Page 17

Parrish

Three Years Later

The ice rasped beneath my skates as I raced across the ice toward the goal, ready to help drive the puck into the net or create a diversion so one of my wingers could do it.

We were second line so we didn’t get as much ice time as the first line, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t get the job done.

And with the game tied and seconds to go, it was time to score.

From the corner of my eye, I saw my left winger, Bakeman, breaking free from the defenseman blocking him.

I immediately shifted into position to assist. The puck flew my way, and I took it and headed toward the net, Bakeman and the right winger, Warner, flanking me.

I spun and passed to Warner while Bakeman skated behind the net.

The puck came back to me and before the other team’s goalie could clock Bakeman’s position, I passed to him and my teammate sent the puck flying right past the goalie’s shoulder. Score!

The horn for the goal sounded followed immediately by the horn to end the game.

We won!

I immediately sought out Avalon, who sat in the middle of the lower bowl of seats, along with the other WAGs, who were all on their feet cheering. She pointed at me, yelling Yeah! and I tapped my chest then pointed back.

Then I was swept away with the team celebration as Bakeman slammed into me, then several of our teammates joined the fray.

In triumph, we headed for the lockers to clean-up and do interviews.

The sport’s reporters usually focused on our captain and the scorers for the night.

Since I’d only assisted, I figured I was probably in the clear.

I just wanted to find my wife and work off some of the adrenaline from the game.

As amped up as I was, it would probably take a lot, but Avalon was always happily willing.

Thankfully, this was a home game, so Avalon and I could head to our house—alone.

We were enjoying that right now. Following in our footsteps, Thatcher and Sutton were attending Rustin University and were in their second year. They’d just left to head back there a month and a half ago.

Winslow still lived with us, but she was gone most days of the week, working as a nanny for one of the tech bros Charleston catered to. Because of that, she wouldn’t be around when Avie and I got home. In fact, we probably wouldn’t see her until the weekend.

Anxious to leave, I made sure no one needed me once I’d cleaned up, then I headed down to the area where family and guests waited for the team.

Avie charged toward me, and I caught her up against my chest, swinging her in a circle.

“You did so great!” she exclaimed.

“You’re not tired of it by now?” I teased.

“Never.”

“Ready to head home?” I asked, setting her back on her feet.

“Always.” She laced her fingers through mine as we headed out, saying goodbye to some of the other WAGs, as well as some of my teammates who were filtering into the waiting area behind me.

Despite her once thinking she didn’t fit in, Avie had meshed seamlessly into this life as easily as if she’d been born into it.

The other wives loved her, and I couldn’t be prouder of my woman.

“You want to get some takeout?” she asked once we were in the SUV.

“Hmm,” I growled. “I could eat.”

“Takeout,” she reiterated.

“Nah, we have leftover chicken and rice in the fridge. I just want to get home. The Wings always run us ragged.” Really, I just wanted to get her into bed and run her ragged. It was the very best way to work off all my amped up energy.

“Uh-huh,” she said, her disbelief evident. After three years, she knew how wired I was post-game. “That was a great goal at the end, though, yeah?”

I blew out a breath. “Yeah, pulled that one out. I thought we might end up in overtime.”

We chatted about the game, and I asked what she’d done all day, since most of my day had been filled with the pre-game skate and a long nap before I’d had to be to the arena three hours before game time.

“Oh, you know,” she said as I pulled into our garage and the door closed behind us. “I wrote. Sent a few emails to my publisher. Took a pregnancy test.”

She hopped out of the SUV before I fully processed what she’d said.

“What?” I yelled, chasing after her. I caught her just a couple steps past the mudroom door and scooped her up, cradling her against my chest.

“Parrish!” she cried, laughing. “Put me down. You just played hours of hockey!”

“No way. Repeat what you said, baby girl,” I demanded, striding toward the stairs and up to our bedroom suite.

“What part?” she teased, wrapping her arms around my neck.

“You know what part.” We’d been trying for almost two years, and after the first couple months, she’d never volunteered that she’d tested.

I still knew. And if I was home, I held her extra tight on those nights.

If I wasn’t in town, I sent flowers or some other surprise gift.

I didn’t know what else to do when I couldn’t be there.

I hated when she was sad and disappointed.

“I’m a couple months late, and I took a pregnancy test this morning.”

A couple months? That meant… Maybe…?

Her eyes lit up, and I knew the test’s result from the happiness rolling off her, a small smile on her lips.

“And it was positive?” I ventured.

“It was. I have a doctor’s appointment on Monday morning.”

Filled with hope, with awe at my woman, I slowly slid her down my body to her feet then cupped her face. My lips brushed over hers. She slipped her arms beneath my suit coat and splayed her hands on my back while we kissed.

“I love you, Avie,” I whispered. “You’re the best mistake I ever made. I’m so glad my email never made it to Aiden and went to you instead.”

“Me, too, Captain Hockey God. Me, too. I love you so much. Now, I think…you should take me to bed for some really good sexing. Work off some energy.”

I agreed. And so I did. And with no assist, I made the biggest score of the night. With my perfect wife.

Thank you for reading!