The Blizzard beat Minnesota again, putting them at eight in a row, and giving them the final win that would get them to the playoffs, assuming San Jose lost one of their three remaining games. Just for fun, Gage suggested they invite some of the team and their spouses or girlfriends over to watch the San Jose game. They would all be watching anyway, and it would be more fun to watch together. It would also be an opportunity for some of those closest to them to see that Gage and Laurel were back together. She wasn’t stupid, though, and she gave him a pointed look when he brought it up.
“Dani’s going to figure out we’re together again immediately,” she told him, folding her arms over her chest.
“So?” He pulled her close. “What difference does it make? The people coming over are close to one or both of us, so why wouldn’t we let them know?”
“Because if it doesn’t work out—”
“That’s not even a possibility,” he interrupted impatiently. “I love you. Don’t think I haven’t noticed that you haven’t said it back yet, because I have, but we both know we love each other.”
“I’ve said it—”
“You’ve said you love me in conversation. But you didn’t say it the other night when we were making love, even though I did.”
Her cheeks turned pink and she nervously started to chew on the inside of her cheek. “It’s just…”
“I know. It’s hard to trust after you’ve been hurt, but you hurt me too and I’m willing to risk it. You’re worth it, Laurie. We’re worth it.”
“I know. I just…” She sighed as if the idea of finishing what she’d been about to say was impossibly hard.
“Tell me,” he whispered. “I love you, baby. I’ll do anything to make you happy or to fix what happened before. I can’t go back in time, but just tell me what you want and it’s yours.”
“You. You’re all I’ve ever wanted.”
“Then why did you leave?”
“Because I never wanted to be married to the dark knight.”
His lips twitched. “The dark knight? Who, me? I’m no superhero, baby.”
“You were always mine.”
“Really?” He stared at her in loving fascination. She’d thought him some kind of hero? It both embarrassed him and made him proud, knowing she looked at him that way.
“You were the most amazing man I’d ever known. You came from money but joined the military to pay for your education. While you were still in college, you made your first million dollars with the little company you started but you still fulfilled your obligation to the military. You could have phoned it in, we both know your uncle had connections, but you chose to do it the honest way and let them deploy you. You had every opportunity to take advantage of your name and your wealth but you refused because you’re a good, strong, honorable man. I adored that about you. I couldn’t live up to someone like that, though. I felt like a dumb jock.”
“Laurel. Baby.” He pulled her tight against him and kissed the top of her head. “Jesus, I had no idea you felt that way… You were never dumb and you didn’t have anything to live up to. Yes, I enjoyed serving my country but I had more balls than brains. In retrospect, I was an overconfident dumbass and I lost you because of it.”
“I should have fought harder,” she admitted. “But I didn’t know how. It seemed like you loved the military, being a soldier, the danger—that’s why you didn’t tell me. You knew it would scare me so you hid it, and since you’d never hidden anything from me before, I knew it was important to you. When my mom died and you weren’t there for me, I lost it.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” He tilted her head back so he could look into her eyes. “I should’ve been honest with you, but I promise, no more lies, no more secrets.” Except for one. He was trying desperately to put it behind him but it wasn’t nearly as easy as typing up a letter of resignation.
It was their first time entertaining as a couple and Laurel wasn’t sure what to do. Dani, Sergei, Hailey, and Kane were easy. She knew Dani and Hailey well and knew Sergei and Kane well enough to feel comfortable, but Jake and Whitney were something else. Whitney was an up-and-coming supermodel who was as rich as she was beautiful, and she and Gage seemed friendlier than he was with any of the other wives and girlfriends. She wasn’t jealous, but she wasn’t quite sure how she fit in now that she was working for the team, but also Gage’s ex-wife as well as his current girlfriend. How did any of this work?
Luckily, Kane and Hailey arrived with their six-month-old twins and Laurel was immediately smitten. She had Kelsey in her lap and Gage snatched Hank out of Kane’s arms as well.
“Hailey, they’re perfect,” Laurel gushed to her friend.
“They’re pretty cute,” Hailey laughed. “But they keep me going. Thank goodness for Amy.”
“Who’s Amy?”
“Our nanny.”
“It used to be me,” Whitney said, leaning over to kiss the top of Hank’s head. “But since I started modeling again, I’m gone too much.”
“I saw you in a magazine,” Laurel said. “You’re the face of Raven Cosmetics.”
“It’s my family’s company,” she nodded. “I’ve been their face since I was fourteen but I took a few years off while I was at Harvard and then told them I wasn’t coming back unless I got my place on the board of directors. It’s been a bit of a fight, but I’m getting there.”
“She’s tougher than she looks,” Jake said fondly.
“No offense, but I think Hailey is the toughest woman I know,” Kane said, twirling a lock of his fiancée’s hair. “She’s a mom to twins, she works full-time in the sales department for the Blizzard, she plays co-ed hockey twice a week, and she’s been planning our June wedding all by herself. She amazes me every day.”
“I only have one,” Dani said, “and it’s exhausting. I can’t imagine two kids.”
“Is everything set for the wedding?” Laurel asked Hailey.
“For the most part. A few last-minute details, but we’re ready.”
“Are we going to have weddings every summer?” Sergei mused. “We did it last summer, you guys are doing it in June, and Jake and Whitney are doing it in September… Who’s next?”
“Not me,” Aaron announced, coming in with a case of beer and Sarah right behind him.
“Hey, guys.” Gage took the beer and shook his hand.
“You and Addy aren’t gonna get married?” Kane asked, raising an eyebrow.
Aaron winced. “That’s done. She went back to Kentucky.”
“What happened?” Jake asked him. Addy was his ex-wife.
Aaron shrugged. “I don’t wanna talk about it.”
“She’s crazy is what happened,” Sarah chirped, nudging Aaron.
“Yeah, yeah, I know.” He sank into a chair. “But seriously, I don’t wanna talk about it. I wish it was a game night—I’d totally find myself a puck bunny.”
Sarah made a face. “Gross.”
“How else is a single guy supposed to get laid?”
“Date?”
“Dating sucks.”
“I don’t agree about using puck bunnies,” Kane said, “but I agree dating sucks. I’m so glad I never have to do that again.”
“You absolutely do!” Hailey said, giving him a look. “You’re not going to stop romancing and dating me just because we get married.”
“Well, that’s different,” he protested. “It’s not like what’s-your-favorite-color-and-do-you-like-Mexican-food dating.”
“Okay,” she nodded. “You got me there. Yeah, that kind of dating sucks.”
“See?” Aaron held up his hands.
“I’m hoping I don’t ever have to do that kind of dating anymore either,” Gage said lightly, dropping his arm around Laurel’s shoulder.
As he’d undoubtedly expected, everyone in the room fell silent, turning to look at him.
“You’re back together,” Dani breathed, her eyes wide with delight. “Yay!”
Gage laughed. “She’s making me work for it, but yes, we’re back together.”
“That’s awesome,” Hailey grinned.
“Congratulations,” Whitney said. “I didn’t realize you’d been together and broken up?”
Laurel laughed. “We used to be married. We were college sweethearts and it didn’t work out but now…”
“Now we might be mature enough to give it another try,” Gage said quietly, pressing a light kiss on her cheek.
“This calls for a toast,” Whitney said, getting to her feet. “Is there champagne in the fridge?”
“There is,” Gage grinned. “Help yourself.”
Whitney tugged Jake’s hand. “Come help me carry glasses.” Jake followed amiably and everyone began talking at once, asking more questions about Kane and Hailey’s wedding, if Laurel was moving to Anchorage, and whether or not the twins’ eyes would remain blue.
Whitney and Jake came back with ten glasses and two bottles of champagne. Gage stood up and opened them, and Whitney poured glasses for everyone. When they each held one in their hands, Gage raised his glass.
“To my beautiful Laurel, the love of my life.”
“To a long and happy marriage for Kane and Hailey,” Laurel added, standing next to him.
“To Whitney and Jake, who better get those invitations out soon,” Hailey laughed, holding up her glass.
“And to Aaron not dating any more psychos,” Sarah said, sticking her tongue out at him, who reciprocated in kind.
They clinked glasses and drank deeply. The men turned to beer but the ladies emptied the second bottle and Gage went and brought another for them.
The game started and though Laurel wanted to watch, she kept getting pulled into conversations with the girls. They were all former players except for Whitney, and they loved the sport as much as the guys, but this was a rare opportunity to hang out and Laurel didn’t have a lot of girlfriends.
“Tell us everything,” Dani encouraged her as they emptied another bottle of champagne.
“There’s nothing to tell,” Laurel protested. “We’re trying again, that’s all. Nothing to report.”
“Are you moving to Anchorage?” Whitney asked.
“Are you going to keep coaching the team?” Hailey asked.
“Are you getting remarried?” Dani demanded.
Laurel couldn’t help but giggle at the questions. “I don’t know, I don’t know, and I definitely don’t know,” she responded.
“Dallas scores!” Kane yelled out.
This was good since they wanted San Jose to lose.
“That was a pretty goal,” Laurel murmured, watching the replay.
“Forget hockey,” Dani nudged her. “Tell us about you and Gage.”
“He’s right over there,” Laurel rolled her eyes. “And he can hear us.”
“I can,” he called out. “And I’m dying to hear about you and Gage.”