“Maybe we’re just not meant to be, baby.”
“I think you’re right.” She gulps.
I whisper so softly that no one but Erika can hear, “We might never kiss again, but every goal I score will be for you. When I blow a kiss, it’ll be for you.” She swallows hard, biting back the tears.
“Get some sleep, baby.” I wink to hide how wretched I feel inside. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the game…”
Then I’m taking a shot, hitting the puck with so much power it slides straight past the goalie and smashes into the back of the net, just like I’ve done hundreds of times before.
And there she is.
Erika.
My Erika.
Sitting around the edge of the rink, watching me with that impossible smile.
Without thinking, I blow her a kiss, my eyes locking on hers.
Rising out of her seat, moving to me, like she’s a ghost, walking through the boards, she’s in front of me, standing there, her hands on either side of my face.
“It’s me, Leon. I’m here.”
“Baby.” My voice drifts off as she disappears in a puff of white smoke…
I find myself inside a hotel room with Erika... In one swift move, I line my cock with her entrance and fuck up into her. She cries out my name, digging her fingers into my shoulders.
“I hope you’re ready for a night you’ll never forget, baby.”
“There’s no chance of that happening. I’ll never forget you, Leon.”
“And I’ll never forget you. You’re branded into my memory for life…”
The last memory fades as my voice fills my ears, Erika’s face coming into soft focus…
“I’m committed to you, Erika, and I’m in this for the long haul. I don’t do failure; it’s something I never plan for. You and I are just getting started, and together we will build a big, beautiful life together. I know we’ll make mistakes along the way, but we’ll navigate through them because that’s who we are. I wantthis marriage, and I’m going to give it my all. No matter what life throws our way, we’ll face it together.”
“Those are some big words.”
“I mean them, Erika.”
“I know you do.”
I lean in and capture her lips with mine…
Rhythmic pulses vibrate in my ears… I’m moving again, being thrown into a void and into heat and the smell of salty air, electric blues, fireworks…
“Let’s rewrite our story together. Be mine?” I drop to my knees, her soft, nervous laugh filling the air, her eyes full of emotion.
“I’m already yours.”
“Yeah, but I never got to do this part. If I did, I don’t remember. And I want to do things right.”
“Yes, Leon. I’ll be yours.”
The cool air and the smell of ice return as I’m catapulted into the present as if I’m being thrown from a time tunnel.
The sounds, the roars, all slowly filtering into my ears, the memories of the past still clinging to me.
