I pick up mine, push the pucks, and make Ellie follow me until we’re about twenty feet from the net. She’s got skating down pat. I don’t know why she ever thought she was uncoordinated when she runs, hikes trails, and now ice skates.
“Watch,” I command. Swinging my stick back, fast and strong, I sweep it back down and slap the puck into the net perfectly. The grin is stuck on my face as I gesture for Ellie to come to me. Laying my stick back down, I come up behind her once more.
“If I can replicate what you just did, I’ll deem you the best hockey player in the world,” Ellie laughs.
“Might as well join the party,” I joke. “Okay, let’s shoot.” We follow through the movements a few times, the pucks narrowly missing the net or bouncing off the pole.
“I think you’re messing me up,” Ellie says as I gather the pucks and skate back to her.
“Do what?” I ask incredulously.
“You’re the reason I can’t make it. Just let me try by myself.”
Holding up my hands, I stay back. Ellie takes her time, perfecting the position of her hands, and how she wants to shoot before finally making the shot. The puck glides atop the ice, swiftly passing the line into the net.
Shock is written all over her face. “Oh my God! Hudson! I made it!” She grins and holds her hands in the air like she just scored a touchdown instead. I skate over to her, pulling her to me.
“Feels good, doesn’t it?”
Ellie nods. “Is this how you feel when you score?”
“This is how I feel when I score, when I play, when I hear the crowd, when I’m with you.”
She smiles, giving me a quick kiss. “You are a ladies man, aren’t you?”
I shake a ‘no’, dipping my head to kiss her neck. “Just your man.” When I pull away too look at her, her cheeks are scarlet. We hang out at the rink a little longer before going back to my place. She’s wandering around my apartment, finally looking at all my hockey stuff.
“Whitney, my mom, and I are supposed to have dinner together. Would you like to go? I have tomorrow off too. You can spend the night, if you want. I’ll be busy nonstop for about a week after that.”
Her fingers glide over my name on one of the trophies. “I’d like that. I’ll have to run home though.”
“That’s fine. We can go there and then meet them.”
So we go Ellie’s for her to pack an overnight bag, meeting my family back in Portland. Mom spent today with Whit and she’ll fly back to Vancouver tonight. If we make it to the final, Ethan already has tentatively taken those days off work to watch the games with the rest of my family. I can’t wait for the men in my family to meet Ellie. I know what my mom and sister think already, but I want them to meet her too.
Whitney and Mom are sitting at a table in the back when we arrive. Mom’s face lights up when she sees I have Ellie with me. Whit looks smug, like she predicted this herself and deserves an award for her part in making it happen. Mom stands, pulling Ellie into a hug, whispering something in her ear, before turning to hug me.
“Hey, Mom. Hey, Whit,” I say, pulling Ellie’s chair out for her and then taking a seat myself.
“We were about to order without you,” my sister tells us. “You’re late.”
“Shush,” Mom orders. “How are my Hudsy and Ellie doing today? Are you two engaged yet?”
“Mom! Don’t start with all that.” I glance nervously at Ellie, those cheeks of hers on fire. I just got her back. I don’t need their shenanigans to scare her away. Whitney’s laughing doesn’t help either. Cutting a glare at her, I say, “Have you told Mom about what’s-his-face who has been studying at your apartment?”
“Of course. Mom knows all about Drew,” she smirks.
Thank God for the waiter coming to take our order. At least, I was thankful until he opened his mouth.
“Hey, you’re Hudson King. I’m a big fan. Are you ready for the next round? All of us here are pretty confident that the Vikings will make it to the Final.”
“That’s the plan,” I tell him before looking at Ellie and talking to everyone else, “Are y’all ready to order?” Fans are great, but I’m here with my family tonight and that’s all I want to think about.
Mom orders first and then we go around the table, leaving me for last. Once the waiter walks away, Ellie mutters, “I can see why we always ate at my house.”
Mom laughs. “Hudsy is quite the star, especially back home. Everyone’s so proud of him.”
“It’s not a big deal.” I shrug her off.