Just Another Season

by Longley, Avery J.

  With Emma beside him observing him without any words, Ryan grinned and followed his therapist off to the part of the Rehab Center where they did brace fittings, and within a half an hour, they were done, and he had a new brace that they all felt would be adequate protection for him to skate with.

  Once they were out of the Rehab Center, holding Emma’s hand with one of his own, and the brace with the other, Ryan casually asked her, “So, how would you like a skating lesson tonight?”

  ~*~

  “Tell me when they’re too tight.”

  They’d soon made it to the Crown Center, and as Ryan had anticipated, they had the place virtually to themselves. Ryan had insisted that Emma not only be supplied hockey skates, rather than the typical figure skates, but also that he help her put them on. “I’ve tied shoes before.” She tried to tell him.

  “Yes, but you haven’t tied skates before.” Ryan replied as he yanked and tugged on the laces so hard she was certain she was going to lose circulation in her feet. When Emma had tried swatting him to get them to loosen them up a little bit, he shook his head and told her, “No. Too loose and you risk breaking an ankle. Hockey skates support better than figure skates, but you still need to be diligent in lacing them up properly. Why do you think my fingers are so calloused? It sure as hell isn’t because I’ve worked manual labor all my life, like my father.”

  Reaching for one of those hands, Emma gave it a squeeze and then kissed his knuckles, helping him back up to his feet, and then letting him pull her to a standing position. After a slight initial wobble, she was feeling rather confident, and followed him off to the area where they’d get on the ice. The ice cleaner – generically called a Zamboni, Ryan had told her, even though that was a brand name – was on the ice at the moment, but as soon as it was done, they could go out there. She was glad they’d headed back to the apartment before heading into the city – wearing Ryan’s leather jacket, she was just warm enough to not feel the chill in the evening air.

  Finally, they were allowed on the ice but Ryan had her wait just inside where they entered and she watched as he took off around the ice, gaining speed in each corner until he stopped just before her and sprayed up ice clippings on her. “Okay, now that I have that out of my system.” He grinned at her and offered her his hands, and all the confidence she’d had in the locker room area immediately evaporated when she attempted to glide closer to him and almost did a full split.

  “Oh my lord, how do you stay upright on these things?!?” Emma held tighter to Ryan’s hands and just let him skate backwards and pull her along, finding the smile on his face was infectious and that she couldn’t help but grin back at him. “Or can I not get in on the hockey secrets?”

  Laughing Ryan swung them around a bit, making Emma squeal and giggle and causing him to laugh even harder. “Comes with time and practice, babe. As soon as we could walk, Grandpère had us in skates – Gabi too. In fact, she can skate circles around Luke and I both.”

  “Oh yeah? She’s never mentioned that before.” Emma let go of one of Ryan’s hands and grabbed for the boards as the approached it and then added softly, “Let’s do this side-by-side, even if it means you’re dragging me around.”

  He chuckled again, but they did manage a slow pace around the small rink, with Ryan doing most of the work and Emma occasionally experimenting with her balance on the skates. After another lap around, he went back to her previous comment and told her, “She stopped playing when she went to college, then law school. Don’t know if she didn’t have time, or didn’t have the inclination to play when she knew she’d never be given the opportunity to reach the highest levels. But having her and Luke to go up against? They’ve made me a better goalie.”

  When they finally edged close to the boards again, Emma once again grabbed on and waited until Ryan circled in front of her to hook a gloved hand behind his neck and pull him down for a kiss. “Thank you for sharing this with me.” She whispered against his lips.

  Rubbing his nose against her, Ryan replied softly, “Thank you for letting me bring you into my world, even if only for a night.”

  Chapter 27 - Christmas Memories

  It was finally Christmas, and much to Emma’s surprise and delight, a little bit of snow had greeted them that morning. It couldn’t have been more than an inch, and barely stuck to the roads, but to two New Englanders used to a winter wonderland, it made Missouri feel more like home.

  They’d spent the previous evening at the Blizzard’s charity event in Kansas City proper, first working in the soup kitchen, and then helping to give out presents to the less fortunate kids. Emma wasn’t sure if it was the jersey he wore or just his personality, but Ryan drew the kids to him like magnets. She was glad that his knee was strong enough that he could get down on their level. She had the sense that if he ever did have kids, he’d make a good father.

  Much to her chagrin Ryan had demurred on exchanging presents before the holiday gathering at Gabi’s house. They’d agreed on getting just single presents for each other and set a price limit, but she still wondered if her present would be enough. Emma still wasn’t sure what Ryan was getting her – she’d caught him snooping in her room one day when he’d gotten up before she had, but he’d managed to sufficiently distract her that she forgot what he’d been looking for.

  When they finally did arrive at Gabi’s place, Emma could see that the green eyes were indeed a hereditary trait. She’d never looked at Ryan’s father long enough during their previous visit, but in looking at him and Luke’s father – and the boy’s Grandpère – she could see that they all shared the same bright green eyes. And they all could – and were – speaking rapid fire French to each other.

  And they might have continued to do so until Emma put her hands on hips and stared down at Luke after he’d looked in her direction after saying something she couldn’t decipher. “Luke, if you don’t want me showing off the French you two have managed to teach me thus far, I’d suggest you switch to a language I can actually converse in.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw the boy’s Grandpère stifling a snicker, but at least from that point on, the conversations were predominantly held in English. Though Luke’s parents spoke with more of an accent than their son did, it was clear that they too were fluently bilingual.

  When the meal was finally served, Emma found herself seated between Ryan and Devin, and leaning over to Devin a bit, she asked him softly, “How in the world did you ever get used to this much French all the time?”

  Shaking his head a bit, Devin answered her back in just as soft a voice, “You just get used to it. And you pick up a lot. Beyond the bad words of course, which I’ve heard you can use quite proficiently.”

  Blushing a bit, Emma elbowed Devin in the ribs and muttered at him, “You guys started those lessons. These guys have just expanded on them.”

  “Going to share with the rest of the class, Ms. Connelly?” On Luke’s teasing voice, Emma looked up, and had his parents and grandfather not been present, she likely would have flipped him the bird.

  Instead, she shot him her brightest smile and murmured back at him, “Oh, we were just discussing how, in all the months you two have been here, you’ve only managed to teach me how to speak vulgarly in French.”

  At this both Luke and Ryan blushed red, and this time Emma was sure – she did see their Grandpère chuckling at their expense. She still didn’t know the man well, but anyone who could enjoy seeing the boys getting it back as good as they gave it was alright in her book!

  ~*~

  Though Emma seemed to be getting along with his collective family far better than Ryan had expected her to, he still took the opportunity after the meal to say he needed to take a walk to stretch out his leg. He wasn’t surprised when Emma said she’d join him – he was surprised when his Grandpère said he would as well.

  They’d taken a slow pace around the neighborhood, as much due to his Grandpère’s age as to take their time. And Emma had used
every opportunity to all but interview his Grandpère, and he was betting she was regretting that she didn’t have her recorder with her.

  “I’ve been in this country 40 years now. The boys were born in Québec, when I was playing for the team in that area, but after my career ended, I wanted to come back to Massachusetts, since I’d played there a bit as well.” Ryan knew that Emma was quite aware of at least some of those details – either from the article she’d written or her own research into his Grandpère’s life and career.

  “How’d you pick Gardner?” She asked him.

  “We – my late wife and I – wanted an area with a strong French community. There was a lot of furniture building in that area, and a lot of the French were good with lumber and good with their hands, so that’s where they settled. And so, that’s where we settled.” He paused for a moment and leaned on his cane, then glanced over in Ryan’s direction. “How’s your knee, boy?”

  “Right now, it’s just fine. Long-term, it’s getting better. They’ve let me start skating lightly again. I took Emma out a few weeks ago.” Ryan and his Grandpère shared a grin at that – both men were quite familiar with how first skating experiences often went.

  Grandpère turned to Emma and asked her with sparkling eyes, “So, how many times did you fall? Or was he a gentleman and he lead you around?”

  Emma winked over at Ryan before turning back to Grandpère. “He was the perfect gentleman, as he always is. Besides, he knows if he’s ever not the perfect gentleman, I have his General Manager’s number on speed dial.”

  At that, Grandpère threw back his head and laughed loudly while Ryan blushed crimson. “I like you, young lady. You keep both of my boys on their toes. I hope this one will bring you around this summer if they head back east at all.”

  Emma cut her eyes over at Ryan then returned them to Grandpère, murmuring at him, “I’d enjoy that. And I’d love to hear more about your playing career and life and travels if you have the time.”

  “You don’t want an old man like me talking your ear off, do you?”

  “Yes, yes I do.” She answered soon, and Ryan knew that she meant every word of that. “I would love to sit and hear about what it was like to grow up in Canada, to play hockey professionally. I think it would make a fascinating story.”

  Grandpère glanced at him once more. “Yes, definitely bring this one back with you. Leave behind whoever Luke is seeing now, but this one is a keeper.”

  Emma blushed at his words, but Ryan winked in his Grandpère’s direction. He had no intentions of letting Emma go - not now or anytime in the future, either.

  ~*~

  After many hours in Gabi’s house, Ryan and Emma had bid adieu to his family for the night and headed back to their apartment so they could do their own gift exchange. It still seemed weird to her to be doing this so late in the day, but she wasn’t going to argue with Ryan when he was so insistent.

  Several weeks earlier they’d gone out and picked up a small pre-decorated (and assuredly fake) tree from the nearby home improvement store, and it set in the corner of the living room, giving the area a bit of life to it for once. And while she was still satisfied with the gift she had selected for Ryan, she’d decided to do one extra thing – and she was grateful she hadn’t yet sealed his card, because she could add that in with her note to him.

  Soon, they ended up sharing her Grandpa’s chair with the big box containing his gift on his lap, and the smaller one containing hers in her hands. Giving him the card first, Emma waited as he read through, smiling at the goofy sentiment on the front and then eyes widening as he read the note. Giving him a shy smile, she told him, “I know it’s not much, but after watching you with those kids last night, I thought a donation in your name would be a nice gesture.”

  Nuzzling his cheek against hers, Ryan replied, “Let me match it and put it in both of our names, and you have a deal.”

  Agreeing readily, Emma marveled at how much she’d grown in the last few months. The old Emma would have taken offense to her offering being altered, but she’d learned so much being with Ryan, especially about compromise. While he waited, this time it was her opening his card, finding a romantic verse that didn’t surprise her in the least, ended by a proclamation of his love. Turning her head more to face him, she kissed him slowly, briefly losing herself to this sweet and tender man sitting beside her.

  When they did separate, Emma said Ryan should open his present first, and after making a great show of undoing the paper and bows and such, he finally revealed the leather jacket she’d selected for him. When she gave him another shy smile, he teased softly, “I take it this means I’m not getting the other one back?”

  Shaking her head, she teased back, “Not when it looks better on me than you. This one though, should be a perfect fit for you.”

  “Kinda like you?” He quipped as she once again blushed fiercely. Ryan kissed her cheek and then tilted his head towards the box she still held in her hands. “Why don’t you open yours?”

  Emma gazed curiously at the box – it was small, like she’d expect a jewelry box to be – but with Ryan remaining in his seat, he hadn’t gotten her jewelry, had he? Still she made just as much as a process of unwrapping the box as he had, revealing that the box beneath the wrapping did indeed bear the name of a local jewelry chain.

  Despite her eyeing him curiously, Ryan reached over and flipped the box open, revealing a simple ring with 3 diamonds along the top. As her mouth dropped, he told her softly, “This isn’t an engagement ring, because I think we’d both agree it’s too soon for that. This is a promise ring. It’s a promise of my commitment to you – and just you – and I hope you’ll accept it.”

  Gazing at the ring for the longest time, Emma finally removed it from its box, turning it to and fro to look at it more closely. Finally, she asked him softly, “Where am I supposed to wear it?”

  Almost immediately a relieved grin lit up Ryan’s face – she hadn’t realized how nervous he was. “It’s sized for your right ring finger – so there should be no mistaking it with an engagement ring.” He paused for a moment. “That’s what I was doing that day you found me snooping in your room.”

  Sliding the ring onto her finger and admiring it for a moment, she turned her head again and kissed Ryan once more before whispering against his lips, “I think I can forgive you for that. Between this and how you distracted me after that fact.”

  “I could always distract you again,” He teased, his eyebrows wiggling just a bit.

  “Well that would make for a very Merry Christmas indeed, wouldn’t it?”

  ~*~

  They had indeed ended up back in the bedroom, and Ryan was quite aware there was something different about this time. Emma seemed more open to him, more willing to give herself to him - but he wanted to make sure this was truly what she wanted before he went down that road.

  From the first moment they’d stepped into the bedroom, she’d slowly stripped out of her clothes in front of him, raising his desire before she’d even climbed into the bed. Even now, where they lay side by side, bodies pressed tightly against each other, Ryan’s desire for Emma was evident between them. Yet their hands continued to explore each other’s bodies again, almost as though it were the first time all over again. And it wasn’t as if they hadn’t messed around since they’d made up, but still, this time felt different.

  After a particularly hungry kiss, Emma pulled back from him and whispered with those gray eyes shining brightly, “I want you.”

  He gulped soft, wanting to make sure he understood her correctly, before he ruined the moment, “H-how do you want me, baby?”

  Ryan could see her eyes roll a bit, but still the smile remained on her face and he was surprised – and quite aroused - when he felt her hand reach down to wrap around him, directing his hardness towards the moisture between her legs.

  Taking a deep breath, even though he had no doubts of her desires and intentions now, he still had one remaining question. “How
do you want to do this? In the positions we’re in now? You on top, you on bottom?”

  Noting that her eyes widen a bit, Ryan initially wondered if he’d misread her, until Emma soon straightened him out. “I’ve only ever done it on the bottom.” She licked her lips, sending a shiver down his spine, and then told him in a low voice, “Let me be on top.”

  Groaning soft, Ryan pulled back from her and laid flat on the bed, beckoning her closer with his hands until he had her straddling over top of his stomach. “You control everything,” he told her softly, “so set whatever pace you’re comfortable with.”

  The hungry look Emma gave him sent another shiver down his spine, as did the sight of her slowly lowering herself down onto his length, gradually until he was fully encompassed by her. Ryan felt her tighten muscles around him before she started to rise and sink onto him unhurriedly, and Ryan knew that he was going to completely lose his mind if she drew this out as it seemed she was going to.