Page 41

EPILOGUE

L ife has been a whirlwind.

Instead of waiting until the new year, Dad paid to start construction early. I’m super excited about that because it’s getting harder and harder to keep it down when my man is home. He is as wild for me as I am for him. I can’t get enough of him, and I don’t think that will ever change. Things are just that good between us. I never thought I could love him even more than I did, but I do.

Oh Lord, do I.

Arwen has started speech therapy, and it’s so amazing to watch her grow daily. On Ingrid’s campus, they have a little day school for children who are deaf, and Arwen has been going twice a week when I’m teaching at the school for students who want to become physical therapists. I was going to go back to the IceCats, but after everything that happened, I thought it was too much for me to be involved not only in Thatcher’s home life but also in his work life. Not because I think he’d get jealous again; I know he would. He’s possessive as hell, but I’d rather keep things separate. Plus, hockey players can whine a lot.

Mine included.

On days when I have to work and he’s home, he comes with me for me to demonstrate on, and then he complains that I pulled too hard or twisted him in the wrong way. While he makes me laugh, along with all my students, I can’t help but call him a baby. I usually kick him out, and then he’ll go hang with Arwen and Ingrid at the day school. Ingrid volunteers on the days Arwen is there, because living together isn’t enough. Not that I’m complaining. I love how close Arwen and Ingrid are.

How close we all are.

I glance down at my phone, checking the time to see if I have a minute for a quick cup of herbal tea. My lock screen is a photo of me holding Arwen up while she kisses her daddy through the glass. Her hair is in pigtails with huge red bows, and she has her daddy’s number on her back. Not only does Thatcher look dream-worthy, but the smile on my face in the photo shows how happy I am. How completely in love I am with that man.

With our family.

Our growing family.

I feel a hand slide up under my jersey, cupping my belly as he presses his body into mine. He kisses my neck then the spot below my ear before he whispers, “How are you feeling?”

I lean into him, letting my eyes drift shut. “Nauseous.”

He lets out a little sound of distress before holding me closer. “How can I make it better?”

“Just like this, moy .”

He smiles against my cheek, kissing it once then twice. “Arwen is loaded in the car. How about we stop at Starbucks on the way, and I get you a tea to help settle your belly?”

I turn my head so that our lips practically meet. “I love you.”

He kisses my nose. “I love you.” He kisses my lips this time before he says, “Ready? I want to beat my parents to the rink.”

I nod and then take his waiting hand as he leads me out to the car. We have the IceCats’ family winter skate tonight, and everyone will be there. I’m nervous but also very excited for Arwen’s first family skate. When I get in the car, Arwen calls out for me. I look back, and she signs, Are you feeling better?

I nod. Yes, love. Thank you.

We haven’t told her she’s going to be a big sister. We’re waiting to tell everyone on Christmas. I’m a little over eight weeks—because of course I got pregnant our first time together.

Again.

Apparently my eggs really love Thatcher’s sperm. He’s pretty damn proud of himself, and if I’m honest, I am too.

God, I love him.

After getting my tea, we head to the rink to find the parking lot filling up quickly. We park, and I’m getting Arwen out when my mom appears beside me. She looks at me, raises a brow, and then leans in. “You look green.”

“Thank you, Mother. Just what all girls want to hear.”

She doesn’t laugh at that, nor does she grab Arwen. She just stares and I let her. I’m not confirming or denying anything, but I think she knows.

But that’s how moms are. Super intuitive.

Once I have Arwen on her feet, she takes my mom’s and my hands, and then Thatcher takes mine. We enter the arena and make our way to the rink. Skates are bundled in family groups since we had to turn in our sizes earlier in the week. The rink is decorated with red and silver decorations. The big IceCat the guys skate onto the ice under at the beginning of their games is in the middle of the rink, and a lot of the players’ kids and even some adults are skating through it. Christmas lights are strung up, and it’s so damn magical I want to cry.

Stupid hormones.

I blink back my tears and follow Thatcher to the side, where he carries not only his skates but Arwen’s and mine too. He has her take a seat and signs for her to sit still. Then he takes my ankle and pulls off my boots. He kisses my ankle, making Arwen laugh and me swoon, before he makes quick work of getting my skates on before he does Arwen’s. The whole time, I’m taking pictures and loving how excited he is to take Arwen skating. He already has, but not at a team party. Here, he can show her off. Show off his family.

Soon, we’re on the ice with him and our family. Ingrid skates like the figure skater she was and I try to keep up, but it’s hard when my man won’t let go of my hand. Every time I try, he gives me a dark look.

“No skating by yourself.”

“Thatcher,” I try, but he shakes his head.

“It’s dangerous. Please, dushen’ka , stay by me, ease my worries.”

I mean, hell, he’s laying it on thick. I relent, leaning into him and kissing his cheek. “Fine.”

He flashes me a triumphant grin as we continue to follow Arwen around. She skates pretty damn well, not that I’m surprised. She comes from a family of hockey players, and when I’m not pregnant, I’m one hell of a skater myself. Everyone greets us, and it fills me with pride to see Thatcher so excited to introduce us to everyone.

“These two gorgeous girls are my family, Audrina and Arwen.”

He says it with love in his eyes, and I have to catch my breath. It’s so amazing to see everyone and how all their families are growing. The Moon family is the largest, and Amelia’s kids are everywhere. The Litman family seems to be in their own world, Kirby twirling his daughter Celeste, while Jaylin does the same with their other daughter Raine. I have no clue where the Merryweather kids are, but Nico holds Aviva close, skating behind her as he kisses her temple. Owen is acting much like Thatcher and not letting Angie skate. Instead, he’s bringing her snacks, and even while she scowls, I see the hearts in her eyes. When my gaze falls on Dart and his stunning wife, I grin. I wish them nothing but happiness, not that we’ll ever be able to be close friends. Too much history and I’d rather not have anything mess up what I have with Thatcher.

Not that I don’t think we’d prevail, but I’d prefer not to chance it.

Thatcher takes my hands, and I laugh when he starts to pull me around the rink the way he did when we were younger. We’d see who could pull the other the fastest. While he’s stronger, I’m quicker, and I only lost a few times.

Which, now that I think of it, doesn’t make much sense.

“Did you let me win?”

His eyes are wild, full of love as he nods. “Every time.”

I smack him, laughing loudly as he grins. “You ass!”

“What?” he says, gathering me in his arms. “I was trying to soften you up.”

I snort. “For what?”

“For when I found the balls to ask you to be mine.”

I grimace. “Jeez, you didn’t find those till you were twenty-five?”

He laughs. “Tragic, right?”

“So much so,” I agree as I cup his cheeks, my body vibrating with happiness. He leans in, kissing me softly, and when he pulls back, his brows crease. “What?”

“Your skate is untied.”

He bends down as I match his confused expression. Thatcher is the king of tying skates. How in the world did mine come undone? I look down, but he isn’t touching my skate. Instead, he gazes up at me from where he’s resting on one knee. He’s looking at me with such adoration in his eyes, and then his hand is dipping into his sweatshirt pocket.

I’m stunned in place, my heart pounding in my chest as he pulls out a little blue box. My mouth drops open. I mean, yes, I know that he wants me as his wife, but I truly didn’t expect him to do it here. I look around, frantic, to see everyone has stopped. My parents hold Arwen as they beam, while his family is mirroring their expressions. I notice Ingrid over by Telly, but I know if I say anything, the moment will be ruined when Thatcher stuffs the ring box down Telly’s throat.

I then notice that everyone else has stopped—players, coaches, and administration—all watching the magical moment before them in awe.

Holy crap, this is really happening.

I cover my mouth as he takes my other hand, his eyes holding mine in a loving, all-encompassing embrace. “Audrina, dushen’ka .” His voice breaks, and I squeeze his hand as I fight back my own sob. “I have known you my whole entire life and have wanted you to be my wife for just as long. I could have done this in the privacy of our own home, but what did I tell you?”

My lip trembles as I whisper, “You always want to show me how much I mean to you.”

His eyes sparkle as he nods. “I want everyone in this rink to know how incredible, how beautiful, how smart, how insanely amazing of a mom you are, but most of all, how utterly in love with you I am.”

My heart soars in my chest as the realization hits me like a thousand pucks.

Most of these people saw us break, and now they’re seeing us heal.

I hiccup a sob as he continues, “I told you I wanted to raise Arwen 100% with you, and that will never change. It’s you, me, and her, and anyone else who comes along, because we’re my favorite thing—an us.”

Tears spill down my cheeks, and I roll my eyes. “That damn word.”

He sends me a beaming grin. One so full of love, my heart aches. “I love you, Audrina Maria Hawkins. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

I don’t even answer; I capture his face in my hands and slant my mouth over his. The rink erupts with cheers, and I think the goal horn goes off, which has me grinning against his lips. I pull away just a breath and whisper, “Yes.”

He gets up, taking my hand and sliding the huge pink diamond down my finger. I gawk at it until he has me in his arms, turning his hat like I love before kissing me again. I fall into the kiss, just as I fell in love with this man so long ago. Against my lips, he whispers, “I love you, Audrina. So fucking much.”

I’m sobbing at this point as I tell him, “I love you more.”

When he pulls back to brush my hair out of my face, we’re grinning so widely at each other, I know we look like fools.

But neither of us cares.

Because it’s us .