Page 51 of Dreams on the Ice

“I love you, too, Forrest. I was afraid to let myself feel anything, but it happened, and there was nothing I could do tocontrol it. Not that I want to, anyway. Because even though this has been the weirdest and most stressful experience in my life, I wouldn’t trade you being part of it for anything. I love you. All of you.”

“Even the parts that have caused a whole fucking mess?” I ask.

She smiles, bringing one of her hands from over her head down, her palm cupping my cheek. “You fixed this mess, though. I just hope you don’t regret me in the future. Especially when it comes to your family.”

Shaking my head, I dip my chin and touch my mouth to hers before I speak. “The only thing I regret when it comes to my family is that I didn’t walk away years ago.” Lifting my head slightly, I continue. “A weight has been lifted, and I don’t just feel happier. I feel at peace.”

No other words are needed. I love her. She loves me. And that is fucking that. The rest of the shit we will figure out as we go.

Chapter

Twenty-Five

BROOKLYNN

My leg shakes.It bounces up and down as I wait for my parents to join us. I don’t know why I agreed to this, except I do know the exact reason—because my father declared it. He wanted to meet Forrest for dinner. And the time has arrived.

Forrest reaches out, wrapping his fingers around my leg, just above my knee. It’s not too high up my thigh to be inappropriate, but at the same time, it causes my body to jerk. He pats me a few times before he places his hand back in his lap.

Then my parents descend the staircase. They’ve always had a little flair for the dramatics, although nothing like Forrest’s parents, so I shouldn’t complain about them. Instead of rolling my eyes, I smile.

Forrest stands as soon as my parents enter the space. I do the same. Opening my mouth, I start to introduce them, but my father doesn’t let me. Instead, he moves straight into our space before he extends his hand. Forrest curls his fingers around my father’s, and they shake hands.

I watch in awe as they stare at one another, and then simultaneously, they smile. Letting out a sigh, I hope this is a good sign. A few moments later, my mother introduces herself, except she doesn’t shake Forrest’s hand. Instead, she wraps her arms around him in a hug.

A few moments later, my parents are sitting across from us in the armchairs. My father leans back in his chair, crossing his leg over his knee. He bounces his foot a few times, then clears his throat.

“Tell us about your career and plans,” he begins with his interrogation.

Forrest had to have known that this was coming. When he answers him, I fall for him a little bit more. It’s clear that he has thought long and hard about this change in his life, in his career, and in his world.

He tells my father essentially what he told me earlier. He has a coaching job lined up and some one-on-one lesson clients. He is hoping to go to the NHL affiliate team, but if that doesn’t happen, he’s more than happy to stay where he is. He makes enough that he’ll be able to open up some retirement accounts.

I can tell that my father likes the answer. In fact, his lips curve up into a grin, and he lets out a chuckle. “Good answer, son. Now, I know a bit of what’s been happening, so I have to know. Are you going to regret this decision in a year or two? I don’t ask if you’ll regret it in ten years because who the fuck knows where you’ll be by then. However, I do ask if in a year or two you’re going to regret it, change your mind, break Brooklynn’s heart?”

He shakes his head once, and I open my mouth to say something, to tell my dad that he’s not being fair, but Forrest speaks before I can. His words hit me deep to my core, and I fall in love with him a little more with each one.

“Mr. and Mrs. Greene, I love Brooklynn. Everything about her is exactly what I didn’t know I was missing in my life. She makes me whole. She fills my world with excitement. I will never regret choosing her and my life playing hockey. Not in a year, not in fifty years.”

My father slaps his hands against his thighs and stands up. “Welp,” he says as he rises to his feet. “I’m starving. Are you kids hungry?” he asks.

Forrest grins and rises to his feet as well, then holds out his hand, his palm facing up. I grip his hand, and together, we follow my parents to the dining room. There is food all laid out.

No doubt my mother had it catered.

She cooks about as well as I do, which means she cooks like shit because that’s exactly what I have going on in the kitchen. I can cut up some cheese and arrange some meat on a tray, but that’s where my expertise ends.

The serious conversation is over. The moment we sink down into the cushions, the words begin to flow. And it becomes easy—stories, mostly embarrassing ones, about me. But I don’t mind it.

In fact, I see it all for what it is.

It’s beautiful.

I never would have thought that embarrassing stories about me or anything happening at this table was beautiful, but I do now. It’s absolutely gorgeous. After spending time with Forrest’s family and knowing what it could be like, how cold and unfeeling, I’ll take a little over-the-top action any day.

Forrest reaches out under the table and takes my hand in his, squeezing it gently as the conversation continues. I’m filled with complete and total peace. My parents and Forrest, my whole world, are under one roof, and it is perfection.

Now, I just need to work on my business, my friends, and the salon. I want it all put to bed, everything that Kiki tried to ruin.I want it handled, calmed, and settled in whatever place it needs to be.

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