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EPILOGUE

Madeline

18 months later

The energy in United Airlines Arena is electric. It’s a loud, palpable thing I feel in my bones and a noise that echoes to a ringing in my ear. The crowd’s enthusiasm is typical, he usual intensity they always show their hometown team, but there’s nothing exciting about the game today.

It’s not the Stanley Cup finals.

It’s not even the playoffs.

For all intents and purposes, this day in December isn’t anything special. It’s a date other people would overlook, but not me. It’s been circled in my calendar for weeks now, and excitement ripples through me when I think about getting home later tonight.

“Hey.” Hudson touches my hip. I tilt my chin to look at him in all his gear before he takes the ice. He’s exactly the same as he was two years ago when I met him for the first time. He has the same smile, the same dimple. The wrinkles around his eyes are a little deeper, but he still has the same ability to sweep me off my feet with a single glance. “What are you doing down here, Galloway?”

“Wanted to see you before you went out there and kicked ass.” I flash my VIP badge. “And to show this off.”

He grins and loops his arm around my waist. “The guy who manages the lounge keeps asking when you’re going to apply for the executive chef position. Is that something you’re interested in?”

“Nope. It’s nice to take a break from cooking professionally, and I’m not sure I’ll ever go back to doing anything other than a private or personal chef gig. I like the freedom it gives me, and with Lucy growing up and close to double digits, I don’t want to miss a second of the life the three of us have together.”

“Grant loved the enchiladas you made for team dinner, by the way.” Hudson kisses the top of my head and hugs me close to his chest. “And speaking of loving things, have I told you yet today how much I adore you? How much I fucking love you?”

I bury my face in his jersey. It smells like sweat and laundry detergent, but I don’t care. I like being in his arms. “I love you, too.”

The honeymoon phase with Hudson hasn’t faded. We’re just as happy, just as stupid about each other as we were when we first confessed our feelings.

I’ve stopped waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’m learning that when you’re with your soulmate, when you’re with your perfect other half, you don’t have to be afraid. You don’t have to worry if they’re going to leave when the going gets tough because they show up for you, day in and day out, and remind you how much they care.

“Let’s go, Hayes,” Coach Saunders says from the locker room, and he sounds extra pissy today. “Save the PDA for later.”

“You got it, Coach.” Hudson grabs my chin and kisses me. He ignores the cat calls from his teammates, and when he pulls away, I’m breathless. “Are you wearing my jersey under that jacket, Mads?”

“Don’t know.” I step away from him and slip my coat halfway down my arms so he can see the top of my white jersey. “Look for me in the stands to find out.”

“Tell our girl I love her too, will ya?”

“I will. We’ll see you after the game, Hayes.”

With one more smile flashed my way, he disappears into the locker room, and I make my way to our seats. Hudson bought us a suite at the start of the season, something wildly unnecessary but something Lucy loves, and I find my daughter sitting in a plush leather chair overlooking the ice. We still stand by the ice during warmups, and every now and then Piper will sneak her down to watch the end of the game from the tunnel so she doesn’t miss any of the action.

Hey, kid, I sign, and she waves.

Hi, Mom. Duke is here. He’s saying hi to someone, then he’ll be in, she tells me.

Hudson wanted me to let you know he loves you .

Lucy grins. Does he know about my present ?

Nope. We need to get through the game, then you can give it to him .

I hope he likes it , she signs, and I squeeze her shoulder.

He’s going to love it .

Duke, Hudson’s dad, makes his way into the suite, and he gives us both a big hug. He falls right into conversation with Lucy about the skating lessons she’s taking, nodding along while she explains what she learned this week. He gives her a proud smile when she mentions the deke she pulled on one of the best boys on the team during a scrimmage, and he tells her anything boys can do, girls can do better.

I’m not surprised he’s been learning how to sign. The first time we met, he mentioned how important it was to Hudson for him to be able to communicate with Lucy, too, and the two FaceTime every other week and hold their entire conversation in sign language so they can practice with each other.

Every time I think Hudson can’t get any better, he does something so selfless and so profound, my heart nearly falls out of my chest.

What a lucky girl I am to be loved by someone as beautiful and wonderful as Hudson Hayes.

The puck drops, and the Stars come off the face-off with aggression. They’ve been battling a three-game losing streak after trying to find their rhythm with a new starting lineup, and I know how badly they want a win tonight.

Lucy and Duke sign about the plays, pointing out areas of improvement and who’s a half second late to the puck. I watch Hudson, still in awe of his skating abilities and how effortlessly he glides across the ice.

The first period ends with a 0-0 score, and when intermission starts, my phone dings in my purse. I pull it out and find a text from Hudson.

Blond Bombshell

Can’t see you, Galloway.

Can you stand during the next period and show off my jersey? Please and thank you.

Me

Are you allowed to be on your phone right now?

Blond Bombshell

I won’t tell if you don’t.

I laugh and make sure I’m on my feet when the players come back out for the second period. When Hudson glances at me from down on the ice, he pulls off his glove with his teeth and gives me a thumbs-up.

He doesn’t seem to mind the ribbing the guys give him after.

Maverick scores, and the crowd cheers. He finds the camera after he does and pulls out the necklace tucked into his jersey, proudly showing off the little charms with the initials of Emmy and their daughter to all of America.

With two minutes to go in the third and the score tied, Ethan breaks up a play and steals the puck from an Austin Rockets player. He passes it ahead to Ryan Seymour, who slaps it across the ice to Hudson. Evading one defender then another, Hudson circles the goal before making his way back toward center ice. Before he can cross the line, he rears his stick back. He lines up a perfect shot and flicks the puck into the net, just to the left of goalie’s pads.

His teammates surround him and congratulate him with helmet taps and one-armed hugs. When he breaks free from the celebration, he skates over to our side of the arena. He takes off his glove and holds up an I love you that makes me put a hand on my chest.

Lucy waves and jumps up and down. She answers with an I love you of her own, and I’m still not sure how I ended up in love with a man who publicly acknowledges my daughter.

I couldn’t dream up a better partner if I tried.

When the buzzer sounds at the end of the game and the Stars win, Duke hugs Lucy and me tight. He promises he’ll be back up for Christmas in a few weeks, and he whispers in my ear how much Hudson is going to love his gift.

I’m nervous on the drive home. When Lucy and I get back to the condo, she heads straight for the dogs while I fix the pillows on the couch next to the Christmas tree.

Mommy , Lucy asks. What’s that ?

I look up to where she’s pointing and smile. That’s mistletoe, baby . When you stand under it , you have to kiss whoever is near you . It’s a Christmas tradition .

She walks over to me and plants a kiss on my cheek. I love you .

I love you too . Want to get your gift ? He’ll be home soon , and we can have it ready for him .

Lucy runs to her room, and I smile as I watch her go. My smile gets even bigger when the front door opens and footsteps echo down the hall.

“Merry Christmas,” a voice says from behind me, and I grin at Hudson over my shoulder. “You found my surprise.”

“Looking for an excuse to kiss me, Hayes?” I walk to him and trail my hands down his suit jacket. “You know it’s only the first of December, right?”

“Guess that means I have twenty-five days to kiss you. Any objections?”

“Not a single one. I think I’m going to like spending Christmas with you.”

“You and Luce spent Christmas with me last year. And the year before that.” He drops his palms to my waist and squeezes my hip. “Best Christmases of my life, if we’re being honest.”

“I have a feeling this year is going to be even better,” I say. He doesn’t know about the envelope Lucy is grabbing from her desk drawer. He’s clueless about the adoption papers she begged me to file so Hudson could legally be her dad. He’s been in that role since they met, and I can’t imagine another man ever holding the title. “But just because of the cookies I’m going to make tonight.”

“Cookies?” Hudson’s whole face lights up, and he kisses me in the gentle way I love. “Now you’re speaking my language, Maddie.”

“I thought your love language was food.”

“I think my love language might just be you,” he says, and leave it to him to make me feel like I’m on top of the world in the middle of our condo on a random Thursday night. “And Lucy. My favorite girls in the entire world.”

“You’re our favorite, too.” I rest a hand over his heart. “And speaking of Lucy, she has a present for you.”

“Yeah?” He kisses my forehead and pulls me onto the couch. “Where is she?”

Hi , Lucy signs as she makes her way to the living room. Great game tonight .

Thanks, princess , he replies, beaming. Do you know what kind of shot I scored with?

A slap shot , she tells him, and he nods, impressed. I don’t know why he’s surprised about her knowledge; he’s teaching her everything he knows about hockey in hopes she’ll play in the PWHL one day. I’m going to start learning how to do those .

They’re the most fun shot you can take . Hudson pats the couch, and she sits between us. Your mom says you have something for me .

Yeah . Lucy clutches the envelope tight to her chest. I know it’s not Christmas yet , but I couldn’t wait .

That’s how Hudson feels about Lucy’s present too. He adopted her favorite dog from the shelter where we volunteer every month. He was planning on giving him to her on Christmas morning, but every day that passes, he gets closer and closer to ruining the surprise and bringing Bartholomew home.

Lucy’s already nicknamed him Barty.

I’m excited . Hudson smiles. Can I see it?

She nods and hands him the envelope. I wrap my arm around her, and she rests her head on my shoulder.

We watch Hudson open the envelope, pulling out a stack of papers. His eyebrows wrinkle when he sees the Superior Court of the District of Columbia’s logo at the top of the page.

“What is this?” he asks me, and I nudge his knee.

“Read it,” I say.

His mouth moves as he reads the first couple of sentences, and I see the moment understanding dawns. The papers fall from his shaky hands and land in his lap. He looks up at us with wide eyes.

“ It’s an adoption petition ,” he says slowly, signing at the same time.

Lucy wants you to be her dad , I explain, and Lucy nods along beside me. You’re her favorite person in the world. She wants to be a part of your family, and she wants to have you be a part of ours . Legally . Officially . In every sense of the word . I take a breath and stop signing. “I know this is a big step. You don’t have to say yes right away—or at all. We’re not married, and?—”

“This is the easiest answer of my life.” Hudson glances at Lucy and signs, Are you sure?

Yes , Lucy answers, and she lunges for him. He holds her in a hug and buries his face in her hair. I love you , she adds when she pulls away to look up at him.

I love you too, Lucy girl . Hudson looks at me, and his eyes are wet with tears. “Thank you.”

I wipe my own eyes and sniff. “I didn’t do anything.”

“You did. You came into my life, and it’s been the biggest blessing I could ever ask for. I was so fucking lonely before you and Lucy got here, but look at us now.” He switches back to signing. I’m the luckiest guy to have such amazing girls . Get me a pen and let me sign . I would’ve said yes on day one .

Lucy claps, and I can’t help but sob.

My life has taken such a drastic turn from where I thought I’d end up, but I’m so grateful. The bumps in the road were worth it, and I know every day is going to be the best day from here on out, because I have him by my side.

Hudson puts a hand on my thigh and squeezes. “Are those happy tears?”

“So many happy tears.”

“Glad to hear it.” He pulls me close, and the three of us huddle together. I love you, Maddie. And I love you, Lucy.

We love you too . I sigh and close my eyes. “You’re stuck with us, Bombshell.”

“Good. There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”