Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
I hope all these kids do.
One in particular…
“Can I text you tomorrow and see how she’s doing?” I ask. We exchanged numbers over cookies a few minutes ago, and I confess I feel better now that I have Elly saved in my phone.
“Sure. Of course. She usually kicks the fevers pretty quickly as long as there’s no underlying infection, but yeah…it’s fine to text.” Elly nods seriously. Too seriously, I’m thinking, right as she adds, “But I’m going to need a day to think about the other thing, Grammercy. A whole day, when I haven’t been up at the hospital most of the night. Is Sunday evening early enough to let you know?”
“That’s perfect,” I say. “Take as long as you need.”
“Well, the insurance runs out end of the day on Monday, so probably best if I figure things out before then.” She crosses her arms, giving herself a hug I wish I could give her. “But, like I said. I’m grateful, either way. You’re a good one, Gee. You give me hope.” Before I can prepare myself, she’s popped up on her toes and pressed a quick kiss to my cheek.
It’s over before I fully realize it’s begun, but still…
Still, there’s a huskiness in my voice as I say, “Good night, chère.”
“Good night, Grammercy,” she murmurs back.
I push through the doors, leaving her on the other side, left with nothing but the ghost of her lips still warm on my skin and the scent of her perfume to assure me this wasn’t all a dream.
I really did meet my mystery girl, spend the night with her at the hospital, and ask her to marry me.
Life, man…
Sometimes it can be one hell of a ride.
As I drive home in the pre-dawn light, past the familiar landmarks of the life I once knew, my heart aches in a way that’s both wonderful and scary. I’ve put something in motion tonight, something that could change everything.
And weirdly enough, no matter how much I know I need to keep my focus locked on the season ahead, I can’t help hoping…
Please say yes, I think as I pull into my building’s garage. Please…
Crazy or not, half my heart is still across town, next to a one-of-a-kind woman and her sweet little girl, keeping watch over them through the night.
Chapter
Eight
Excerpt from the LOVE ON ICE PODCAST
- EPISODE 128: Time for a Risky Play?
Recorded in October.
[Theme music fades. Elly’s voice comes in, a little breathless.]
Hey there, players and puck bunnies. It’s your girl Luvvy Puck, coming to you live from the bathroom floor. Because sometimes your heart’s racing so hard it feels safer to be close to the ground.
(Soft laugh, heavier sigh.)
So, yeah, there’s been a lot going on this week. The kind of life-ing that makes you shake your head and think, “Wow, life, you crazy bastard. What else do you have up your sleeve?”
I had a plan for tonight’s episode. I was going to tell you this old story about Mason Coggins—you remember, the goalie with the murder-face who turned out to have a Hallmark heart. The one who sold his house to pay for a kid’s cancer treatment, but never planned on taking credit for it until the kid’s sister told the press?
Turns out sometimes the meanest-looking players pull the sweetest moves.
Who knew?
But honestly…my mind’s not on Mason. Or his story.
It’s on something closer to home. Something reckless and weird and maybe wonderful.
Because sometimes, the riskiest plays—the ones you’d never draw up on the chalkboard—turn out to be exactly what the game needs.
(Pause. Soft laugh.)
Anyway. Fair warning, episodes are going to be spotty for a bit.
My life’s about to get wild in a way I didn’t see coming.
But for once, I think that might be a good thing.
Until next time…Love On Ice—he shoots, I moan. For girls who know sometimes you’ve gotta leave the crease to chase down your happy ending.
Chapter
Nine
ELLY
Halfway up the courthouse steps Monday afternoon, it hits me that I’m about to marry Grammercy Graves.
Like…for real.
Not in the theoretical way I’ve been thinking about it since Friday night when he made his totally decent, but entirely crazy, proposal. Not in the practical, problem-solving way we approached it last night, when we spent an hour on the phone working out logistics like insurance forms and paperwork for the courthouse, and when Mimi and I should plan on moving in.
Nope, this is the full-body, heart-in-my-throat, how-the-hell-is-this-really-my-life realization that in thirty to forty minutes, depending on how backed up the justice of the peace is after their lunch break, I’m going to become Mrs. Grammercy Graves.
My knees go wobbly, and I have to grab the marble railing to steady myself. The heat of the sun-warmed stone beneath my palm reminds me why I’m doing this.
For Mimi.
For her safety, her health, and the chance to finally lift our little family of two above the poverty line and keep us there, once and for all.