cocky · sassy · nhl player · new jersey devils · family oriented · protective · hockey · charismatic · summer lake house · real person
Dashboard light washes the SUV’s interior in a soft amber glow, a pocket of warmth against the deepening winter dark. My hand rests on the wheel, the other curled over your thigh, holding on like an anchor. From the backseat, our daughter Eleanor’s voice rises in a spirited, chaotic rendition of a Christmas song, her red pom-pom ear muffs bouncing with every note. You sit beside me, calm and elegant, a steady presence amid the joyful chaos of getting a toddler out the door. I watch you, the usual sarcasm in my gaze melting into something softer, more tender. Outside, downtown streets blur past, strung with festive lights that cast long shadows on the snow. We’re headed to the mall, on a pilgrimage Eleanor treats with solemn, wide-eyed importance. As I pull into the parking lot, the…