"What are you and Danielle doing for Valentine's Day," Brooks asked Mike as the two of them skated around the ice at Kettler.
"I honestly don't have any idea what we are doing. I'm not good with this whole romance shit," Mike replied firing a puck at Neuvy.
"You do know Valentine's Day is in three days, right? I know you may not care but to the chicks, it means something. Kiley told me that Danielle's had boyfriends before, but she's never had an actual date on Valentine's Day. Make it special for her since one of her old boyfriends dumped her on the holiday."
"Really?"
"She tells Kiley a lot man, I think you need to plan something special."
"What are you doing for Kiley?"
"Nice dinner at a fancy restaurant then home for some dessert."
"I wish I had dessert," Mike mumbled to himself but Brooks heard it.
"Wait, what?"
"Nothing," Mike lied, "I said you're a pig for the dessert comment."
"You haven't been laid," Brooks asked, "You and Danielle have been together almost three months and you haven't done it yet"
"She came onto me once but I think it was her hormones, so I turned her down."
"Do you love her," Nicky asked finally breaking his silence.
"Yeah, I do love her. I told her a couple of weeks ago and I tell her every day."
"Make love to her then, idiot," Brooks said, "She knows you love her now you have to show her how much you do."
"Kiley has turned you into a pussy!"
"At least I'm a pussy who's getting pussy!"
"Fucking dickhead," Mike laughed shoving Brooks playfully.
"You get her present," Nicky asked.
"No, I didn't yet."
"After practice, you and me go. Kristi need present."
"Are you two official yet," Mike asked.
"No, she just come here every other weekend and we stay in watch movie, fall asleep."
"Do you like her," Brooks asked.
"Ja," Nicky replied, "A lot!"
"Take her on a date then," Mike said, "Is she coming here for Valentine's Day?"
"Ja."
"Send her flowers, get her a present, and ask her to dinner on the card. Women love that shit."
"I don't know what to get Danielle; it’s my first time buying anything for her and she's picky."
"Kiley said she wanted a Pandora charm bracelet with baby stuff on it for Landon. Danielle saw it at the mall the other day when they went shopping."
"What store?"
"I can't remember, I'll call Kiley as soon as practice is over and I'll ask her."
"Nicky, want to go with me? I'll call Danielle and ask her what Kristi would like?"
"Yeah, thanks," Nicky replied, "I thought about getting her tickets for Sweden this summer with me but I not sure."
"Let me let you in on a secret, Nicky," Mike said putting his arm around his shoulder, "Kristi loves anything having to do with Sweden. Buy her tickets to go with you this summer and she'll marry you."
Brooks laughed when Nicky blushed, "I get her tickets on one condition."
"What's the condition?"
"You and Danielle come with us, bring baby."
"When's Danielle due anyway," Brooks asked.
"June 20."
"We go end of August," Nicky said.
"I'll talk to Danielle about it and I'll let you know."
"Okay!"
"Alright you fucking shitbums, hit the fucking showers, and let's go the fuck home," Bruce Boudreau called to the men who showed up at the morning's optional skate.
Mike returned to the locker room after finishing his shower, "Kiley said that Danielle saw that bracelet at the Zales in that Pentagon City mall," Brooks said zipping his jeans.
"Thanks," Mike replied pulling his sweater over his head, "Where's Nicky?"
"He is waiting for you outside."
"Do you think I should get Danielle something else besides the bracelet?"
"Rookie," Brooks mumbled causing Mike to throw a roll of stick tape at him.
"I'm being serious," Mike said sighing, "This is my first Valentine's Day with a girl that actually means something in my life."
"Look around and see if anything screams her to you. Trust me, you'll know if it is the right gift or not."
"Thanks for everything," he replied shaking Brooks' hand.
"Just don't pull a Bruce and get her shoes that are the wrong size and color."
"She'd have my balls on a platter."
"She's had your balls on a platter since the day she moved here."
"Fuck you," Mike laughed shoving his friend before leaving the locker room to go find Nicky.
Nicky was on the phone sitting in the car, Mike was asked for autographs by small group of fans outside of Kettler. Mike finished signing for the small group of ten before getting in the car.
"I talk to mom," Nicky said putting his phone in his pocket, "She excited we come to Sweden. Even more excited you bring baby, she tell me she want grandbaby soon."
Mike laughed while clapping the young Swede on his back, "Oh man, just wait until Kristi finds out."
"I still need to ask her out on date," he replied.
"Wait a second, I thought you two were already a thing."
"No, no," Nicky said unsure of what to say.
"So, she lives with you but you're not dating?"
"We just," Nicky paused before blushing, "We just have sex. Lots of sex but I like her a lot."
Mike laughed watching the young Swede blush while at a loss for words, "Ha ha make fun of Nicky."
"I'm not making fun of you but she likes you a lot, I say ask her out. I promise you that she won't say no," Mike assured his friend.
"Thanks," Nicky sighed, "By the way where is this place we go to?"
"Just go to the mall downstairs, they have lots of jewelry stores. It beats driving half way across town."
Mike and Nicky walked into the large mall and both stood there cluelessly.
"Where we start?"
"There's a jewelry store right there, maybe they have something," Mike said making the first step with Nicky right behind him.
Mike browsed the cases of Express Jewelers before he finally found the small Pandora display. Nicky was already talking to a salesman about a necklace that he saw when he walked in.
"May I help you," the younger salesman asked from behind the counter.
"What kind of charms do you have for moms," Mike asked.
"Well, it starts by picking a bracelet for them to go on. You can choose from both gold and silver. We also have white gold."
"I like that bracelet," Mike said pointing to the white gold bracelet with yellow gold clasp.
"Excellent choice, now are you and your wife having a boy or girl?"
"My girlfriend is having a boy."
"Congratulations, now do you have a name chosen?"
"Landon Michael," Mike replied watching as the salesman pulled an L and an M from the tray.
"Last name," he asked causing Mike to look at him.
"Green."
The salesman pulled a G from the tray and put them on the center of the bracelet. Mike pointed out a pair of hockey sticks, a baby carriage, a rattle and bottle, a little boy, and he pointed to a little girl.
"Step child?"
"God no," Mike laughed, "It's for the daughter we haven't had yet."
The salesman smiled while adding blue charms in between the ones Mike had chosen. Mike was watching Nicky blush while getting hit on by a mom with her teenage daughter that had noticed him.
Laughing slightly, Mike looked down at the bracelet that the salesman placed in front of him.
"She's going to love it," he assured the salesman.
"Would you like me to wrap it for you?"
"Yes please, I'll take that Cartier watch as well," Mike smiled pointing to the watch on the poster above the counter.
Danielle was going to rip him a new ass for spending all of that money on her. She hated it when Mike thought he had to buy her nice things to prove he loved her.
"You ready to go," Mike asked Nicky. Nicky was currently staring into a glass case with a confused look on his face.
"Ja," he replied standing up and following Mike out of the store, "What you buy?"
“What did you buy,” Mike smirked as Nicky tried to hide the bag.
“Nothing!”
“Mhm,” Mike laughed, “You are never a good liar Nicky.”
“Okay, fine,” Nicky sighed, “I got present for Kristi.”
“What did you get?”
“I got her angel wings necklace.”
“Angel wings,” Mike asked, “What?”
“If I tell you, you make fun of me.”
“Why would I make fun of you?”
Nicky didn’t say anything so Mike gave up and they walked out of the mall and towards the car. Mike pulled out his iPhone to call Danielle to let her know that they were on their way home. Danielle was out shopping with Kiley and Kristi, she let him know she’d bring something home for dinner and Mike asked her to bring home Chinese from P.F. Chang.
“Can we stop at the flower shop on the way back,” Mike asked Nicky.
“Ja,” Nicky replied, “Where Danielle?”
“She’s out shopping with Kiley and Kristi. Are you ever going to tell me why you bought her an angel wings necklace.”
Nicky sighed before nodding his head, “I call her my angel, so I buy her angel wings.”
“That's actually cool,” Mike smiled, “Not going to lie. At least you knew what to get her, I had to ask Brooks for clues about Danielle.”
“He only told you bracelet, what else did you buy?"
"Danielle loves borrowing my watches so I bought her one of her own."
"One to start her collection," Nicky joked.
"I guess so," Mike replied laughing as they pulled into the flower store.
Mike and Nicky both bought flowers. Mike new Danielle hated roses and he bought her a dozen of pink lilies instead. He remembered she said they were her favorite flower.
When Mike arrived home, he put the gifts in his dresser drawer. Just as he was finishing licking the envelope of the card, he heard the front door close.
"Mike," Danielle called out, "Are you home?"
Mike walked into the hallway with the flowers and a smile, "Hey baby," he said.
Danielle turned around and gasped, "Mike, they're beautiful. I can't believe you remembered."
"Be mine this year," Mike smiled.
"Mike," she replied hugging him tightly, "Of course."
Mike leaned down and gave her a kiss, "I'm taking you out Tuesday after the game, so plan on being up late."
"Where are you taking me?"
"If I tell you, it wouldn't be a surprise now, would it?"
"Mike," Danielle whined, "I hate surprises."
Mike placed his hand on her stomach, rubbing her small bump lightly.
"Are you going to play soccer for daddy?"
Danielle rolled her eyes, “I wish he’d kick soon, let us know he’s alive in there.”
“He’s fine,” Mike reassured her, “Let’s eat, I’m starving.”
February 14, 2012
Danielle stood with Kiley and Kristi in the hallway of Verizon Center waiting for Brooks, Mike, and Nicky.
Nicky was the first to come out of the room much to Danielle’s dismay. She was anxious to see what Mike had planned and why neither Kiley nor Kristi were saying a word about it.
“Ready to leave,” Mike asked stepping into the hallway.
“I thought we’d never leave this damn arena,” Danielle smiles as Mike leaned down to kiss her.
“You know how long this shit takes.”
“I want my presents,” she whined.
“Presents? What presents?”
“Real funny!”
Mike smirked as he grabbed her hand and lead her down the hallway. Danielle stopped suddenly and Mike turned around to see if she was okay.
“HOLY SHIT THAT’S KRIS VERSTEEG,” she said loudly.
“Really, Danielle,” Mike laughed, “You’re going ape shit over Versteeg.”
“He was one of my favorite Blackhawks.”
They walked by Kris Versteeg and he winked at Danielle and she shrieked causing Mike to roll his eyes.
“You’re unbelievable,” Mike laughed.
“What?”
Mike opened the door of his Maserati for Danielle, “Such a gentleman,” she smiled as Mike rounded the car.
Mike drove to the historical part of DC to Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
“Where are we going?”
“Our first date was at a French restaurant in Pittsburgh, so I figured we’d spend our first Valentine’s Day together at a French restaurant here.”
“I love you,” Danielle said leaning over to kiss his cheek.
“I love you too,” Mike replied smiling at her quickly.
“Aren’t all of the restaurants closed this late?”
“Danielle, who am I?”
“Mike Green?”
“Exactly,” he smirked.
“Cocky, are we?”
“I’ll show you cocky,” Mike smirked again and Danielle gulped.
They pulled up in front of the restaurant and Mike handed his keys off to the valet. They were seated in the back of the restaurant since other diners were still there on their dates. Mostly corporate business men who you could tell put in long hours at the office.
Mike reached into the inside of his jacket and grabbed the box with the watch in it, “Happy Valentine’s Day, baby,” he said handing the box to Danielle.
Danielle smiled and tore open the medium sized jewelry box, “Mike,” she gasped taking the watch off of the small pillow, “It’s gorgeous.”
“Since you always borrow my watches, I’d figured I’d buy you your own,” he smiled.
“I love it,” she assured him, “I really do, thank you so much.”
Mike smiled when she came around the table and gave him a kiss, “I love you,” he said handing her the other box. Danielle gasped as she flipped the rectangular box open.
“Mike, how did you know,” she asked tearing up.
“Brooks told me,” he smiled gesturing for her to hand him the bracelet so that he could put it on her wrist.
“What’s the little girl for,” Danielle asked as Mike fastened it around her wrist.
“It’s the daughter we didn’t have yet,” he smiled and Danielle felt the breath hitch in her throat.
“I don’t know what to say,” she said, “Mike, you’re too good to me.”
“You’ve changed my life in so many ways, I used to hate coming home to an empty house now I look forward to coming home because you are there. I love you, Danielle, a lot.”
“I love you too,” she replied, “I built so many walls up around my heart but you broke them down. I did everything in my life ass backwards but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Neither would I,” Mike smiled as their food arrived.
They finished eating and were laughing talking about Nicky being so shy when Danielle reached into her purse and pulled out Mike’s gift.
“I couldn’t think of anything to get you but since you like stuff that looks rock and roll, I’d figured I’d get it for you.”
“I love it,” Mike said taking the black onyx and platinum bracelet out of the box, “I believe it or not was going to buy one of these sooner or later. Mike fastened the bracelet around his wrist and smiled, “I really love it.”
As their dinner finished up, Mike and Danielle drove back home to Arlington. Mike had one hand on the steering wheel and his right was holding Danielle’s hand. They pulled into the garage and made their way into the house. Walking down the hall to their bedroom, Mike held Danielle’s hand.
As Danielle washed her face clean of her make-up and brushed her teeth, Mike lit the candles that he had set up in the room and turned the lights down low. Grabbing the box of rose pedals under the bed, Mike put them on the floor from the bathroom to the bed. Pouring two glasses of red wine, one for him and one for Danielle who could only drink red wine during her pregnancy, he sat down on the bed and waited for her to come out.
Danielle stepped out of the bathroom shutting the light off behind her. Not bothering to close the robe she was wearing with her bra and underwear underneath, she gasped when she saw Mike smiling at her holding a wine glass.
“This kind of shit only happens in movies,” she joked causing Mike to laugh.
“Wow,” he gasped taking in the red bra and panties that she was wearing with her bump showing freely.
Mike’s free hand traced Danielle’s stomach lightly, “You look beautiful,” he whispered placing a kiss on her baby bump.
Danielle ran her fingers through Mike’s hair as he smiled up at her, Mike stood up and wrapped his arms around her waist before claiming his lips with hers. Danielle shivered as Mike ran his hands up and down her bare back.
“I want you Mike,” she whispered, “Please don’t stop me this time.”
“I wouldn’t have done all of this if I planned on stopping you, let me make love to you,” he replied pushing the robe off her shoulders.
Danielle gasped as his lips moved to her neck and his hands worked to unclasp her bra, “Mike,” she gasped as he ran his hands over her breasts before replacing them with his mouth.
Danielle pushed Mike back gently on the bed and crawled over him pressing her lips to his once more, “I love you,” she whispered before grabbing the waistband of his boxers. Mike kicked out of them and ran his index finger over the waistband of Danielle’s red lace panties.
“Not fair,” he mumbled as Danielle smirked against his lips and lifted herself up so Mike could remove them. Mike ran his fingers over her folds causing her to gasp before Danielle reached between them and grabbed Mike’s hard penis with her hand.
Placing at her slit, she ran it up and down before slowly lowing herself down on to him causing them both to groan, “Fuck,” she hissed as Mike thrusted into her fully.
“This doesn’t feel right,” he said flipping them over as he thrusted in and out slowly leaving Danielle to cry out for him to go faster.
“Oh God,” she gasped as he picked up his pace and sucked on her collar bone.
“You’re so tight,” he whispered.
Two hours later, Mike carefully collapsed on top of her. Placing soft kisses on her swollen lips, Mike ran his fingers through her hair.
“I love you,” he whispered as he and Danielle continued to kiss and get lost in their own little world that was soon joined by the first movement of their baby boy.
“Did you feel that,” Danielle asked Mike who smiled like he had just scored a breakaway goal on the best goalie in the league
“Yeah,” Mike smiled placing his hands over Danielle’s and Landon kicked again, “Even our son agrees that you’re mine today.”
Danielle smiled, “I hope I’m yours for more than just today.”
“You’re mine, always,” he smiled giving her a kiss before making love to the woman that he had been waiting for his whole life proving that Valentine’s Day really is for lovers.
