Page 55 of Playing for Keeps (Seattle Hawks Ice Hockey #4)

Jay

Three months later

“This is gonna be us some day,” I whisper to Jade as Emmerson and Taylor take to the dance floor for their bridal dance. Jade is sitting on my knee, my arm capturing her tiny middle and holding her close to me. It’s been a beautiful day at their wedding.

She turns to look at me and nudges her nose against mine.

“You’re going to make an honest woman of me?

” she giggles, despite knowing it’s true.

We’ve spoken of it more often than not lately.

It’s not just because Tyler just proposed to Cindy and she’s sporting a beautiful diamond ring, or the fact all the guys except Jake are now married, but seeing how happy everyone is really brings joy to my heart.

And I know it’s gonna be the next step for us.

Em is only just showing the early signs of her pregnancy, with barely a bump. They brought the wedding forward to accommodate their new addition. Seeing them both so happy and about to embark on parenthood is really something to aspire to. They both deserve it.

“Hey,” Ashton plonks down next to me when Maddison hauls Jade off my knee to take to the floor with the girls.

We both plan on getting back out there ourselves and dancing the night away with some of the new moves Markus has been teaching us.

“Haven’t had a chance to catch up with you much today. How are ya?”

He’s asking me that because he knows about what’s been going on with my mom.

Ash has been pivotal in supporting this navigation with her and if we should reconnect.

He had a very difficult upbringing with his father, and things never got resolved between the two of them.

Ash hasn’t been pushing me to do anything, he’s just been a sounding board when things have gotten too much.

All of the guys have. I have the best fucking friends in the world and couldn’t have asked for better support.

“I’m going good,” I say. “Mom’s okay. We’ve spoken a little bit, but it’s baby steps.” She knows that and strangely hasn’t pushed me or bugged me since my birthday.

It wouldn’t do any good anyway, it would only make me retreat.

I’m just not ready to see her yet, and I think that’s okay. I want Jade to meet my uncle Ricky and Leo, though, so a trip to North Dakota will be on the cards some day soon.

“A little bit at a time,” he says. “Just keep doing what you’re doing, as long as that feels good.”

“Thanks, man.”

Tyler, Taylor and Jake all walk over to us since the girls are having a group dance.

They all plonk down in the head table seats at the Rainier Chapter House on Capitol Hill; a beautiful, historic 1925 mansion.

“How’s it feel to be married, Swifty?” I ask Taylor, as he watches his wife dancing with the girls on the ballroom floor, as they all laugh and spin each other around.

“Fucking fantastic,” Taylor beams. “I can’t believe I’m married in less than a year after Em and I reconnected.”

“Some love just can’t be denied,” Jake’s philosophical words have us all staring at him.

“What would you know about it?” Tyler chuckles.

Jake shoves Ty in the arm. “I’ve been hanging out with Beth, I’m learning shit as I go.”

That’s no surprise to me. Jade has been keeping me informed with them ‘hanging out’, but it’s become more frequent as time has gone on.

“Just stick with us,” I pipe up. “We’ll make a husband out of you one of these days.”

Jake balks at that while we all laugh, but I used to think the same thing, now, all I want to do is make Jade mine.

We’ve only gotten more close as the months have passed.

Jade moved to Seattle in the new year, right after she launched her yoga app.

She told me on Christmas Day she couldn’t spend another stint away from me.

Since we’d only been dating a short while, she decided to move in with Beth and we’ve been dating like a regular couple. Now, we’re looking for a place together. I don’t want to keep my fuck boy pad any longer, those days are over and I want to make a fresh start with her.

We get out to Pierce County every chance we get and after the season is over, we plan to take a much needed break together.

The season is going better than ever, and we’re gunning for the end of April, which will see the season games come to a close, we are still in the top ten favorites to get into the Stanley Cup playoffs again. And if Coach Carter has anything to do with it, we’ll be up there with the best of them.

“Pregnant with your kid has gotta make you feel fucking good,” Ashton says to his best friend. “We all know you’re going to be the best dad there is.”

Taylor shifts his eyes away from watching his wife dancing and, if I’m not mistaken, tears are welling at the surface.

“Thanks man.” He slaps Ashton on the back.

“Here’s hoping. And thanks to all of you, I know I said it in my speech, but we all have something, all five of us.

No matter what happens or where we all end up in the future, we’ll always have each other,” he says.

“I truly mean that, you guys mean everything to me.”

“Fuck,” Jake says, scrubbing a hand down his face. “You’re gonna get me all choked up in a minute.”

“Right back at ya,” I say to Taylor. “All of you, too.”

“Here, here,” Tyler stands, and we all follow suit.

“You guys are all fucking phenomenal. Group hug?” Ashton suggests.

And that’s what we do. My heart is so full to be with my friends, seeing Taylor get married, having Jade by my side, and everyone happy. It’s the greatest joy yet, and I know there’s only more to come.

Three days later

“You spoiled me on my birthday, now it’s your turn,” I whisper to my angel as I wake her up with a poke in her hip. It’s my dick doing the poking, my hands are wrapped around her as she giggles into my chest.

Oh, fuck, do I have a day planned for us. First, I’m gonna fuck her stupid, then she can open her presents, I’ll attempt to make her breakfast and we’re going to head out to the botanical gardens, as I know she’s been gunning to see the Japanese section.

She’s only gone from strength to strength with her yoga app.

The attention she’s received being in the press with me here and there has certainly boosted her platform, and it’s been very positive.

I always remind her about that little block and delete mechanism when people get a little crazy.

At first it worried her about getting attention from being with me, especially after the whole Aaron episode, but in all honesty, it hasn’t been bad press at all.

We kinda keep out of the spotlight and do our own thing.

I’m so proud of her for taking a chance on herself and seeing her dream become a reality.

“I can feel what you have in mind,” she says, lifting her head to blink up at me.

“Yeah?”

She bumps her hips against mine and I laugh. “Hey, you know to ignore him by now.”

“Why would I want to do that?”

“Because I have presents.” I waggle my brows.

Her eyes gleam with excitement. “What have you been up to now?”

I push myself up so I can reach under the pillow and pull out a little cardboard bag I’ve been hiding all morning. “Two little gifts are in here, the rest will unfold as the day happens.”

“Cryptic,” she laughs as I whip the bag out and jostle it around in front of her.

She manages to grab it and sits herself up, diving right in there and pulling out the first box.

Prizing the lid off, she gasps down at the gold charms I picked out.

The first charm is two gold letter J’s with a tiny diamond holding them together, the second is a hockey stick with a puck, the puck being a tiny black diamond.

“For your charm bracelet,” I say. “I thought it would be a good reminder when I’m away that I’m your guy. Not that you need reminders.”

“I love it!” She beams, leaning over to kiss me. “Thank you, you know how much I’ve been wanting to add some new charms.”

“I’ll put them on for you before we head out. There’s something else,” I say.

This box is flat and slightly larger, and I’ve no idea how she’s going to take this.

She pulls the ribbon off and opens it up. There’s a key inside attached to a lotus keyring. Her eyes flick to mine, a little confused smile on her face. “What is it?”

“The key to my heart,” I muse, holding my hand over my chest and batting my eyelids.

She giggles and picks it up out of the box, twirling it around on her finger.

“Seriously, though, it’s a little studio space. Just for you,” I say.

She blinks in rapid motion.

“Above our new place,” I add.

“What?” she shrieks, nearly dropping the presents on the comforter with excitement.

“I found a cute apartment close to the stadium, it’s walking distance to the botanical gardens, so you can go there any time you want. It has a vacant space above it that used to be an old ballet studio.”

“Jay, this is amazing. Oh, my god!” The tears in her eyes say it all, she reaches to me again and crashes her lips to mine.

She hasn’t even seen the portrait I’ve drawn of her since I’ve started dabbling in art again, it has her signature lotus logo in the background.

I have it framed out on the breakfast counter as a surprise for when she gets up.

“I know it’s a lot. But will you move in with me?”

Tears spill over and roll down her cheeks.

We’ve been looking together and waiting for the perfect space to come up.

When I saw it, I knew we could do something to make it our own, so I bought it.

Just like that. I have another couple of years on my contract, so we know we’ll be here for a little while.

“Of course I will!” She throws her arms around me and I hold her tight. “My own studio too!”

“It’s going to be perfect. Coach Carter wants us all to take a weekly class, he thinks it will be good for our flexibility. So, see, you already have your first clients.”

“I love you, Jay Jefferson.”

“Not as much as I love you, Jade Jones.”

“Are you sure about that?”

I cock my head and push her down to the mattress as she squeals. Reaching over, I put the little boxes aside so she doesn’t lose the charms and press my body into hers.

“Let me show you how much, Princess. This is going to be the best birthday yet!”

“It already is because I’m with you.”

I rub her nose with mine. “I’m the luckiest man on earth because I’m with you.”

Our kiss seals the deal on our new beginning and our new life together. One that starts right now.

The End