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“Look, you two can celebrate alone later. Right now, we need to take you out and have us a time.” Sarah wiped her tears away as she opened the door on a taxi.
We sped up the strip and began the second first night of the rest of our lives.
EPILOGUE
GINNY
Five yearslater
* * *
The hockey season started, but I wasn’t kissing Boone goodbye from the season. After two more cups with the Harpsburg Rangers over the last five seasons, he decided it was time to go out on top. The organization was reeling as Boone and Phil announced their retirement on the same day. But for us as friends seemed to be the most perfect way to go out.
Sarah and I had stood beside our players as they announced their retirement and the sports media coined us the Fab Four of the hockey world. Both men were struggling with the fact that they didn’t have a rigid schedule for their day to day, so I offered them both positions at the facility.
The rink was buzzing with kids waiting to get on the ice. I couldn’t help but watch the handsome man driving the Zamboni. Boone had been transitioning from his player career to chief of hockey operations for the Badelton Hawks. He coached, or organized, every one of the hockey teams that played for the team. Our program had grown to have hockey for every age group and I couldn’t keep up with the request for figure skating. Thankfully, I could promote Christy from the front desk to the permanent coach two years ago.
“Ginny, we’ve had a late application through DCF. A young girl has just been taken into foster care. She wants to skate and the foster family is wondering if we have room.” She handed me the paper and I read over what the form.
“Call them back and tell them we will fit her in. Life’s been hard for her, it looks like, and if we can help, we will for sure. She can come on scholarship and that will ease the foster family’s financial burden.” Boone and I had been determined to help everyone in the community get on the ice. We had a bus that picked up kids whose parents couldn’t get them here and equipment costs were covered. Our organization was on a mission to make hockey accessible for anyone who wanted to play.
The kids hooted and hollered as Boone drove off the ice. They all turned up and looked at me for permission to get out there. I nodded, and it was a mad scramble of little players stepping on to the frozen surface. I wondered what went through their minds. Did some of them imagine they were playing their first pro game? Did some of them imagine seeing a barn full of cheering fans and looking for a family member? Whatever it was, I was happy to be the one to nurture dreams.
“Ginny, we don’t have any scholarships left.” Christy’s voice was soft and regretful.
“I will talk to Boone and Phill. I’m sure one will magically appear.” Smiling, I watched as she looked over to where Boone was shovelling off the ice edge from where the Zamboni dropped ice.
“Well then, I will go call them now. Maybe she can be here for tomorrow. I think we have everything she’s going to need.” Christy talked a mile a minute as she walked away. I wasn’t sure she was talking to me or just to herself, so I didn’t ask what she was saying.
Walking down to the ice level, I waited for Boone to get to the door I was at. “Hey sexy, what’s up?” His voice made me weak in the knees.
“I need to talk to you and Phill. I need a scholarship, but that’s not what I want right now.” Smiling up at him, he arched his brow.
“Gin, I can’t give you that right now. I have power skating to teach, but if you happen to be naked when I come home tonight, I can make that happen.” His sly smile was more than a turn on.
“God, Boone, is that all you think of?” I faked disgust with him.
“Eight years. You cut me off for eight years. I have a lot of catching up to do. Ok, what are you really needing?” He leaned up against the boards and waited.
“I want to take a break. Go on a holiday. What do you say? Phil can take over for you and Christy has everything for skating organized. I think it’s a great time to sneak away for a week.” I wrapped my arms around him.
“What about the clinic?” He asked before leaning down kissing me.
“We hired a new doctor to take most clients off my plate and I can work more with the kids. She’s arriving tomorrow and I have Mark set up to orientate her.” My good friend from college had stepped in after we fired Garth and enjoyed the pace and focus that he ended up staying. He moved wife and kids to Badelton. Their kids had become our unofficial nieces along with Boone’s nephews laughter surrounded us. Boone and I had decided we wanted to give our time to the kids, needing someone to believe in them and chose not to have kids. It was a decision I had thought would be hard to make, but it just seemed right. We had so much love to give and there were so many kids in our community that needed the constant of Boone and I.
“So you’re wanting to go on a honeymoon?” As soon as he said it, I realized we had never had one. Life was too busy with hockey and school when we got married. Then when we renewed our vows, he was busy with deals, endorsements and appearances. We just forgot about it.
“Yes, after seventeen years of marriage feels like an appropriate time to have one. I will have a list ready when you get home, have a good practice.” After a quick peck on his cheek, he skated off to get the kids playing a game of shinny to get everyone warmed up. He was a born leader. It showed through his hockey career, but as a coach, he shined brighter than I ever imagined.
“Gin, I’m home,” he called as I heard him drop his bags at the door.
“I’m in the office.”
He walked through the door and I thought his eyes were going to fly right out of his skull. “I thought I would put a presentation together for honeymoon destinations.” Sliding my chair back from the desk, I crossed my legs and watched his mouth drop to the floor.
“You figured you needed to do that naked? I mean, I don’t mind at all. You could walk around the house naked twenty four/seven and you wouldn’t ever hear me complain.” He reached out and ran his hand across my bare breast as he licked his lips absentmindedly. “But Gin, I’m not so sure I will listen to your presentation. Pretty sure I don’t even care at this moment.” Boone grabbed me by the arms and pulled me up to him and pressed his mouth to mine. Our kiss was sloppy and wild with passion. Boone trailed kissed down my neck, across my shoulder before bending down, taking my nipple in his mouth.
“I think we should go to Toronto,” I said breathlessly. I wanted to see if he was paying any attention to something other than my tits.
