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Gwen

N umber 21 was an asshole. Not just because he’d scored on me, but because he kept trying to score on me. Okay, he was a forward. Scoring on me was his literal job.

Fortunately, Molly, the Belugas' starting goalie, seemed to be having an off night and she’d let in a goal, too. Two actually.

It’s okay to let in a goal, as long as you let in less than the other team.

We were up 2-1. There wasn’t much time left.

I was determined to win this. I was putting most of the pressure I felt on myself. Literally, I’d just met the team this morning. I hadn’t even met the goalie coach yet. Also, though I’d studied on my own to prepare, I wasn’t familiar with all the plays yet.

If we didn’t win, it wasn’t the end of the world. The Tigres weren’t the winningest team. But a lot of the players stayed a long time, and it was a good mix of seasoned players and young energy. They also had very loyal fans.

The team had been kind to me. I was afraid I’d get the cold shoulder, since their injured goalie, Nunez, was well-loved. Instead, I got jokes about being travel-sized. Because everyone on this team was at least six-foot, even the other three betas, and six women. I was going to get all the short jokes. In multiple languages.

Hopefully I’d win over the fans, too.

Fitty chased after 21, doing her best to protect me, from he who dared try to score on me, with Mia, Tony, Coach Hirata, all my dads, my hockeys, so many family members, Knights, Maimers, friends, and both babies, present.

The audacity. The babies were going to see me win, damnit.

I still couldn’t believe so many people had shown up. Okay, I knew my entire family was coming. Mercy had warned me Knights and Maimers were coming when she’d arrived this morning with my gear, on her sister’s jet.

But I wasn’t expecting all this. There was nothing like Lenny standing there with a sign, promising me a pastrami sandwich if I won and all the Go Ladybug signs. Double D and Cooter looked like proud parents. My guys held hands, while one of them held a baby.

Or the dads with signs, telling me they were proud.

Yeah. I’m not crying, you’re crying.

I came out of the net again, ready to protect the goal and keep our lead. Number 21 tried to shoot it in, and I deflected it, sending it spinning into the corner. Everyone skated after it. 21 got it again. Jorge, Carlos' cousin, was on his heels, as he tried to come back toward me.

Jorge stole it from 21 and raced toward Molly. But 21 stole it and came back toward me, as the clock continued to tick down.

I knew what desperation looked like as 21 came at me. I also knew what he saw. Little me, in my slightly-too big orange and black jersey, because they’d overestimated my size, and my hot pink gear.

Fitty came at him and he took the early shot as the crowd counted down. I threw myself on the puck, splayed out like a starfish on the ice, stopping it, right at the buzzer.

Taking the puck out from under me, I held it up. “Mine.”

Fitty helped me up and my team came over and body-slammed me, bonking their helmets to mine. I did a thank you dance with the goal post and waved to everyone. Good post.

We’d won. The petty part of me hoped I was all over my ex’s socials tomorrow. I wanted him to see me playing for my new team while his ass was suspended.

“Now that is what I like to see, Di Rossi,” Coach Gonzales told me in Spanish as we left the ice. “Good job. You and Fitty are on press duty.”

“Yes, Coach.” I shimmied into my sparkly suit Mercy had brought from New York.

“You look like an ornament,” Jorge joked. “Must you be so very small and shiny?”

“I’m contractually obligated.” I laughed.

Jorge frowned. “Did you see Carlos? You think he’d be here.”

I shook my head. “I still haven’t heard from him. Do you think something’s wrong?”

“Hopefully, he just had another misadventure and I’ll get a call asking me to help him get home from Japan or something.” Worry creased his brow. He looked a lot like Carlos but was a little older.

Hmmm. Clark hadn’t heard from him either.

“What a way to bring the sauce.” Fitty slapped my shoulder, as she put on her suit, which was much brighter than the Knights tended to wear, but not quite like mine. “Now let’s go tell the press about spaghetti burritos.”

“I can’t believe you remember that.” I laughed. We’d been so drunk.

We talked to the press and as I walked out, Clark and Tenzin were there waiting for me.

I ran right into their arms. Tenzin picked me up and twirled me around. When my feet hit the ground, he kissed me long and deep, and there were a lot of whoops and hollers. People took pictures.

But I didn’t care; I wanted kisses from my guys. I needed to know they were proud. That they meant it, when they said they’d support me, even if I went away to play.

“You did it. Look at you soaring.” Tenzin nuzzled me.

That I was.

Clark stole me from him and dipped me low, giving me a searing kiss. “I’m so fucking proud of you. When you come back, I’m going to kiss you, like I missed you.”

That’s what I needed to hear.

I got some baby snuggles, hugged my family, greeted my friends, and got a ton of photos. Lenny handed me a pastrami sandwich, and I carried little Atly around while she sang a nonsense song about goalies.

I’d also discovered Coach Hirata and Gio were friends, and that she had been AJ’s coach, which made so much sense.

It was still genuinely overwhelming how many people came out to see me, from other places, interrupting their own brief holidays. For me.

“They really are proud,” Mia told me, as the dads were talking to some of the Knights.

“It’s nice to see that.” I gave her a hug. “You’re here!”

“Our league has a longer break than the PHL. We’re proud of you, too. There are pictures of Mario up at the training center in Venice, I’ll send you some videos of them.”

“I’d like that.” I squeezed her hand. I’d texted her about Mario, when I’d told her about my contract. “Thanks, Mia.”

She squeezed it back. “Always.”

“You did it.” Tony came over to me. “I am so brought of you. I knew you could do it.”

Tears pricked my eyes. “You said the best revenge was to thrive.”

“Damn right it is.” He beamed. “We’ll miss you at the rink. Come see us, okay.”

I gave him a hug. “Always.”

I went to find my guys but got waylaid by my family. That was okay. After all those years of them not approving of me playing hockey, I needed to hear them tell me they were proud. Over and over again.

“I’m so proud.” Papa kissed me on top of my head. “Don’t stay out too late.”

“I thought you weren’t going to tell me what to do.” I laughed.

The Canadian teams had this tradition of having dinner with or taking out the team they played. There was something civilized about sharing a drink and a meal with your competitors. So, the Belugas were taking us to the bar, and the Tigres were flying out tomorrow.

I’d have one last breakfast with my family.

Papa messed up my hair. “I said I’d try.”

Isa sighed. “I can’t believe after all the suits I brought you, you wore that.”

“I think you look like you stole it out of a skate smasher’s closet.” Mercy hugged me.

“That is exactly the look I was going for.” I hugged her back. “Thank you.”

She’d even gone to the apartment and packed for me.

“You. You’re the bad influence.” Isa gave a mom sigh.

“Well, her sister wears Vecci’s in bathtubs.” I grinned.

“My other sister cut up a Ferrel to make a cocktail dress, because it was itchy.” Mercy grinned.

Isa’s hand went over her face. “I… I just can’t.”

“Hey, I’m wearing Dubois shoes. I heard you.” I kicked out my foot. I also had one of Mom’s favorite designer bangles, so I had a part of her with me.

“Hey.” Tenzin hugged me again, tight. “I have to leave soon. But I wanted to tell you that I’m so happy for you. Play hard. Stay safe. I love you so fucking much. I’ll still be in Portland when you play the Sasquatches. We’ll come to see you then. Already bought tickets.”

I tucked my face into his chest, and inhaled, memorizing his scent. Yeah, I was sneaking my hotel key into his pocket when I was in Portland.

“Thank you for letting me go.” I knew it was something he struggled with.

He tipped his forehead to mine. “I’ll never ask you to give up your dreams. Just come back to us? We’ll try to get your room ready and your Dumas hung by the time you come home for all-star break.”

Home. I liked it.

“I’ll be back before that for the Gwen-napping trial.” Fortunately, the Tigres were okay with that. “Of course I’m coming back. You promised to marry me eventually, remember?”

“I want some.” Clark smooshed us both together.

I let them, committing their faces to memory. The feel of their arms.

“Don’t get too cozy without me,” I teased.

It was hard not to be a little jealous of them moving into the townhouse without me, it would be good for them.

“We’ll leave space for you, and make sure Snowball is taken care of. Promise.” Tenzin kissed me on the nose.

“Oh, we won’t be able to buy things for the meal boards and fill the library boxes with comics like we’d planned.” I’d been looking forward to it.

Clark kissed me. “When you come back.”

I nodded. “Good plan.”

“Text me your address and I’ll sneak in your window?” Clark whispered. “Unlike Tens, I don’t have a bedtime.”

“Come out with me and I’ll sneak you in through the back door. The dads never got the rebel teen Gwen experience. We should give them one.” I wished Tenzin could stay, but asking Jacen to take two newborns back by himself, on the ultra-bullet, was a lot. Sure, Tenzin had done it, but he’d had that clever stroller.

“I’ll make it up to you when I see you next, promise.” Tenzin kissed me again.

“Wow.” Fitty stood there, hands on her hips, hair in her eyes. “She’s going to Mexico, not Mars. Your boys are cute. We get a few more games like tonight and we’ll be coming for you in the playoffs, Knights.”

“You wish.” Dean picked me up and spun me around. “Now that is how the game is played, my little goal-goal. Lucky is proud of you.”

“Awww, Lucky came? Is that my new nickname?” I laughed as he put me down.

Fitty rested her arm on my head. “You are travel-sized. Now come on, the Belugas are taking us out. Your friends should come. After all, you got your first Tigre win tonight. You have a lot to celebrate.”

I’d won my first game as a Tigre. There’d be losses ahead. A lot of losses. I’d have to learn not to take them so hard. Still, I was glad we’d won this game.

I linked arms with Clark and Tenzin.

“I’m a lucky woman.” I gave them each a kiss. Yeah, I had a lot to look forward to. A new team. A new townhouse. A new relationship with my dads.

My guys.

“Well, you are a ladybug. Ma says they’re lucky. They were watching tonight and are happy for you,” Clark told me.

“Babybug.” Cooter picked me up. “That was a good game. You’ll lose when you play us in two games though. But I’ll buy you a beer to make it up to you.”

“Nah, I’ll buy a beer to make it up to you when you lose.” I grinned. I’d worn his necklace, and it had served me well.

Ladybugs were lucky? I’d take it.

“Who’s going out with me?” After all, Fitty was right. I had a lot to celebrate.

The best revenge is to thrive. I looked around at everyone with me. If this wasn’t thriving, I didn’t know what was.