight.
“And Petey and Daddy too?”
He didn’t hold his breath, right?He didn’t shake his head because he didn’t want to know the answer.“Time to sleep, ladybug.Under the covers.”
JP followed him out of her room and into their bedroom.“I do, you know.”
“Do what, love?Wasn’t that the sweetest story ever?”
“It was.”JP stopped him, putting his arms around Ian’s waist and tugging him close.“I love you more than hockey, Chou.”
“You don’t have to say it, love.”He knew where he was on that scale.
“But I did because it’s true.If it wasn’t, I’d be packing my bags to go coach in Florida.But I’m not because I don’t want to leave you.”
“I would go with you, because I don’t want to lose you either.”Ian searched JP’s eyes.“I love you, my dear hockey pucker man.”
JP met his gaze head on.“And I love you, Chou.I do.I need you to believe me.”
He took a deep, deep breath, and allowed himself for the first time in years to let JP in, to trust in both of them that, while it would never be perfect, they could be imperfect together.“I do.”
JP’s smile bloomed over his face, starting at his lips and moving into his eyes, making them shine at him.“Good.”Then JP leaned in and kissed him, lips warm and soft, breath pushing into his mouth.
“Come to bed, love.”
“Isn’t it a little early for grownups to get some sleep?”JP’s smile was warm, wicked, and Ian felt it down in his soul as he locked the bedroom door.
“Who said anything about sleeping?”
Epilogue
JP watched the kids playing in the kiddie pool, splashing and jumping, shouting and having the very best time in the water on this very hot and humid day.He himself was feeling gross and sweaty, and he’d just been sitting out here.In the damned shade even.Days like today made it hard to believe that there was ever going to be a wind chill day again.
Ian had gone to make lemonade so they could all hydrate.He would have offered to help, but it would have meant moving and while he was pretty mobile these days, he did not want to move in this heat.He was thinking tomorrow they needed to go to the arena during open ice just to cool off.
His phone rang, and he glanced at it, frowning when he didn’t recognize the number.“Hello?”
“Mr.Terrebonne?This is Sandra Grenier, general manager of the Ottawa Fireworks.”
He blinked, shook his head.The Fireworks were a solid women’s team.He’d watched some of their games with Tori, letting her see her heroes playing, letting her know people who looked like her were kicking ass on the ice.
