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EPILOGUE

NICKY

Three years later…

“L et’s go number seventeen! Man on! Man on!” I scream, trying to warn Ronan that there’s a defender on his tail. I have no idea if he hears me, or if he hears the guy coming, but he cuts to the left, shoots, and scores before his opponent even knows what’s happening.

“YES! HELL YES!”

The Saints crowd around me erupts, all cheering for Captain Brighton.

“ My man, my man, my man !!!” I yell at the top of my lungs, not caring how many side-eyes I get.

Karli throws her arms around me and gives me a squeeze, before launching herself at Mason for a hug. Nolan reaches over Stella’s head to give me a high-five. Felix sends me two enthusiastic thumbs up from where he’s seated halfway down my row. Ronan’s mom is already crying happy tears and Dr. Brighton is enthusiastically pumping a fist in the air.

The Brighton family cheering section is in full force and effect tonight. And we’re so proud of number seventeen.

I’m too wired to sit back down. So I just stay on my feet as the game continues. I’m in the stands watching my husband fly around the ice and compete in the biggest game of his career.

It took three long years for Ronan and the Saints to finally make it all the way to the finals, but he’s had his best season ever, and it’s paying off.

I couldn’t be more proud of the honorable man, the mature professional, and the downright superstar he’s grown into.

Tonight is game four of the best-of-seven series. Most of the time, these series go to five, six, or even seven games to figure out the winner. But so far, the Saints have swept the Grizzlies, and if we win this one tonight, we could actually finish this whole thing in just four games.

I’m so excited for him.

I’m so scared for me.

If Ronan scores another goal, and I keep jumping up and down like this, I’m likely to go into labor before this game’s final buzzer sounds.

Being this late in my pregnancy, Ronan insisted that I shouldn’t travel. My friends said I shouldn't travel. Hell, the doctor said I shouldn’t travel.

Since when do I listen when other people tell me what to do?

I did what any rational, hockey-loving devoted wife would do.

I brought the doc along with me.Three of them, actually.

Mason, Felix and Ronan’s dad.

In turn, they made arrangements with an obstetrician at a private hospital nearby just in case. All I know is, there was no way I was going to miss Ronan playing in the Cup Finals.

In this profession, an injury or a string of losses could come in between him ever making it back to the finals. It’s a long season, and you just never know how it’s going to end. Even the best teams get kicked out of the playoffs early on.

I already made it clear that if I go into early labor here, there’d better be a kit right here in the arena, because somebody’s going to be delivering this baby on-site .

Ronan knows the deal.

So, I guess that’s giving him a little extra motivation to score tonight.

Having gotten married less than a year ago, we’re still trying to find balance in our busy schedules. It’s tricky to coordinate my job with all his hockey games, but I try to go on the road as much as I can with him. Because once our baby gets here, I’m sure that will have to change.But for now, I’m here in the stadium cheering and yelling, “ My man, my man, my man !!!”

The game is tied right now, 2-2. This has been the most evenly matched game of the series so far, and it’s causing me to chew my already short nails off.

The Grizzlies have come out swinging tonight, and things are getting chippy too, as they do anything to keep themselves from losing the Cup.

In the last few minutes, Ronan sets Parker up with a beautiful pass, and then his teammate slices his stick across the ice and scores the goal that puts the Saints in the lead.

The crowd goes absolutely nuts.

But the game isn’t over yet. Even after that goal, the last minutes are as stressful as ever, and I find myself holding my breath as the defense manages to hold off the Grizzlies.

I don’t look away for a single second.

And then there goes the final buzzer, blaring through the arena.

They did it! They really did it!

Ronan and the Saints just won the championship cup.

The emotional pinata I’ve been all day finally erupts. It all comes gushing out. I’m bawling. I’m yelling. I’m waddle-dancing in the stands.

Ronan skates over and pulls me onto the ice with him amid all the celebration and chaos.

“I’m so proud of you,” I say, hiccuping around the words as he squeezes me tightly to his chest. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, my Peach. None of this would have happened if it weren’t for you.” My husband drops to his knees, looking at me with tears in his eyes. He positions his mouth right against my oversized belly. “We did it, Baby Brighton. We did it. We did all of it. Your daddy just won the championship cup, and you’re on the way, and I’m married to your super-hot mom. Every one of my dreams has come true.” He places a dozen consecutive kisses on my tummy.

I’m so overwhelmed with emotion. So full of love, I feel like I might burst.

In fact, I think I just did.

I feel a warm rush of liquid soaking the legs of my very unflattering sweatpants.

My entire body freezes. “Oh my god, Ronan!”

“What is it, Peach?” From where he’s kneeled, he looks up at me, oblivious.

“My water…My water just broke…”

He blinks rapidly, releasing my waist. “Your water?!”

“Yes! The baby’s coming! Our baby’s coming!” We draw attention from around the room, giving the crowd yet another reason to cheer.

Ronan carefully loops an arm through mine, guiding me off the ice as everyone quickly clears out of our path.

The entire arena is roaring, cheering us on as we head off to the delivery room. “brIGHTON! brIGHTON! brIGHTON! brIGHTON!”

Ronan kisses the side of my head and grins. “This is officially my favorite day ever!”

I clutch my husband’s arm and wheeze through an incoming contraction. “Every day’s my favorite with you, babe.”

* * *

Thank you for reading Play Thing. Yay! I hope you enjoyed Ronan and Nicky’s story. Make sure to grab their spicy bonus epilogue .

You guessed it—Nolan’s up next! Poor guy. Stay tuned for the next Brighton Family story coming in summer 2024!