Women and children stood around their hockey players, kissing and crying as they hugged them tightly. Elli saw Harper and Jakob making out and her heart broke at the sight of Harper’s bloodshot eyes with tears running down her face. Jakob had her face in his hand, trying to kiss away the tears that kept falling. It was such a beautiful sight.

Elli then saw Mary Ann standing beside Alex, with their four little girls surrounding him, all smiling with tears in their eyes. A man came up and took Shea’s bags from him. After telling him thank you, Shea turned to look at Elli.

“So like I said, stay at the condo when you need to.”

She nodded, “I will.”

“I’ll text before I call, just in case you’re busy.”

“Okay, I’ll make sure to do the same,” she looked down at the floor as the tears rushed to her eyes, she hated goodbyes.

“You better keep your goal points up, I want you to get the Norris this year.”

He laughed, pushing his glasses up on his face, “Will do. You’ll be watching, right?”

“I don’t miss a game.”

“Good.”

They both stood there, not touching or looking at each other, neither knowing what to say.

“God, this sucks,” he said in a sigh, making Elli smile.

“It really does.”

She watched as his Converses came a little closer to her canvas shoes, then felt his arms wrap around her waist. He nudged her face up with his fingers under her chin, making her look up at him.

“I’ll be gone for two weeks, don’t keep that face hidden for me.”

Elli gave him a small smile but she couldn’t keep in the tears that leaked out and ran down her cheeks. She soaked in the sight of his face, the scars, the one dimple, his beautiful blue eyes, the glasses that drove her crazy, and the way his hair fell into his eyes. She wanted to make sure she wouldn’t forget, even though she knew she wouldn’t. Not only had she taken pictures of him all weekend, but his face would be forever burned into her memory. It was like he was doing the same, taking in everything about her. She wished she had done something with her hair, instead of throwing it up in a bun. Wished she had put on some better clothes, but she felt so comfortable in his shirt and her favorite jeans.

“I’m gonna miss you something stupid, Shea,” she blurted out as the tears started falling faster. “I’m sorry, I’m such a baby,” she complained, wiping her eyes, and laughing. He took her hands down from her face, cupping her in his hands, running his thumbs along her cheeks as he looked deep into her eyes.

“I’m going to miss you more Elli, so much more.”

Elli’s lip wobbled as another round of tears fell down her cheeks. He brought her lips to his, kissing her long and hard. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, wanting to climb up his body and live in his arms as she kissed him. She wouldn’t be able to kiss his beautiful mouth for two weeks, so she was going to get her fill.

And boy did she.

When they finally parted, Elli noticed that people were walking back to their cars, wiping their eyes, and trying to calm their children. Elli looked back up at Shea, and he was looking at the plane before looking back down at her.

“I need to go, they are boarding.”

Elli nodded, as she brought her lip between her teeth.

“Be safe, and come home in one piece.”

He nodded slowly before kissing her deeply once more. He took a step back, kissing her knuckles, and then looked up at her.

“Better not get a new boyfriend while I’m gone,” he teased with a wink as he started walking away, their hands still connected.

“Never.”

He stopped, and then pulled her back to him, kissing her again. She savored it, not rushing him even though everyone was basically on the plane. He pulled back again, and this time he went, dropping her hand as he walked away from her. Elli watched every step he took, tears falling with every step, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched him board the plane, and the door shut. Since she was pretty sure watching the plane leave would break her, she turned and walked back to Shea’s truck. She heard the plane start, and then she heard it take off.

And then he was gone.

Shea had to fight the tears that were threatening to fall. Walking away from Elli was his undoing; he didn’t want to leave her, not even the thought of kicking some ass made him want to leave Elli. He wanted to be back in bed with her, her wrapped in his arms, giggling or moaning, whichever came first.

“Yo, Adler, who was that girl?”

Shea looked up and over at Sergei, who was sitting next to Alex. Jakob was sitting next to him and what an ass he was; he hadn’t even greeted his best friend yet.

“My girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend? Shit Shea, who am I supposed to pick up chicks with now?” Shea shook his head, shrugging his shoulders.

“Not me, I’m a taken man.”

“I thought I would never see this day. Shea Adler has a girlfriend, shit.”

Sergei shook his head as he put his headphones on. Shea look back down at his hands, wishing Elli’s hands were in them.

“Sucks, huh?” Jakob finally said. Shea nodded his head.

“I didn’t think it was gonna be this hard.”

“Me either, Harper cried all morning.”

“Elli didn’t start until we got here.” Shea shook his head, dropping his face in his hand.

“I should have told her I loved her.” Jakob took in a quick breath. Shea looked over at him, giving him a cocky smile. “Yeah, I love her.”