“He’s still on the plane, Gems. You can thank him after you pass your driver’s test.”
A radiant smile lights up her face as she nods in agreement. “Alright. Shall we eat these pancakes, Gunner?”
“Are they cake batter flavored?” he asks.
“Would it be a birthday around here if they weren’t? Of course they are, it’s tradition,” I assure him.
“Did you make enough for when Benny’s home?” Gunner asks me as he hops up on his stool at the kitchen island.
“I did, I thought he could either have them when he gets home, or we could do a birthday morning do-over for him tomorrow. What do you think of that?”
Gunner nods excitedly in agreement, making his wild hair fall over his eyes. Gemma reaches over to sweep it off his forehead, and I sigh in contentment at the small gesture of endearment. These two are my entire world, and I wish I could freeze time in this moment so they wouldn’t get any older. But even if I could, I know I wouldn’t. I’m far too excited to see how they’ll grow and all of the amazing things they’ll do, the dreams they’ll reach, the goals they’ll crush.
“I love you both, you know that?” I tell them as I hand them their plates full of pancakes and eggs.
Gemma rolls her eyes at my mushy sentiment. “You always get like this on our birthdays. You’re such a sap.”
Gunner giggles. “But we love you too!”
“Yeah,” Gems sighs in exasperation before continuing with a sincere tone. “We really do love you, Scar.”
I swat at the tears threatening to break free. “And this is why I didn’t do my makeup before breakfast.” With a half-sniffle, half-chuckle, I tell them, “Alright, let’s finish eating and then we’ve got to get ready. Gunner, today it’s silly sweater day for your class so I put the sweater you and Benny picked out on your bed. And Gemma, we’ll have about thirty minutes to finish getting ready before we’ve got to drop off Gunner so we have enough time to make it to your driver’s test appointment.”
“Is it the sweater with the skateboarding Santa?” Gunner questions.
“Was there another sweater you picked out with Bennett?” Gemma asks him.
“Yeah, he called the jerseys he got me sweaters,” he explains.
That makes us both chuckle. “That’s just a term they call jerseys sometimes. I meant the Santa sweater for today,” I clarify.
We finished eating breakfast together and got ready, and before I knew it, I was parking my car outside the DMV for Gemma’s road test. First, she had to complete the knowledge test, which she passed with flying colors, and then she had to take the road test. They’ve been gone for about a half hour, and I’ve been nervously tapping my foot in the waiting room when a deep voice I’d recognize anywhere says, “Is this seat taken, ma’am?”
I’m up and out of my seat so quickly, I hardly have time to take him in before I’m jumping into his arms. I’d be embarrassed by my needy display of affection if I wasn’t so desperate for his embrace after nearly a week apart.
Bennett’s arms wrap around my waist, and I inhale deeply, feeling comforted by his familiar scent that’s come to feel like home to me.
His chest rumbles against mine, and it makes me want to squeeze him tighter to me. “Miss me, Little Red?”
“I missed you so much. Happy birthday, Cap,” I whisper into his ear before cupping his cheeks and peppering kisses all over his face.
He sets me down when someone clears their throat beside us, and I bury my head in his chest, embarrassed at how wrapped up in our reunion I got. But even as we sit down together, Bennett keeps an arm wrapped around my shoulder and intertwines our fingers with his other hand.
“What are you doing here?” I finally ask him.
“I came right from the airport hoping I’d make it in time to see our girl pass her driver’s test.”
I don’t miss the way he said “our girl,” and my heart warms at the way he’s embraced my siblings in such a short time. It means more than I’ll ever be able to express to him.
“She was so nervous, but she passed the knowledge test with flying colors and has been gone now for a little over a half hour,” I tell him,
He hums in acknowledgment. “She’s got this.”
“She does,” I agree as I lean my head on his shoulder. “You guys had a great away series. And look at you with two power-play goals in three games.”
Bennett lowers his head closer to my ear and tells me in a low voice, “Coach says I’m playing some of the best hockey of my life and to keep up whatever’s gotten into me.” His rough chuckle elicits goosebumps down my neck. “Looks like I’ve got to keep up the sexy pregame FaceTime calls with you while we’re on the road and the visits to your office before home games.”
“I suppose we could do that . . . if it’s what’s best for the team.”
