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CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

O nly four days and I’ll be home.

First, though, I’ve got to help my team beat the Blackhawks.

We’ve won four out of six games, and while that’s pretty successful, I want to win the next two to be ultra successful. I lean one hand on the board, the other holding my stick as I sit between my line mates. I look out at the ice, watching as Litman passes the puck up to Adler, who waits at the blue line. He carries the puck in, passing it across to Miklas, who shoots but goes wide. Our forwards fight hard and get a few shots on goal, but then the Blackhawks are coming for our zone.

Telly and I jump over the boards along with our right winger Bellerdome, who is our rookie this year. He’s a good kid, fast as hell, and extremely talented. He has to be to be on the second line with us. Bellerdome crosses the ice on attack like his skates are on fire, trying to block off a shot. He does it like a pro, but he wipes out, going into the boards. Telly is backing him up, fighting with two Blackhawk forwards who keep poking Bellerdome with their sticks since the puck is under him.

I always think it’s so funny when they do that. Bellerdome goes from a successful rookie to a pinata.

The ref blows the whistle, and we line up for a face-off. When the center for the Blackhawks lines up with me, Lasson is breathing as hard as I am. I used to play juniors with him, and I know he’s a smug bastard, prideful. So, of course, I have to fuck with him.

“You’ve been in the league for as long as me, and you’re still fourth line?”

“Fuck you, Orlov.”

“Hey, don’t get mad at me. You used to be good. Now you’re trash.”

“Oh yeah? I’ll show you trash when I knock those fucking teeth out of your mouth,” he threatens, leaning into me, but I push him back with ease.

“That’s all you can do, huh? Being fourth line and all.” I channel a caveman voice and tease, “Me hockey player, me fight, rawr, rawr, rawr.” When his nostrils flare, I know I’ve won. The ref blows the whistle, but Lasson is so worried about me, I win the puck easily. I send it to Bellerdome, who is waiting for it, and when the puck hits his blade, he’s on a glorious breakaway.

He scores.

I get punched in the head.

Man, I love hockey.

Me: We’re leaving for the airport. I’ll call you in a bit.

Audrina: Okay. Arwen passed out, so I’ll need you to call in the morning so she’s not as sad.

Arwen has been struggling greatly with me being gone. I’m usually able to talk to her before she goes to bed, but on game nights, it’s been harder. I’m thankful for my family. They’ve been a damn godsend for Arwen. They distract her and try to keep her spirits up. Audrina is thinking of getting a PT job, has been putting out feelers with some old contacts. I told her she didn’t need to work, not only because I’m selfish and I want her to be home when I am, but also, because there have been a lot of changes. I want Arwen to feel safe and secure. Not that our parents don’t make sure of that, but I worry. My girls have such a strong, beautiful relationship, and honestly, Audrina worked her ass off when it was just the two of them. When I told her that I’d like her to stay home with Arwen, because I knew that’s what she would prefer to do, Audrina told me she’d think about it. But I know her; she gets bored and has worked her whole life.

Whatever she wants, I’ll support.

As long as she’s all mine.

I’m tucking my phone into my pocket before getting on the bus when it rings. I bring in my brows since I told Audrina I’d call her once I got to the airport. When I see it’s Ingrid, I bring my brows in even farther before sitting down beside Telly. I answer and hold out my phone so Ingrid can see me. Her face is bright, mouth turned up in a wide grin as she signs and says, “Hey, I think, for Christmas, we should go to Disney World.”

I give her a dry look and attempt to move away from Telly, but he keeps trying to see my screen. Jackass. “I only have five days off, and we’ll be practicing two of those. I can’t miss any more.”

She pulls a face. “Fine. Can we go after you win the Cup?”

“Duh, that’s the first thing we’ll do,” I scoff, nodding.

She beams at that. “Cool. Great game, love you.”

I grin back. “Thanks, love you.”

As I hang up, I feel Telly’s eyes on me. “Was that your sister?”

I sigh. “Yes.”

“She’s superhot. Why are you hiding her away from me?”

I look over at him, hoping my eyes tell him exactly what I want to say. “Because you’re a manwhore who will chase after her. Don’t even think about it.”

“What? I am a respectable gentleman!”

I don’t even have to say anything; the team starts to razz him as I lean back and wait to call my girl. Unfortunately, we arrive at the airport with Telly intact because, of course, everyone was giving it to him. Now I have to make sure he doesn’t go after my sister. Though, surely he isn’t that dumb.

On second thought, I need to make sure never to bring Ingrid around him.

As we’re walking in, I pull out my headphones and then FaceTime Audrina. She answers right away, and the sight of her has me in knots. I can see the top of Arwen’s head as she sleeps against her mommy’s chest while Audrina beams at me, her hair up in a messy bun with curls falling every which way. She reminds me of how she looked after I spent the night inside her.

God, I miss her.

“Hey there, gorgeous.”

A blush fills her cheeks, making her freckles stand out just how I love them. “Hey, that was a great game.”

“Thanks, dushen’ka . One more win and I’ll be home.”

“So, if you lose, you won’t be home?”

I snort. “Oh, I’m coming home.”

Her eyes darken as she moves her fingers through Arwen’s hair. “I miss you.”

“I miss you more. I can’t wait to see you.”

She waggles her brows. “I am counting the hours.”

“Oh, dushen’ka , I’m counting the seconds.”

Her eyes dance as a sneaky grin comes over her face. “And you wanted to just kiss me goodnight.”

It’s a wee bit tighter in my slacks as I hold her heated gaze. “I’m not the smartest guy, remember?”

She giggles. “You’re my guy.”

My heart pounds in my chest, and I want every single part of this girl.

I have her past, I have her present, and now, I know I’ll have her future.

“You pregnant yet?”

She laughs out loud, shaking her head. “I don’t know. It’s not even time yet.”

“When will you know?”

“At the end of the month, I guess?” She gives me a pointed look. “It was one night, Thatty. Don’t get your hopes up.”

I scoff at that. “Oh, but dushen’ka , it was only one night the last time, and you were on birth control then.” Her lips turn up at that and leave me breathless. “My swimmers have no barrier. My boys are ready to party.”

She snorts, her whole face deep red. “You’re impossible.”

“And I’m yours.”

“All mine,” she agrees, just as someone shouts that we’re ready to board. She sighs deeply, and I give her a sad smile. “I gotta go.”

“I heard.”

“Did you approve the plans for the house?”

She nods. “I did. Construction will start in the new year.”

I think that over as I start for the gate. “So, we’ll have to keep quiet as I fill you with babies.”

She sighs dramatically before she teases, “Won’t be too hard.”

“It’ll be hard, trust me,” I say, waggling my brows at her and getting a few sideways looks, not that I care. “I love you, dushen’ka .”

Her lips curve up, her eyes brightening just for me. “I love you, moy .”

God, I love when she calls me that. She blows me a kiss, then I send her one for herself and one for Arwen before we say goodbye. I board the plane, and when I go to turn off my phone for the flight, I notice a text from Anya.

I take in the photo she sent. It’s of Audrina, in my away IceCats jersey, with Arwen asleep in her lap, also in my jersey. Her legs hang limp, as do her arms, but Audrina is holding her tight to her chest. Audrina is grinning widely at her phone, and you can see me on the screen. Did Anya take this when we were just talking? Shit, did she hear what we said?

I notice the photo was taken from the kitchen, so maybe not. But when I read her next text, my heart jumps into my throat and I couldn’t care less if she heard us or not.

Anya: Thank you for loving my girl. I have never in my life seen her this happy, and I know you are to thank for that. I will always be indebted to you for not only bringing her back but also giving me my granddaughter. I love you, Thatcher. Thank you.

My heart swells a bit as I write back that I love her too. I don’t tell her she’s welcome or tell her she doesn’t have to thank me, but I do hold her words close to my heart. What she doesn’t realize is that I’m thankful for her, for adopting the baby who was in the bed beside mine in the nursery.

Because I’m pretty sure our parents always knew the girl next to me was my soul mate.