Page 78 of Off the Post

Without any hesitation, Ali flings her arms around me and crashes her lips to mine. I kiss her back with everything I have saved up for her.

All the love. All the desire. All the need to be with her every day from now until forever.

“You’re my forever person, Ali. And I’m yours if you’ll have me.”

“Jesus Christ, you two. You are so disgusting right now. Get a room. Fine, I’m leaving.” Rossy says with a stomp of his foot. But then he stops and points an accusatory finger my way. “But don’t you dare have sex on my couch while I’m gone.”

Ali’s eyes light up with amusement and I chuckle and lift one shoulder.

“What? Noooo!” He stomps away in a disgruntled huff, grabbing his cell phone as he heads toward the door. Before he leaves, he turns back around and gives us a crooked grin.

“Ali-kins, at least you chose one of the best dudes I know. He may be a grump, but his heart’s in the right place.”

When he closes the door behind him, I smile down at the woman I love and kiss her slowly, my tongue sweeping through her parted lips.

After a few moments, I break the connection to stare into her heated gaze.

“Your brother didn’t say anything about sex in the hot tub,” I deadpan, tipping my head toward the private hot tub on the patio.

She raises her eyebrows and her eyes flash with mischief. “He most certainly didn’t.”

She takes my hand and guides me through the open doorway.

A doorway to the rest of our lives.

EPILOGUE

Ali

My nerves are twisted and tangled like a Bavarian pretzel.

As soon as the Vikings training camp concludes today, we’re setting up for tonight’s big charity game.

I watch from behind the glass as the players and hockey coaching staff—many whom I’ve gotten to know personally over the last year—conduct their workouts and fitness challenges out on the ice.

Watching Soren move with the speed and agility he’s known for is just as exciting now as it was in his first home game last season. The easy way he shifts back and forth, a hungry predator in front of the net, does all the things to my lady parts.

Especially when he warms up prior to a game.

Holy mama, that is downright hockey porn.

The build-up for this Vikings season is palpable, and fans of all ages are here at their open practice to get a look at their favorite players while they get ready for their upcoming home opener. It’s a beautiful tradition that encourages hockey lovers to see behind the curtain as their favorites, old and new, return to the ice and prepare for the season.

The noise of the chants and applause from those behind me add to the excitement of the day. I turn around to skim the audience in the seats of the practice rink. It’s a big deal to welcome all the new prospects, the baby players on their newly signed debuts, and the traded veterans. And, of course, the guys who have been on the team for years.

The team just signed a new center, Gunnar Svensson, who has a reputation for being somewhat of an instigator. Knowing Tanner, he can’t wait to find the best ways to rile his new teammate up.

Scanning the crowd of onlookers, my eyes lock on a little boy sitting next to his mother.

Sweet little Nicolas Petaro stands with his arms raised about his head, holding a handmade sign with an illustration of a wolf that he must’ve drawn. The sign reads, Go, Wolf, Go! My lips pull into a watery smile, and my eyes prick with tears of happiness.

Over the past year, not only has Soren changed outwardly thanks to his therapy, but our relationship has blossomed into something strong and lasting. In fact, we’ve been talking about me moving in with him soon.

I’ve yet to give him my answer, though, because of Ernest Hemingway. Soon after we began dating and our secret was out in the open, Soren informed me of the bad news.

We were lying in his bed one night and I realized he hadn’t been sneezing like he often did when he stayed with me.

“It’s your cat,” he says on a sigh, rolling to his side to peer down over me. “I’m allergic to cats.”