When I was dating Bridgette, I’d felt as though my life was in some sort of rut. I never wanted to break up with her because I thought my work schedule was too crazy and I wouldn’t be able to date anyone else. What I didn’t realize was finding the right person to date was effortless. It also helped that Ashtyn and I unofficially lived together. Bridgette had always wanted to go out and spend my money. Though looking back, I think she did it because she was hoping we’d run into hockey players that I knew. The problem with that was most of them were married. At least the ones with established careers who were making the big bucks. Also, did she realize that most of them had missing teeth? I mean, fighting was almost encouraged in hockey, and therefore, a lot of them practically had dentures.

My point in all of this is that when I thought about a Christmas present for Ashtyn, I contemplated getting her jewelry. I assumed I’d need to spend at least one of my paychecks on something that was gold for her, but the more I pondered about the perfect gift, the more I realized that wasn’t Ashtyn. She didn’t wear flashy things or expect expensive dinners every Saturday night. She wanted to curl up on the couch and watch a movie instead of getting dressed up for a night on the town. It was fucking perfect. She was fucking extraordinary.

So one morning, while Ashtyn sang in the shower, I thought of the most amazing gift. I just hoped she didn’t laugh …

Too much.

Ashtyn: Be there in five.

I grabbed my coat, shrugged it on and then being the smart ass that I was, I grabbed winter gloves and a beanie. I’d also dressed in long underwear under all of my clothes. Ashtyn said to dress warm, and that was what I was doing. I just hoped I didn’t sweat my balls off.

When I got downstairs, I waited inside the building until I saw Ashtyn pull up. Her blue Volvo was actually pretty sweet with a heated steering wheel, a heated windshield, heated wipers, and heated front and rear seats. And it also had some horsepower.

I opened the passenger door and stuck my head in. “Should I sit in the back so you can chauffeur me around?”

“No!” She laughed. “Get your ass in here and close the door. It’s freezing out there.”

I did just that. “It is snowing, Cupcake. Ice is literally falling from the sky.”

“Yeah, so did you dress warmly?”

“Even put my thermal underwear on.” I winked.

Ashtyn pulled away from the curb. “Me too.”

I looked down to see she was wearing jeans and not the dress she’d reported the news in. “Are you going to tell me now where we’re going?”

“Nope.”

“Will there be booze?”

“Nope.”

“Music?”

“Nope.”

“Food?”

“Nope.”

“Sex?”

She looked away from the road and over at me as we waited at a light. “If you’re good.”

I grinned. “Pretty sure I’m on the nice list.”

“Yeah, you are. Just don’t screw it up in the next hour and you’ll get sex when we get home.”

I bobbed my head in approval. I could totally be good. Especially if sex was on the table. Or on the couch. Or on the kitchen counter. Or in the shower. I wasn’t picky.

Ashtyn drove us toward Grant Park. “Cupcake, I hate to burst your bubble, but the park is closed.”

“I know,” she replied and drove right down to the parking garage.

There was an attendant at the gate, and I expected him to tell us they were closed, but instead he nodded to Ashtyn and opened the gate. I turned to look at her, confused. She shrugged. “Perks of the job.”

“Okay …” I hesitated as she drove and parked the car. “So, what are we going to do here?”

“Still a surprise.”

Seeing as we were about to go frolic in the fucking park, my long johns were definitely the right decision.

After we parked and got out of the car, we grabbed our gloves, and Ashtyn took my hand and led me toward the section of Grant Park that was by the mini-golf course. “We’re going to play mini-golf?”

“Nope.” She shook her head and kept walking.

As we walked, I spotted the ice skating rink in the distance. It wasn’t your typical ice skating rink. In fact, it was called a skating ribbon because the rink was interwoven into the terrain of the ground it sat on. You didn’t just skate around and around in a circle. It had slight inclines and declines and followed a shape like a ribbon around the two rock climbing walls.

“We’re going ice skating?”

“Kinda,” she replied and tugged me until we were standing in front of the ice skate rental building. Another man opened the door, and as we passed, Ashtyn greeted him by name and thanked him.

“So, you just slip these guys some money, and they let you in?” I teased.

“I told you that I get perks.”

“Do I want to know how?”

Ashtyn laughed. “Not like that. Jeez!”

I smiled and followed as she walked up to the skate rental booth. Two sets of skates were waiting for us. We slipped them on, and after lacing them up, Ashtyn asked, “You ready to race?”

“Race?” I laughed.

“Yeah. Loser has to do all the pleasuring tonight.”

I snickered. “Is that so?”

“Yep.”

“You do remember me telling you that I’ve played ice hockey since I was five?”

She shrugged slightly. “How do you know I haven’t been practicing?”

“Have you?” I asked and stood. I stood easily on the blades as if they were normal boots I was wearing. Ashtyn, on the other hand, had to grab onto the side of the counter for support.

“You’ll just have to wait and see.”

“All right, Apolo Ohno. Let’s see what you’re made of.”

I helped Ashtyn out of the building and across to the outdoor rink. After we slipped off the blade covers, I thought I’d need to help her not fall on the ice. However, she skated effortlessly.

“First one back here is the winner.”

“Got it,” I replied and stood next to her in a race-stance position. Should I let her win? I didn’t mind doing all the pleasuring. She knew I loved to lick her cupcake. But then when a woman beats you at anything, especially sports, you never live it down. Romi beat me one-time at Horse when we were playing hoops, and to this day my sister thinks she’s better at basketball than me.

“Ready?” Ashtyn asked, and before I could reply she bolted.

“Hey!” I shouted and took off after her.

I was right on her heels almost the entire way, but she gave me a run for my money. The fucking long johns under my jeans and coat were riding up in places I didn’t want them to be. We laughed and groaned and laughed some more as we sped around the ribbon. I pulled ahead, and just as I was rounding the final turn, I saw people standing on the ice with a finish line ribbon across it. Ashtyn had gone all out on this night, but as I skated closer, I recognized one of the men. It wasn’t the garage attendant or the guy who had let us into the skate rental building.

It was my idol, Jeremy Roenick.

Still skating, I turned my head to look over my shoulder at Ashtyn. She was smiling as she skated leisurely up behind me. She clearly wanted me to win, and now I knew why.

My gaze met Jeremy’s, and he was smiling as I skated through the tape. I’d always known him to have a good rapport with his fans. Back in the day, I’d hear about how he would smile and stop what he was doing to sign autographs. I’d never gotten to meet him, but I knew if I were ever given the chance, he’d be a standup guy. And I was right because what retired hockey player would come stand out in the snow at midnight to meet a fan?

Apparently, Jeremy Roenick would.