Page 61 of Wilder

“Even if you’re at a beach?”

“If I’m at a good beach, I’d be surfing.”

“Do you snowboard as well or just ski?”

“I can snowboard, but skiing is my preference.”

After they got in the car, he started it and cranked the heat. He turned on the wipers to clear the windshield of the melted snow, then backed out of his parking spot.

“I guess you get lots of snow around here.”

“Yep. We do. And the occasional blizzard just makes it loads of fun.”

Lexi let out a huff of laughter. “You are crazy.”

“I’ve been told that plenty of times, and I embrace it. Give me enough snow and I’ll be out there making snowmen and throwing snowballs with the kids.”

“Your nieces and nephews must love you.”

“I think they do. I certainly love them.”

“Do you like kids in general, or just them?”

“I like all kids. That’s why I’m working with the orphanages.”

“Do you plan to have some of your own some day?”

Wilder wasn’t sure what to make of her question. It wasn’t a question he got a lot, though now that his siblings were marriedand having children, he was getting it more. Well, he was getting the marriage question the most, but the children question was in there too.

“Honestly, I don’t have a plan when it comes to kids. Just like I don’t have a plan when it comes to marriage.”

“What does that mean? Don’t people usually plan if they’re going to get married and have kids?”

“I suppose some do,” Wilder agreed. “But I’m choosing to believe that if God wants me to marry and have kids, He’ll bring the right woman to cross my path at the right time.”

“And if that never happens?”

“Then I’ll be content with loving on my nieces and nephews and any other children God brings into my life. Marriage should never be the be all and end all of a person’s life.”

“What do you mean?”

“As a Christian, I believe that the be all and end all of my life should be honoring God. If it’s not His will that I marry, yet I pursue that, I might struggle with joy and contentment in my life.”

“I was going to get married. Mikhail and I were engaged.”

“Did you plan to have kids?”

“Only once we retired from competition,” she said. “Then we figured I could safely get pregnant since I could still help Mik coach. We used to talk about how we’d raise the next generation of Olympic skaters.”

Her voice was completely emotionless as she spoke, which Wilder had come to realize meant she was keeping her emotions locked down.

“You can still raise the next generation of Olympic skaters. I doubt you’re going to give up skating or coaching.”

“Maybe not, but I won’t be competing anymore.”

“Are you sure?”

Lexi didn’t reply right away, making Wilder think that deep down, she really did want to continue to compete. Which made complete sense. Competing had been her whole life. And she hadn’t left the sport on her terms. Other people’s decisions had ended her career.

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