Page 52 of Cross Checks

My dreams took us even further into the future. I saw Hank and me stretched out on loungers while our kids built lopsided sandcastles. It felt so right like the vision was our destiny.

“Chase,” Hank whispered. “What are you thinking about?”

“Us,” I admitted. “I’m thinking about living together in Florida, basking in the sunshine, and raising a family. You want kids, right? I think I remember you saying something about that.”

“I’d love to adopt a kid or two with you,” he smiled.

Excitement bubbled inside me like champagne. It made my pulse throb in my ears, and my cheeks flush with happiness. As Hank and I lay there under the silvery moon, I knew we were on the cusp of a magnificent adventure full of love, laughter, and the courage to face any obstacles.

The excitement bubbled inside me like champagne, making my heart race and my cheeks flush with happiness. As Hank and I lay there under the silver moon, I knew we were on the cusp of a magnificent new adventure full of love, laughter, and the courage to face whatever life threw our way.

The wind picked up, lifting snowflakes into a whirling dance around us, and I saw Hank shiver a little from the cold. “Okay, big guy, it’s time to head inside before you turn into a big icicle.”

“Hey, I’m not that cold,” he protested, but then his teeth chattered. I climbed to my feet and reached down to grab his hand. When he stood to his full height, I reached up and dusted stray flakes from his stocking cap and beard.

“Race you!” I exclaimed and started dashing through the snow toward the front door. The surprise on Hank’s face quickly changed into determination, and soon, he was hot on my heels.

"Cheater!" he called out, laughing as his longer strides quickly closed the gap between us. The race wasn’t only about speed but also fun, adventure, and the pure joy of being alive. We both knew there could be no real winner or loser.

The snow was deeper than I expected, and I nearly face-planted in a drift at one point. Fortunately, I remained upright and reached the front door nearly precisely the same time as Hank.

I skidded to a stop and put my hands on my thighs, panting. “Tie?”

“Deal,” he agreed and pushed the door open.

The cozy warmth of the house instantly wrapped around us. We laughed as we stepped inside and peeled off layers of winter gear. I reached out to wrap Hank in my arms and share our body heat.

“Tomorrow, after I talk to the Florida Panthers, we’ll have to start thinking about our plan for saying goodbye to this place,” I murmured. It was hard to imagine leaving Cold Pines behind, but the promise of an extraordinary life further south eased the pain.

Hank kissed me. “Tonight, though, let’s enjoy the magic surrounding us.”

The fire in the fireplace crackled in the background as Hank and I each cradled a mug of hot cocoa. “Are we going to switch to something citrusy to drink when we’re in Florida?” I asked. “Hot cocoa doesn’t seem quite right.”

Hank chuckled as he turned toward me. “Pina Coladas? Lemonade?”

I nodded, feeling a rush of love for Hank. He reached over it and placed a hand on mine. “Have you thought about no more shoveling snow? And you playing in the NHL. It’s the big time, Chase.”

“That part—the NHL—is still a little surreal.” I sipped my cocoa and felt the warmth spread through my body. “Are you sure about leaving the firehouse?”

I watched Hank take a deep breath. “I have a confession about that.”

My brow furrowed. “A confession? What do you mean?”

“This morning, Chief Newton told me he’s retiring before the end of the year, and he wants to recommend me to the town council to fill the position.”

I blinked. “You the fire chief? Wow, that’s incredible, Hank.”

Before I could say more, I stopped and thought through the implications of what he’d shared. Hank was willingly leaving his dream job to support mine. I squeezed his hand tighter.

“You just jumped into deciding to go with your parents and me when you heard all the news about Florida? You are a wonderful man, Hank.”

He shrugged a bit. “I don’t know whether I would call that wonderful. There’s a little bit of self-interest involved. Getting that job but losing you and my parents for however many years they have left. It doesn’t sound like a reasonable trade to me.”

His expression softened. “Okay, yeah, it wasn’t an easy decision, but it wasn’t complicated to see the right choice. I’m all in, Chase. I love you.”

“I love you, Hank.”

Our conversation switched to lighter topics, and then Hank suggested we let our imaginations run free about where we would live. He grabbed a notepad from his den, and we started sketching ideas.

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