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CHAPTER NINETEEN

HADLEY

H olding Lucy in my arms, I stare out at the glass at the end of the tunnel, feeling my stomach in knots. This is the first game I’ve ever been to and it’s been an experience to say the least. When Rowan asked me to come, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to. Being in the public like that, it opens up a lot of discussions.

Rowan was known to be a bachelor and even a bit of a playboy. No one figured he would settle down, so it’s been a bit of a shock to everyone who works closely with him to see him with a baby and now a fiancée.

What a secret life it looks like he’s been living.

Rowan ushered Lucy and me into the wives and families’ room, assuring me we’d be safe there. And thankfully, he was right. No one bothered us there. The women who were in the room already knew the situation and everyone has been so kind. I didn’t receive a single dirty look from anyone or have any bad feelings until this moment .

“Are you okay?”

I look over at Nova as she steps up beside me, her hand holding on to Posey’s as Riley follows behind with Theo strapped to her chest. Rowan told me I could stay in the room the entire time if I wanted to, but I know he wanted us to come watch him—not that Lucy has any clue what’s going on. He’s transitioned into the proud father role and I can’t deprive him of that, even if it means I’m subjecting myself to public scrutiny.

“I think so,” I tell her, my voice quiet as I let out a deep breath. “Do we just walk down there?”

Riley dips her head. “They’re about to start warm-ups, so we are able to go down to the glass and watch them. We’re in a protected area, so no one can get to us or the kids. It’s a safe place for families before the game.”

“Rowan said we go up to the suite level to watch the game then?”

Nova chimes in. “Yeah, we have a box up there where we can watch without having to deal with other people. I had an incident in the stands before, so Lincoln’s a little particular on where I sit.”

Riley bites back a grin and laughs. “What she means is, Lincoln doesn’t want to have to worry about her while he’s on the ice.”

“That makes sense.” I smile at the two of them, attempting to reach inside to find some kind of confidence. These women are used to all of this, but I unfortunately am not. “Do you think anyone is going to notice? ”

Riley’s eyebrows pinch together as she glances at me as we begin to walk down the tunnel. “Notice what?”

“Lucy and me.”

“Without a doubt,” Nova tells me, wrapping her arm around my shoulders as she gives me a gentle side hug. “It will be okay. Rowan can deal with the media. Just stay off social media. The fans can be vicious, especially the ones with crushes on the players. Some will be supportive, but there will be some who say fucked-up things.”

“Mommy.” Posey tugs on Nova’s hand and Nova releases me as Posey’s eyebrows lower. “We don’t say ‘fucked up.’ That’s a bad word.”

“Oh my gosh.” Riley laughs, immediately covering her mouth as I do the same.

Nova gives Posey a big smile and lifts her into her arms, tucking her against her side. “You’re right, baby. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“It’s okay, I won’t tell Winky,” she tells her mother, bobbing her head eagerly as we reach the end of the tunnel. I can’t help but smile at her nickname for Lincoln as we step out into the light. She’s the exact comedic relief I needed in this stressful moment.

The cold air surrounds me and I pull Lucy closer against my body. We’re the only ones in the gated area that’s mainly hidden by the seats and the three of us walk up to the glass with our babies. I see Rowan immediately and he looks like he’s exactly where he needs to be. His gear makes him look massive and I watch as he blocks a few shots as the guys all warm up .

Some of them begin to skate around and Rowan begins to move, digging his skates into the ice before he looks over to where we’re standing. His eyes find me from across the distance and suddenly my surroundings begin to fade.

All the fans in the crowd, the people gathered around to watch them along the glass. None of those people matter. I see his lips relax into a smile as he stares at Lucy and me where we’re standing. I know people are going to talk. They’re going to wonder who the woman is that he’s skating over to right now, but I don’t even fucking care.

Rowan slows to a stop as he reaches the boards, lifting his helmet as he pushes it up over his head. Nash and Lincoln stop by Nova and Riley, but I’m not worried about them. Tilting my head back, I look up at Rowan, unable to fight the smile drifting across my mouth.

He holds my gaze for a moment before dropping it down to Lucy. I move her in my arms, holding her up to see him, the light from above catching on the diamond on my ring finger. Rowan moves his face closer to the glass and there’s nothing but adoration written in the man’s expression.

“Who is that?” I hear a voice, but I’m not sure where it’s coming from.

“Since when did Taylor have a baby?”

“He has a baby?”

My brain starts to move a mile a minute and I want to pull Lucy back to my body. I want to shield her from the people asking questions, along with tucking myself back in the safety of the wives’ room. As I watch Rowan, who has no idea of the chatter going on around, I know I can’t do that.

All he can see is Lucy.

His eyes flash to mine and my heart is a puddle at my feet.

“Do you want me to take a picture?” Nova asks me, while also asking Rowan as she holds her hands up with her phone, making the motion of taking a picture.

I look at her and back at Rowan, silently asking him if that’s what he wants. He pulls his hand from his glove, holding it under his arm as he removes his helmet completely from his head. We got some pictures earlier before anyone was allowed in the building, but this is different.

This is their first picture together at one of his games. The first picture of them where there are currently thousands of people around who can see.

“Sure. I’m not sure how I should stand to hold her for him since he can’t.”

Nova’s expression is soft as I turn around to face her. “He’s going to want you in the picture too, babe.”

Riley looks over at us with a smile on her face as my heart crawls into my throat. I take a step backward, stopping as my back hits the boards. Lucy is awake, so I move her to an upright position, holding her against my body as I support her chest and her bottom at the same time.

Rowan is on the other side of the glass and he half bends down so the three of us look like we’re all standing together. Nova smiles, taking a few pictures before she looks pleased.

“I’ll send them to you and you can show him then,” Nova tells me as I turn back to Rowan. His eyes meet mine once more, a tenderness settling within the deep hues of blue in his irises before he’s called back to warm up.

He winks at me, sending a shiver down my spine, before he slides his helmet back over his head and puts his glove back on. I watch him as he turns around, heading back over to the net as the guys all begin to line up.

“Holy shit, is that Rowan Taylor’s fiancée?”

“Ew. She’s probably just another woman he’s sleeping with.”

Reality comes crashing down around me, but I knew this was a possibility. Ignoring the whispers from the fans, I stare out at the ice, keeping my attention solely on Rowan before it’s time for us to head up to the suite.

We all knew eventually this would have to come out to the public. It’s not like it’s big news or anything like that, but the fan base for some professional sports teams can be crazy from what I’ve heard.

Rowan warned me that if people caught wind of it, it could go a few different ways. There could potentially be people sticking their noses in business that isn’t theirs. The media could have a heyday with it and run rampant through the headlines, spreading rumors. There’s also the potential that no one would really notice or things could just blow over quickly and we wouldn’t get a lot of attention from the media .

Regardless of what happens, Rowan wanted Lucy and me here to support him and truly, that’s the only thing that matters.

For the next few months, we’re a team, and I plan on being the best teammate he’s ever had.

Even if it ends up costing me my heart.