Page 54 of Hat Trick (Titans Hockey #1)

Chapter forty-eight

Emily

I run-walk through the crowds at the arena, my bag bouncing against my hip. I have fifteen minutes until they lower the lights for the pre-game show. I push through the staff doors and sprint to the locker room.

I didn't want to just go to my seat. I have so much I want to say that can't be shouted through a plexiglass, surrounded by thousands of people, while they're supposed to be working.

But as I burst through the locker room doors, seeing two dozen big, suited up hockey players lined up near the furthest door, bouncing and flexing and stretching, my bravery suddenly leaves me. Their backs are to me, but my eyes instantly find my guys.

"Em?" Ben asks. He must have turned his head enough to see me. He's still a rookie, but he's suited up for today's game just in case.

I swallow the lump in my throat, my face heated, and edge backwards, ready to escape. This was a bad idea. They're busy. They're playing game four of seven. They need to win to have any chance at the Stanley. I'll just go...

"I'm sorry..."

But all three of my guys have already turned and seen me.

Gabe's face is dark, serious, his brows pinched together and his eyes dark, but he stalks towards me.

Luca is hesitantly hopeful. But it's Carter's face that has the tears threatening to reappear.

His face showed pure joy and elation with a hint of regret.

In a matter of seconds, they're surrounding me .

"I'm so sorry, I know you have to go. I just wanted you to know that I'm here, and that I love you all, and that I'm so so sorry I've been gone." I rush out. I don't want to mess with their gameday rituals, but I need them to know I love them.

Gabe presses a gloved hand against my lips to shush me, but I bat it aside. He chuckles.

"No. I need you to know. I'm sorry and I'm coming back home, if you want me, and we can figure everything out after you win tonight."

I give each of them a kiss on the cheek and push them back to the lineup, where apparently, we have an audience. All 30-something hockey players whoop and cheer and clap with their gloved hands, and my blush deepens.

I go to leave, but Gabe grabs my upper arm and spins me back around. He glares at my body, his hot gaze grazing up and down my body.

"Why are you wearing his jersey?" He growls. I look down at Carter's jersey over my sweatshirt. I laugh and shake my head, patting at my bag.

"Just wait."

"I love you, Em. We all do." Carter says, dipping down to catch my eye.

"I love you all, too. Now go play hockey!"

I barely make it to my seat on the boards before the lights cut out and the overhead projectors kick on, playing our pre-game show with music and sound effects so loud our chairs vibrate.

"You came. "

I look around me, surprised to see Lauren and Cedar and a few of the other WAGs sitting next to me. I hug Cedar and Lauren and everyone else I can reach.

Cedar grabs my hand and squeezes it. "I'm so glad you came." I smile and blink back my tears. God, I've cried so much this past week, between heartache and overwhelming joy.

I open my mouth and close it a few times, unsure of what to say.

"You love them." Cedar says with a smile, repeating her words to me. I swallow again and nod.

Lauren leans over Cedar. "You know this is going kill Luca and Gabe, right?" She says, tugging at my jersey.

I laugh. "Don't worry, I have a plan."

Both teams take the ice for their warmups as the music continues to play and the crowd explodes. We're all on our feet, cheering our favorite hockey players. My smile widens impossibly as my three guys glide onto the ice effortlessly.

All three of them slide up to the glass and press their hand to it for me, soft, meaningful looks in their eyes. Carter's eyes fall to my jersey, and I watch as a passionate heat flares in them.

Good.

I swap Carter's jersey for Luca's for the second period, and Luca's for Gabe's in the last. The effect it has on each of them is immediate and visceral. The boys win, and I walk with the other WAGs down to the tunnel to wait for our men.

The energy in the tunnel is electric. The wives and girlfriends chat excitedly, and a sense of peace and contentedness settles over me, being here as a girlfriend .

Lauren, Cedar and I share small talk, but my mind is focused solely on Carter, Gabe, and Luca. My heart races as I anticipate seeing them again, face-to-face after everything that’s happened. I nervously fidget with the hem of the jersey.

Cedar holds my hand in hers and gives it a reassuring squeeze.

"They love you. It'll all be okay."

I give her a shaky smile.

The first to appear is Luca, his hair still damp from the shower, looking mouth-watering in his game day suit, a grin spreading across his face as he spots me. He breaks into a jog, not caring about the others around, and pulls me into a tight embrace.

“You're here,” he murmurs into my hair. “You wore our jerseys.”

I pull back slightly to look into his eyes. “I'm so, so sorry for this past week. I never should have left. I never should have let it all get to me.”

Before Luca can respond, Gabe pulls me from his arms, his grin even wider than Luca’s. “I never did get the chance to fuck you in my jersey." He growls in my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

I can't stop the smile that spreads across my face. “I’ve missed you too, Gabe.”

Finally, Carter appears, his gaze locked onto mine. The intense look in his eyes makes my knees weak. He doesn’t say a word, just steps forward and cups my face in his hands, his thumb gently brushing my cheek. “Emily,” he whispers, his voice hoarse. “I’m so sorry.”

The sincerity in his voice breaks down the last of my defenses, and I let the tears fall. “I know, Carter. I know. We all made mistakes, but I’m here now. ”

Carter pulls me into a fierce hug, and I know that everything will be okay.

"By the way, you're fired."

I gasp in shock. Dread sinking into my stomach.

"What?!"

"I should have fired you months ago. You're not my nanny. You're my woman, and you're Annie's stepmom."

That warms my heart and I shoot a glance at Cedar, who's smiling and nodding her approval.

"But what will I do for money?" I whisper, almost afraid to hope.

"Baby girl, you're with three millionaires. Let us take care of you."

I frown. I don't like the idea of being a kept woman.

"But, if you want to work," Luca offers, stepping forward and resting a warm hand on my lower back.

"We can set you up with a salary and you can be our manager.

You pretty much already take care of everything at home, but you could do our social media, our appointments, whatever you want to do, sweetheart. The choice is completely up to you."

And like a flash of lightening, my chest warms. The choice is mine.

I look to Gabe, who usually has strong opinions about what his woman does, but he's smiling in agreement.

I look at each of them, my heart swelling with love and gratitude. "Thank you," I whisper, my voice breaking. "I don’t know what I did to deserve you three, but I’m so grateful."

Carter leans in, his forehead resting against mine. "You deserve all the happiness in the world, Emily. And we’re going to make sure you have it. "

The tunnel buzzes with the excitement of the post-game victory, but in this moment, all that matters is the four of us. I feel the strength of their commitment and love, and it fills me with a newfound sense of peace and confidence.

"Let's go home."