Page 62

A Year-ish Later

(March)

Hannah

“What about a clit piercing?” I say with a devious smile as I glance at my husband.

Noah sighs. “Why am I here again?”

Brooks shakes his head. “I have no idea why any of us are here. Me especially. I’d like to get home to my wife and baby, if you all don’t mind.”

Sara gave birth to a baby girl they named Taylor just last week. One by one the Bolts men are dropping like flies, getting married and making babies. I roll my eyes at his dramatics. “Your baby is fine. She’s with my baby and Liv. And your wife was very clear. Tattoo her name on your balls like War did because she birthed a human for you.”

War chuckles like the bastard he is and grins at his wife.

My bestie’s mouth falls open. “You guys aren’t supposed to tell people about that.” She pinches my arm. “I told you that in private when I hated him.”

He winks at her. “You never hated me, Vicious. But keep telling yourself those lies. You know I love it.”

I wave a disgusted hand at them both. “Besides, it would be impossible to keep it a secret from the guys he plays with. They literally see each other’s balls daily.”

My husband squeezes my hip. “Not quite, dream girl.”

I grin at him. “As I was saying, what about a clit piercing?”

“And as I was saying, why am I here?” Noah grumbles, his head falling between his shoulders.

“Team-building opportunity,” I tell him. “You guys are all on fire this season and now that you have a new boss, it’s time to celebrate.” I may not work for Langfield Corp. anymore but Beckett had me consult on this most recent hire. It’s not going to be a smooth transition and I’m happy to exercise some of those PR muscles again if it helps out my favorite people.

Noah’s head whips up. “A new boss?”

Brooks grins. “It hasn’t been announced yet, but Sienna is taking over. Beckett and Gavin appointed her as head of the hockey division yesterday.”

Noah gulps, and I swear the expression that works itself across his face is dread. “Sienna, as in your sister?”

Brooks nods. “Yeah. Have the two of you met yet?”

Noah schools his expression and shrugs. “Not formally. Obviously she was at the wedding and some of the games.”

That answer, or maybe the weird tone of his voice, has my spine tingling. Before I can work out why, though, the door to the tattoo shop jangles open and Lennox appears.

“Are you guys ever coming in here?”

Aiden is already inside, hands on his hips, staring at the wall. Probably looking at one of the many tattoo options since that’s what we all actually agreed to come here for. I finally feel ready for my first one, and I’ve decided to go with something to honor my man, so we’re getting matching ink.

You keep me safe, I’ll keep you wild. His will be just above his ribs, and mine will be on my upper thigh.

I want another that represents Mav, but I haven’t figured out quite what I want yet. Our little guy is already one and a complete handful. He loves spending time with his big cousins Ollie and Vivi, but his favorite thing in the world is to watch Daniel play hockey. We’re at every single home game and travel with the team plenty too. It’s one of the perks of our familial connection to the owner of the team, I suppose. Millie and I coordinate and usually travel together. We sit at the front of the plane with the kids, gabbing the entire flight. Then we take turns watching our little ones so we each have time to write—music for her, a new romance novel for me.

It’s a beautiful life and far more than I ever dared to dream I could have.

And now Sienna Langfield will be joining us on those trips. I’m excited to get to know her better. She’s lost a lot in the last year, and I think this will truly be her redemption story. It may be something she never even imagined, but with any luck, it’ll be better than what she had before.

I certainly hope so. I believe everyone deserves to be as happy as I am. Everywhere I go, I’m surrounded by incredible friends and their devoted husbands and our growing families. I want everyone to have that. Especially Noah.

“Are we doing this?” I arch a brow in my husband’s direction. “Or are you too nervous again, Baby Hall?”

He chuckles as he brushes a kiss against my shoulder. “Not nervous, Mrs. Hall. And of course I’m coming. I always do when I’m with you.”

Noah gags. “Why the fuck am I here?”

I wrap my arm around my husband’s waist and lead him inside. “I was thinking…”

“Yes?” my husband says in that amused tone of his. The tone that tells me he’ll do whatever I ask. The man never says no.

“How do you feel about nipple piercings?”