Page 44 of Hat Trick (Titans Hockey #1)

Chapter thirty-eight

Gabe

Y esterday, Emily took Nancy clothes shopping, we all went for mani/pedis, and even little Annie got her toes painted.

It was a challenge for the nail tech, considering Annie didn't sit still longer than a few seconds, but all of the women at the salon fawned over her, commenting on her pretty blonde hair and chubby cheeks. Annie ate up the attention.

We went for a nice dinner out and by the end of the day everyone was exhausted and content. Emily spent the night with Carter, but we need to fix that. I'm planning on buying a bigger bed so we can all spend the night with her.

Today, Emily's acting sketchy. She's been side-eying me since we got back from morning skate.

We have practice tonight, too, but coach let us go home to rest in between.

Most of the boys will be napping, but I've never been able to sleep during the middle of the day.

Luca, however, is already passed out in his room.

Nancy and Carter are out looking at a nearby rental while Annie naps in Emily's room. Emily, however, is keeping herself distracted with busy work, avoiding me.

Well, we can't have that, can we?

Finally, she passes me while I'm sitting on the couch, and I grab her wrist and tug her to my lap. I want to take advantage of the one-on-one time we have together. I want to kiss her, bury myself in her, worship her, but something's off and I need to know what it is first .

She's avoiding my eye contact. I take her chin in my hand and force her to look at me. "What's got you acting all squirrely, Princess?"

She signs, resigned.

"I bought you something. But now I think it's stupid." Her eyes look so worried and sad. What could she have possibly bought me that would make her like this?

"Well, let me see it. I'll decide if it's stupid or not." I would never actually tell her if it was stupid. I don't care what she buys me or doesn't buy me. My girl deserves to be happy. And I'm going to do everything in my power to make that happen.

She reluctantly scrambles off of my lap and tip toes into her bedroom. She comes back holding a goalie helmet. I chuckle and shake my head. I don't know what I was expecting but it certainly wasn't that.

She hands it to me, head hung low.

"It's stupid, you don't have to wear it or anything. I just...I wanted to do something nice for you."

I turn it over in my hands and inspect it. Colorful, small handprints - likely Annie's - adorn it. It's fucking adorable. I turn it over. On the back is written "Greatest Ally". Bringing me back to that night I tried to push her away and she threatened me.

God, I was so stupid back then. So full of fear and anxiety that she would ruin what Carter, Luca and I had spent a decade building. I had written her off before I even knew her, so sure that she was just like every other puck bunny we knew.

But she isn't at all. And she didn't ruin anything, she made everything better.

She's Carter's calm in the storm - his peace - his home.

She's Luca's happily-ever-after. She's Luca's rebirth into the man he always wanted to be.

And me? She's my heart, my soul, my everything.

I learned how to trust again with her, that being vulnerable wasn't the worst thing in the world.

That learning to trust again meant I got to experience love and loyalty and devotion for the first time in my entire life.

I couldn't stop the grin spreading across my face if I wanted to. My heart swells and aches with love, with pride, with everything good for this woman.

I set it down on the couch next to me and pull her down so she's straddling my lap. I take her face gingerly in both of my hands.

"I love it, Princess. Thank you." I say between kisses. "I love you."

"It's not corny?" She asks, still unsure of herself.

I chuckle and put it on. "Real men wear finger paints." That gets a smile out of her. I take if off again so I can kiss her.

"I'll wear it every game."

"You really don't have to."

I kiss her to shut her up. Sometimes she is her own worst enemy.

She's gotten a lot more comfortable with the three of us.

Exploring each other sexually helped build her confidence in herself and in us.

But every once in awhile doubts still creep in.

I don't mind. I get to help her realize just how incredible she really is.

"Every. Game." I say, before taking her mouth with mine. She opens for me easily, so submissive and eager to please. She melts against me, her tiny hands roaming my chest, my shoulders, my back. She loves touching me. And I'm here for it.

Before we can take it too far on the couch, and risk Carter's mom walking in on us, I break the kiss. I love the dazed look on her face, her eyes glassy, her cheeks flushed. Christ, she's beautiful .

"Carter needs to hurry up and move his mom out so we can make out freely again." I grumble, earning myself a giggle.