Page 35

One Year Later

Marie

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J ames settles beside me on our bed and lets out a low groan.

“I think that’s everything… The bouncy house is broken down for pick up and even the smoker is cleaned.

All of the dishes are done, the tables and chairs are broken down…

Alyssa just finished vacuuming and Caroline wiped down all of the surfaces. ”

I chuckle and snuggle into him, pressing a kiss to his chest. Breathing him in. I still can’t believe he’s here. A real parent, a dad. My fiancé.

Stepping up as if he was born for it.

He stayed with me barely twelve hours after he showed up that day in the hospital, I had Alyssa and Caroline dragging him to a taxi with his heavy ass bags to get back to the playoffs.

Two weeks later, they won. Brought home the fucking cup. Instead of partying, he hopped on a jet and came back to me. To us. Our family.

He spent the off season practicing a handful of days a week. He let his sponsors, agent, and coaches know that they could kiss his ass until it was mandatory for him to be back at the rink.

He changed diapers, helped me hold both babies while I breastfed them every few hours for months on end. He helped me eat, bathe, and stay sane.

We talked so damn much for hours, for days on end. Opening up to each other about our feelings, how we’ve both loved each other for basically all of our lives… but just ignored it.

We laughed, we cried, we fell deeper in love.

The girls have been amazing, they’re about to graduate from high school – they’re going to attend the university here in town, only a twenty-minute drive away. Both of them opted to stay in the dorms to have the full college experience, but I’m still freaking out about them leaving.

A month after James returned to us last year, we signed the papers with his lawyer to officially adopt Alyssa and Caroline…

Instead of James just having guardianship.

There were a lot of bullshit hoops to jump through, since we aren’t married.

But they could suck my dick. I had a ring on my finger, two babies to feed, and I’ve been raising the girls since they were fucking born.

Six months later, the judge approved it. James and I were officially added to both of their birth certificates and we celebrated for weeks. Teammates, bosses, friends, and now we’re a family.

Well. Almost.

The wedding isn’t for another month, but we’ve been busy.

I still haven’t been back to work, I wanted to spend as much time with the babies as I could.

Dr. Patterson offered for me to come back when I’m ready, keeping the same schedule I had before.

Working at the rink, only for home games and a few practices a week.

I immediately accepted… And I don’t have to report for a few months.

I’ll actually be able to skate on the ice again.

Thank fuck. I need the exercise.

But I’m not ready to leave my motherhood cocoon just yet.

James sighs and kisses the top of my head. “How are you feeling?”

I shrug and close my eyes. “I’m fine, just exhausted.

I can’t believe they wouldn’t even nap today…

They had so much fun.” James Bernard Carter and Reagan Anne Carter turned one today, and I can’t believe they’re technically toddlers now.

It’s rude. They both have light brown hair, but James has my dark brown eyes, and Reagan somehow has the Carter sky blue eyes.

They’re my world… along with their daddy and sister-aunts.

He chuckles and nods against my head. “So… when are you ready for more?”