I sigh, scratching the dog behind his ears. “Habit. Doubt. Dogs need a lot of work and time.”
I never got one before because I was always moving. I’m not living my life as if it’s all temporary anymore.
“And since when have you shied away from hard work?” Her affectionate smile stretches slowly. “Don’t sell yourself short. You’re a reliable guy now, Cole. In fact, I think you always were. You never let me down. When I needed help, you stepped up.”
My gaze meets hers. I lick my lips, considering the puppy. He’s so tiny it plucks my heartstrings. Her encouragement reassures the old doubts that reared up.
“You don’t have to do anything alone, either,” she continues. “I’ll help watch him when you’re on the road for games.”
“A co-op dog,” I muse. “Adopt him together?”
“I like that idea. He can be ours.”
As soon as she saysours, I’m swayed by the thought of doing this with her. “Okay.”
She lights up. “Really?”
“Yeah. Let’s take him home.”
She squeals, crawling closer to hug me. I want to kiss her. Instead, I hold up the puppy between us.
“What’ll we name him?”
“I might’ve made a list of dog names if I ever got one when I was a kid,” I admit. “They’re all hockey-themed.”
“That’s sweet. What’s your top contender then?”
I pass the dog to her and squeeze my nape. “Bauer. If I ever got a dog, I really wanted to use that name.”
“I like it! What do you think?” She lifts him and he releases a bark that makes us chuckle. “Oh my gosh, we can put him in a skate for photos, I can’t.”
Bauer squirms in her hands to get closer. I take a photo of them. He licks her face, her fingers, anywhere he’s able to reach. She laughs.
I love that sound. Her joy is the most beautiful music in the world.
I love…her. I’m in love with her.
It hits me. Strikes me so hard in the chest it knocks the wind out of me.
I think I’ve known for a while, but recognizing it, giving this feeling a name seems big.
This is what I want. All of it’s here in Heston Lake. I have part of the life I’m ready to build—coaching with a team I’m proud of—still afraid someone’s going to turn around and tell me they changed their minds from the moment I found out I was staying.
I’ve never thought about my own future before this past year, let alone making one with someone else. Eve’s who I picture having that future with. And if she’s not part of it? I’m not interested in any future that doesn’t include her.
It’s time to put down my roots. But it’s not the roots that matter, it’s the person I want to ground me. The one I want to be with whether we’re standing still or on the move, no matter where life takes us.
Eve. She’s my roots.
The one who makes Heston Lake feel most like home—because she’s here with me. I want to make our home with her by my side.
Because in small moments over the last year, I’ve fallen for her. Harder and more deeply than I have ever before in my life.
She’s drawn me in with the way she shines brightly, her kind and gentle heart open to everyone around her, and an unwavering belief in me. We’ve grown to lean on each other. When something good happens, she’s the first person I want to tell.
This didn’t start after I finally made her mine. Our beginning was way before that, from the moment I kissed her on New Year’s Eve. It was when we were teaching ice skating. When wewere fixing up the camper. When she visited hockey practices and cheered us on to win the championship.
It was every moment I held her hand as her friend while my heart yearned to belong to her.
