Kip kissed the crown of her head. "I don't want you to leave."
Mandy's voice was hoarse when she spoke. "I wish I didn't have to. But we aren't ready to jump into everything. I can't do that to Colton. If it were me, maybe. I dunno."
He stroked her back. "Hey, shh. Listen, when I say stuff like that, it's not a request. It's just that renewed feeling. It's like nothing bad could ever happen when I'm with you."
"That new love stuff. Just remember, we fought all the time."
"Not fought. Disagreed, argued sometimes. But I always knew that we just wouldn't give up because of a fight." Instead we gave up because I had a dream.
He'd given up too easily when she told him to go without her. He'd respected her wishes when she asked for a clean break.
"We never gave up," she said, looking up at him. "We were just so young."
He kissed her. "Do you feel old sometimes?" He couldn't seem to stop kissing her when she was within arm's length.
"Sometimes. Lately, yeah, when I look back on the years. You?"
"In my line of work, I'm getting old. People don't last that long unless they are way on top."
"You're pretty well up there, Kip. According to the stats and all the sports guys."
"Thought you didn't check up on those things much."
"I may have understated myself."
"Colton sold you out. When we were shopping he said he you always watch the games."
Mandy laughed. "I have since you started playing. I've watched nearly all of your games."
That was really something. Something amazing. "I'm touched."
"Well, there it is. Anyway, you were talking of being old. What would you do if you don't play hockey?"
"I can hope to coach or scout or something. I don't know. You know what, except for my house, my truck and my toys and a few trips, I've saved a lot of money. I have a few years playing left, to save up. Then maybe I'll just retire and coach minor hockey." He smiled at her in the dark. If he was lucky he'd marry her, have a couple more kids, coach one of the AJHL teams around here and a minor hockey team. There, he'd admitted his ideal life. At least to himself. That was a long way from convincing Mandy that it was a good idea.