Page 135 of In Your Wildest Dreams
After dinner, Ash brings me to an outdoor skating rink. We trade our shoes for skates and I let him lead me around the circle with other couples and families.
“I haven’t skated in a long time,” I admit.
“You’re a natural.” He skates ahead of me and turns backward to stare at me.
“Show-off.”
He stops and when I reach him, he slides his arms around me. “I used to dream about the person I’d end up with, and about bringing them here, skating around the rink together while holding hands. Being that cheesy couple that stops every few minutes to kiss.”
He kisses me before continuing. “And then someday bringing kids here, teaching them how to skate, and boring them with memories of dating their mom in this very spot.”
“It sounds perfect.”
His grin widens. “I think I’m living it right now and it’s even better than I imagined.”
I have butterflies in my stomach. He’s right. It’s all been so much better than I ever dreamed it could be with someone.
“By any chance did your dream include a gaggle of teenage boys tripping over themselves to say hello.” I tip my head in the direction of the group heading for us.
“Someday all that will fade. But me and you…I can see us in the distance.”
My heart flutters and I skate backward to make space for the kids to approach him. “Then you better enjoy it now.”
For several minutes, Ash chats with the boys, smiles for photos, and signs autographs.
He glances over his shoulder at me, and I give him a reassuring smile. I could watch him like this forever. He’s so good and wonderful, and I’m thrilled that other people get to experience it.
“I gotta get back to my girlfriend,” he says finally. “Nice to meet you guys.”
He skates back to me, smiling in a content way that he does when he’s playing hockey or interacting with fans. It truly lifts him up.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be. You made their day.”
He joins our hands and then lifts them to place a kiss on my fingers.
“I used to dream about the kind of guy I’d end up with, too. What he’d look like, where he’d take me, and all the sweet and romantic things he’d do.”
“Yeah?” One side of his mouth quirks up.
“Yeah.” I nod. “And you’re so much better.”
EPILOGUE
TO ASH AND BRIDGET
Bridget
The bar eruptsin cheers as the guys walk into Wild’s. Tonight they secured a spot in the playoffs. And my man made the winning goal.
Ash smiles as people call out to him and pat him on the back. He takes it all in and even stops a few times, but I can feel his urgency to get to me. A thread pulling us together whenever we’re near each other.
When he finally gets through the crowd of fans, he scans the bar. His lips pull into a wide smile when he spots me.
“Congratulations!” I wrap my arms around his neck as he picks me up and spins me around.
When he sets my feet back on the ground, I peer up at him. “You were incredible. I’m so happy for you.”
