Page 84 of A Million Times, Yes
“Do you honestly think I would let that happen?”
Her smile was joined by a flush across her face.
“Your butt won’t touch that ice,” I promised.
“Maya, don’t worry, Uncle J never lets me fall when I skate with him. It’s Dad who lets me fall.” Ben rolled his eyes. “He says it makes me stronger ’cause I have to get back up.”
“Your dad’s right,” I told him. “But you’re already a tough one, my boy. Besides, with the arm you’ve got, you’re more likely to play football like your dad than hockey.”
“I wanna play both!”
“Then you better start skating your butt off instead of falling on it.” I winked at my nephew.
The elevator opened, and I led them down the hallway to the back entrance of the ice. My team had set up a bench nearby with four pairs of skates laid out, names placed in front of each pair to show who they were assigned to.
“Those look like they’ve seen some miles,” Maya said as she watched me untie mine.
“They’re the same ones I wore in the NHL. I just change out the blades.”
“Which means those skates have won the Stanley Cup.” Emily was on the floor rather than the bench, pulling off her boots. “I know you’ve won it three times—I googled.” She nodded toward Maya. “She knows too.” Emily smiled.
I chuckled. “Technically,Iwon the Stanley Cup. I just happened to be wearing these skates. The talent isn’t in the gear, it’s in the person who wears it.” I tightened the laces and moved on to the other foot. “But yes, these babies have been with me a long time. Athletes tend to be superstitious. We don’t like change. Which is why we hold on to things and repair them rather than replace.”
Emily shook Maya’s shoulder. “Maya, we’re in the presence of hockey royalty right now.”
That made me laugh even harder, and I pointed toward the ceiling, where multiple jerseys hung along with Bears flags that had dates embroidered on them. “This arena is full of royalty. I’m certainly not the most talented who’s been inside. Those jerseys are from the legends who retired from Boston, and those are the years the team has won the Stanley Cup.”
“That’s so much wow,” Ben cheered.
“And we have this whole arena mostly to ourselves, eating a private dinner in a suite, and now going for a skate. I’m not going to lie, Jordan, this is kind of bananas,” Emily said.
“She’s not wrong,” Maya agreed quietly.
“The men who wore those jerseys are players I’ve looked up to my entire life. Athletes who pushed their bodies to the absolute limit and had talents that are indescribable. The fact that I can set foot in this arena and look at their numbers hanging up there is bananas to me.” I paused. “I never take it for granted.”
Emily shook her head with a grin. “You have a love for hockey that’s—indescribable.” She winked.
“Yes.” I nodded. “I do.”
“All right, Mr. Worthington, I’m not going to lie—I’m impressed.” Emily got to her feet, wobbling for a moment before she grabbed the wall. “Come on, kid. Show me what you’ve got, and do not let me fall.” She reached for Ben’s hand, and he led her toward the ice.
While the two of them skated off, I helped Maya to her feet and brought her over to the entrance. “The last time you were in this arena, you learned the truth about me, and it became one hell of a shitty memory. I’m trying to replace it with a good one. I hope it’s working.”
She looped her arm through mine. “It is.”
“That makes me happy.” I kissed her cheek. “Are you ready for this?”
The overhead lights were on, a blinding white that I could already feel on my skin. The lights were a part of the game, along with the sounds, the temperature, and the smell of our equipment. Even the drips of sweat pouring down my back were details I’d never forget.
“Ready? I don’t know about that.” She laughed. “But I cannot get over how tall you are right now.”
My hands went to her face, and I pointed it up at me. “We’re still the same distance apart, given that you’re on skates too.”
“But you look even larger—and I didn’t think that was possible when you’re already so big.”
“That’s only because you haven’t been this close to me since our break.”
Her hands went on top of mine. “Jordan—”
