Penalty for Boarding (Curves on Ice #3)

Epilogue 3 - Olivia

Ten years later...

T he sunset over Whisper Valley is breathtaking, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange and pink as I stand on our cabin's balcony. Calvin's strong arms wrap around me from behind, and I lean into his warmth, savoring this rare moment of quiet. Our twins are with Sara and Emile for the weekend while we celebrate a decade since that life-changing proposal at DuPont's.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Calvin murmurs against my ear.

I smile, covering his hands with mine where they rest on my stomach. “Just thinking about how different our lives are now. You, the ultimate hockey dad, spending your days making organic snacks and chauffeuring our babies around in that ridiculous SUV...”

“Hey,” he chuckles, “that SUV is perfect for hauling around all of Charlotte's dance gear and Mal’s hockey equipment. Besides, you love my packed lunches.”

“I do,” I agree, turning in his arms. “Everyone at work is insanely jealous of my gourmet meals. Though I think they're more jealous of how you still look like you could step back onto the ice tomorrow, even three years after retirement.”

His eyes crinkle at the corners as he grins. “That's because someone's brilliant training methods kept me playing until forty-four. Five years longer than anyone thought possible with my injuries.”

“Mmm. We made quite the team, didn't we?”

“Still do,” he says, leaning down to brush his lips against mine. “Just in a different way now. You revolutionizing sports medicine all over the world, while I master the art of getting grass stains out of ballet tights and keeping our kitchen stocked with healthy snacks.”

I laugh against his mouth. “You're amazing with them, you know. The way you handled Charlotte's meltdown when she couldn't get her pirouette right last week...”

“Like mother, like daughter,” he teases. “She's got your determination. And Malcom looks like he’s a chip off the ole block too. Did I tell you he went into doctor mode and cleaned up a graze on his friend’s knee at recess yesterday? Told him it would feel better if he did some light exercise over the next few days.”

I chuckle as pride and love swell in my chest. Our children may only be seven, but they're already such perfect combinations of us both. “They're pretty special, aren't they?”

“Just like their mama.” Calvin's hands slide down to my hips, pulling me closer. “Now, much as I love talking about our kids, we do have this beautiful cabin all to ourselves for the next forty-eight hours...”

I loop my arms around his neck, pressing myself against the solid wall of his chest. “What exactly are you suggesting, Mr. Barrett?”

“I'm suggesting,” he growls playfully, “that I take my gorgeous wife to bed and show her exactly how much I still want her after all these years.”

“That tent is your pants is already giving me a pretty good clue,” I tease, reaching down to cup him in my hand. “Maybe I should break out the sensual massage oil like I did that first night together.”

He lets out a low growl. “And then I’ll prove to you just how well I know every inch of you, every spot that makes you gasp, every way to make you fall apart.”

I let out a delighted squeal as he scoops me into his arms and carries me inside…

Later, tangled in the sheets and each other, I trace lazy patterns on his chest while he plays with my hair. “Thank you,” I murmur.

“For what?”

“For always choosing us. For being the kind of father our children deserve. For making me feel beautiful and loved every single day.”

Calvin tilts my chin up, his eyes intense. “Loving you is the easiest thing I've ever done, Olivia. Easier than breathing. The day you wrapped my ankle was the day my real life began.”

I smile, remembering that moment in the arena hallway when everything changed. “Who knew a sprained ankle could lead to all this?”

“I knew,” he says simply. “The moment I saw you, I knew you were my forever. And I was right.”

“Yeah. You were,” I murmur. And as I snuggle into his arms, I realize just how perfectly everything worked out. A decade together, and we've built something extraordinary. Our twins are thriving—Charlotte with her dance recitals and Malcom following in his daddy's footsteps on the ice. Calvin's transition from NHL star to full-time dad was seamless, proving that the dedication that made him a legend on the ice translates perfectly to family life. And me? I'm still changing the game, developing new protocols that are being adapted through sports medicine across the world.

But it's the little moments that matter most. The way Calvin still brings me coffee every morning, just the way I like it. How he lights up when the kids rush to greet him after their activities. The proud smile he wears when he watches me work. The way he still looks at me like I'm the most beautiful woman in the world, extra curves and all.

Some people say the passion fades after years of marriage, that comfort replaces excitement. But they've never had what Calvin and I share. If anything, our love has only grown deeper, richer, more profound with each passing year. And as I feel his arms tighten around me, his breath evening out in sleep, I know with absolute certainty that our story had only a beginning, but there’ll never be an end.

We have decades more of love ahead of us, more memories to make, more milestones to celebrate. Because when you find your forever person—when you choose each other every single day—there's no limit to how far love can take you.

And Calvin Barrett? He's my infinity and beyond.