Hockey Imagines

And Then Some | Cole Caufield

#22, Right Wing for the Montreal Canadiens
Word Count: 2.5 K

"I could be at a red light
You grab my hand and hold it tight
You look at me and suddenly
There's one or two more butterflies
You're sippin' on a Cherry Coke
Barely gettin' through the joke
That you've told me 10 times this week
But somehow it ain't getting old"
- "And Then Some," Alex Sampson

"Cole."

He glances at me. "Yes, darling?"

My heart flutters at his sweet words, a big grin taking over my face. "I love you."

He smiles and leans over the center console to give me gentle kiss. "I love you, too. Very random, by the way, but I love you too."

I laugh. "Wanna hear the joke again?"

He groans. "Don't, please." He says with a teasing grin. "Ten times in the past day is enough already."

"But you love it." I remind him with a giggle. "C'mon, Cole, you gotta know what you call a monkey that wins the Stanley Cup." I can't even finish my sentence without bursting out in laughter.

"A chimpion." He fills in with a chuckle. Yes, I've told the joke dozens of times this week, but it's still funny. And Cole always loves hockey jokes.

"How'd you knowwww?"

"Maybe because you've told me a dozen times." He replies, tickling me gently before turning his attention to the road when the light turns green. "You know, you're like a little monkey."

I laugh. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're silly like a little spider monkey. Which one of your books was it where the guy called the girl a spider monkey?"

"Twilight." I tell him excitedly. "You remember that?"

"Of course. I remember everything you tell me."

I just watch him with a smile as he drives, wondering how I got so lucky. How I found this amazing man, and how I got so lucky that he loves me.

It's like every day I know this boy, I love him more. Even after dating for three years, it's like nothing can make me love him less. Not a hockey game lost. Not an argument. Nothing. I love him with all of my heart.

And I know he feels the same.

"Coley?"

"Yes?" He gently takes my hand in his and brings them over to rest on his leg as he focuses on the road. "What is it, darling?" He asks when I don't answer immediately, stroking the top of my hand with his thumb.

I decide at the last second to change what I was going to say. Not yet. "Are you nervous about your NHL debut?"

He shrugs. "Not a bunch, no. It's hockey. It's what I do best. Yeah, I'll be at a higher level with higher level players, but I've proved my worth this far." He says confidently. "Why?"

"Just curious."

He nods and squeezes my hand gently. "Either way, my priority is taking care of you in the end."

I smile and kiss his cheek, leaning back in my seat. How could I ever question him?

- - - - -

"I say it and I mean it
At least I think I do
It has a different meaning
Every time that you
Steal another kiss
Off my lips"

Two Years Later

"What's going on?" I ask Nick, wringing my hands nervously.

"What do you mean?"