Page 121 of Put a Rink on It

Despite how I swore I’d never rewatch Grey’s Anatomy, Nero has changed my mind. Multiple times. I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve watched the entire series from beginning to end, and now we’re about to start again. Man, I must really love him to put myself through that torture continuously. On our wedding night, no less.

“I’m right about a lot of things, Marina, especially the most important things.”

“Like when you told me I’d be a Champion and the whole world would know it.”

“And how I told my new team my wife’s name was Marina.”

“Funny how that worked out for you in the end,” I jest.

He grabs my hand, leading me into our bedroom, leaving the door cracked, knowing how much I love the sounds from outside drifting in.

“Kinda thinking it worked out for both of us.”

“Indeed,” I agree, affirming he’s right. “I wouldn’t trade our love story for anything. It’s a great tale for our kids one day.”

Nero suggested I didn’t refill my birth control a few months before the wedding, another one of his brilliant ideas. I’m trying not to get my hopes up and embracing the whole “it’ll happen when it’s meant to.” Kids are more a question of “when” not “if.”

Besides, it’s fun trying, but it’s also nice having Nero all to myself for a little while. We’ve got a lot of time to make up for, so I’m soaking up every moment of him and me, not wanting to take any of them for granted.

I will never regret my decision to attend Centennial University. In no way was it where I belonged from an educational standpoint, but in every aspect of my life, it was exactly where I was meant to be.

There, I met the boy who would become my best friend, my bestie with benefits, and most importantly, my husband, the love of my life.

I can’t wait to explore all the beautiful, unexpected places life continues to take us.

epilogue

NERO

EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER

We’re playing at home tonight, and we need a win. Badly.

We’re coming off a road trip in the new year, which didn’t go well. Hopefully, the hometown crowd lifts our spirits, and we can rally to a victory.

Marina’s in the WAGs box, though she mentioned something about sitting down in the stands behind the glass for some of the game. Something about wanting to “be in on the action.” She’s here and supporting me. I don’t question her motives. However, sitting among the crowd won’t help keep away the germs she’s supposed to be staying away from. She’s been down and out for about three weeks with virus after virus. Thankfully, Millie came to Connecticut while I’ve been gone. I hate to leave her—even when she’s not sick—but I can’t play hockey from our house, much as we’d both love that.

I’m not calling this season my last, but at thirty-three, my seasons are limited. I want to retire on my terms, rather than go out with an injury or something else ending my career. I’ve had a great run—ten years, more than the average professional player. My retirement plans are set in motion, thanks to my wife, but until I’m ready to give it up completely, I’ll lace up my skates as a Hartford Naut.

I’ve enjoyed my time with this team, getting to know the rest of the players over the last two seasons, watching the older guys retire and move on, helping the rookies develop into players I’m proud to call teammates.

I shake off thoughts about anything but the game in front of me. We’re facing Ottawa, and they’re the weaker team, but they’re also coming off a losing streak and hungry for the win. They’ve also gained two recent additions in the last week, both of whom are gunning for a win for their new team.

The anthems play, and the centers set up for the face-off.

“Say goodbye to another victory,” an Ottawa winger chirps loud enough to hear from my position at the back of the circle.

“You’ll have to get through us first,” Underwood taunts, confidence seeping into his tone. Good for him. He’s been a bit of a basket case the last few games, but getting his head in the game tonight.

“You tell him, Underwood,” I shout as the puck drops onto the ice and the game begins.

Underwood wins the puck with a pass to Novak, and we’re off to the races. Bad analogy for a hockey game, but my attention’s on following the puck and staving off Ottawa offenders, backing up my team so they’re away from the zone and out of the crease.

Until it’s not my job anymore, I’m gonna do it to the best of my ability.

At the final buzzer, after a hard-fought battle, we claim victory, two to one. It was knotted up going into the last period, and we got the go-ahead goal with three minutes left. Three minutes is enough time to give the other team a chance to tie it up, but wanting the win badly, we hunkered down and played a solid two-hundred foot game to secure the win.

The team rushes the ice, and the crowd erupts in a loud cheer, the noise deafening since most of them stayed until the end.