The scent of coffee filled the room, but it barely registered. My attention was entirely on her.

She was in front of the mirror, struggling with the straps of her dress. It was for her best friend’s bachelorette weekend, something she’d been talking about for months. I couldn’t help but feel a little pouty. I was going to miss her.

I leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching her. My mind was still on the game I had coming up—NHL prep and everything that came with it. But right now, all I could focus on was her. She was half in the dress, her curves framed perfectly by the silky fabric. There was a glow to her I hadn’t realized I’d missed.

"You good, babe?" I asked, trying to mask the whine in my voice.

She glanced at me, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Yeah, just making sure everything’s perfect."

I smirked. "You always look perfect."

She laughed, then softened, stepping over to me and slipping her hands into mine. "I’m sorry," she said quietly. "I know I’ve been talking about this nonstop, but it’s a big deal for me."

I nodded, but a part of me still wanted to keep her here. "I know, I just... you’ll be gone for days."

She smiled, squeezing my hands. "You’ll survive."

I couldn’t help but grumble. "I’ll miss you." I sigh, but smile. "Here, let me help with the dress."

I moved behind her, pulling the zipper up. My fingers brushed her back, and I caught a glimpse of her in the mirror—how relaxed she looked, trusting me with this moment.

"You look incredible," I whispered.

She met my eyes in the mirror. "You always say that."

I shrugged. "Because it’s true. Even ice isn't as pretty as you."

She chuckled. "Flattery won’t keep you from missing me."

I pulled her close. "Maybe not, but it’ll help."

She kissed me softly, just enough to make everything else fade. "I’ll be back before you know it," she whispered. "But for now, you get to be Mr. Independent."

I grinned, pulling her back in. "Fine, I’ll survive."

As she grabbed her bag, I sighed. Yeah, I was going to miss the hell out of her.