Page 86 of Why Not Forever?

She kisses me for a long time before hopping off my lap and going to the tree, grabbing a small box and handing it to me. I tear it open and find tickets to the hockey games.

“I figured instead of watching them on TV, we could go to some. That’s a half season pass, so it’s not all the games. There’s so many of them.”

I stare at the tickets in a sort of shock. I love watching hockey, but it had never occurred to me to buy myself tickets, let alone a bunch of them. Then I notice where we’re sitting.

“Vic. Are these box seats?”

“Yes. I called the owner and asked what he had available. He said these were some of the best seats in the house.”

“You… called the owner.”

“He’s a friend of my dad’s. Well. Business associate.”

I stare at my wife for a long time. Then I shake my head. “We do not live in the same world.”

She laughs. “We do now. You’ve lived in this world for a while, Tanner. You just haven’t done anything about it. He knew exactly who you were when I mentioned who the tickets were for. He was surprised to learn you’re a hockey fan.”

“The owner of an NHL hockey team knows who I am.”

She laughs and kisses me again. “He does. And he’s looking forward to meeting you. Now. Me next.”

I love how excited she is, though the idea of giving her this present is making me nervous. I find the box under the tree and hand it to her. It’s a bit larger than the one she’d given me, but more flat.

She grins at me. “Good girls get presents.”

I chuckle and kiss her. “Good girls get whatever they want.”

She rips open the paper to reveal a box. Pulling off the lid, she picks up the papers I’d printed and set inside. She reads them over, her brows drawn down as she figures out exactly what I’ve done.

“Are we… going to Hawaii?”

“Yes. I had Spencer and Derek help me. I remember you saying once that Hawaii was one of your favourite places you’ve been. Since I haven’t been anywhere, I thought it would be nice if we could go together, and you can show me all your favourite places. Plus, I know how much you like tropical fish, so I’ve already included a snorkeling excursion. Spencer helped me with the dates, and Derek helped me find the place. He said, when you were helping him and Ava plan their honeymoon, you’d mentioned really liking this one.”

Her eyes are sparkling, and she’s smiling at me like I’ve just given her the moon.

“You want to travel with me?” she asks.

I shrug. “Yeah. I have all these hang ups with spending money, which is why I haven’t really traveled before. That and because I’m kind of a workaholic. But I’ve been thinking of what I want my life to look like going forward and I don’t want to spend as much time working as I have been. I want to spend time with the people I care about. Traveling is important to you. It’s something you love to do. I’d like to be a part of that, if you want me to be.”

She drops the papers on the couch and flings her arms around my neck. “This is great. I wasn’t sure if you would want to travel. We’re going to have such a good time.”

I let out a breath, the nerves fading away.

Chapter 31

Vic

Tannermakesusbreakfastand we spend the rest of the morning being a little lazy. We take a shower and go out to his family’s Christmas dinner. My parents had invited us to their Christmas dinner, but I’d declined. I would much rather be with Tanner’s warm, loud, boisterous family than my own.

The whole drive to his sister’s house, he bugs me, asking who my Secret Santa present is for. I ignore him. We park and bring in the presents. I’m greeted by Kynlee, Harper’s youngest daughter, who runs up to me.

“Auntie Vic!” she says, hugging me before Tanner.

My heart melts a little as I look over her head at her uncle.

“Excuse me,” he says, grinning. “I thoughtIwas the favourite.”

Kynlee giggles as she hugs him next. “Did you bring me a present, Uncle Tanner?”

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