Page 398 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

"Someone has to."

"I'm looking forward to it."

***

She takes my hand. "Come on."

"Where are we going?"

Her smile turns wonderfully mischievous. "I think my husband promised me hot chocolate."

I laugh. "I absolutely did."

"And I married a man who keeps his promises."

We walk toward the kitchen. And I realize that this simple act is the greatest gift today has given us. We don't have to spend the rest of our lives chasing extraordinary moments.

We get to build an ordinary life together.

One cup of hot chocolate...

One quiet evening...

One ordinary Tuesday...

at a time.

***

Annette sets their empty mugs in the sink before turning toward me.

The cabin has grown wonderfully quiet.

She has dropped the hoodie on the living room floor in front of the hearth where the fire burns low. Outside, moonlight spills across the lake. Inside I can’t stop looking at her in her beautiful satin lingerie that mimics the color of those moonbeams.

She catches me watching her again.

"What?"

I smile. "I don't think that's ever going to stop."

"I hope not."

Neither of us moves for a moment.

Then she walks over and slips her fingers through mine.

"I think..."

A shy smile curves across her lips.

"...my husband should come upstairs."

My heart does something completely unreasonable inside my chest.

"I think..." I manage to answer, "...that's an excellent idea."

She laughs softly. "I thought you might."