Page 52

Xander

One Year Later

Rain and I moved into our Azalea Creek home last March.

Watching the trees go from bare branches to lush green has been amazing.

We don’t stay here for long stretches since hockey season keeps us moving, but we make it out whenever we can, even if it’s just for a day or two.

“Hey, Hotshot. Ready for our hike?” Rain calls from downstairs, just like she used to at Serene Lookout.

Coach gave us the morning off since tomorrow is Game Seven of the championship. Instead of sitting around, we drove in last night. And after lunch with the family, we’ll head back to Raleigh.

I know it’s a lot of back-and-forth when I should be resting. But this place calms me like nothing else.

And seeing Rain’s face light up at the sight of the mountains, hearing the birds chirping, breathing in the clean air?

It’s home.

“Hey, Cherry. I’m ready. Let’s go,” I say, jogging down the stairs.

She’s already geared up. She’s wearing a CamelBak with a fanny pack full of snacks around her waist. Her smile hits me in the chest the way it always does every time I see her.

She hands me a CamelBak, and I sling it over my shoulders.

“Any trail in particular you want to do today?” I ask as I step outside and walk down the steps.

Our house has a wraparound porch with a hammock already calling my name. I can’t wait for slow summer afternoons—Rain curled up against me, breeze cutting through the trees, rocking gently in half-sleep.

I can’t wait to unplug. To be in a bubble with Rain as we plan our wedding, set for the end of summer.

Still, something’s been on my mind. A conversation I had with Jordan the other day.

This is the last year of my contract.

The team wants to extend it for one more season. But the thought of going through one more year, being away from Rain for so long, doesn’t appeal to me.

Maybe it’s time to think differently .

To plant roots here.

Maybe it’s time to build something of my own, like a hockey rink in town. A youth program. A way to give back and stay close to home.

Close to her.

“I’m not sure if I want to do a full trail today,” Rain says, snapping me out of my thoughts. “For some reason, the drive into town took a toll on me. Do you want to see if we can make it to Mama’s house? I’m sure someone will give us a lift back.”

I glance at her, studying her face for any signs of sickness. But all I see is my gorgeous fiancée glowing under the sun.

I drove the whole way last night while she napped for at least an hour. Maybe she just slept in an uncomfortable position.

“Are you sure you want to hike all the way there? We don’t have to,” I say.

She squints at me, hands on her hips.

“I’m just tired, not sick. Maybe this walk is exactly what I need to get a good night’s sleep.”

She comes close, and I press her body against mine. I kiss her head, and we resume our walk.

One of my favorite things about this place is how connected everything feels. There’s a path from our house to Gio and Ruin’s, and another to Joss’s. We still need to make one to Miles’s place, and once River finishes his cabin, we’ll build one to his too.

The entire MacAllister clan lives a few miles away from each other. I’m still working on convincing my parents to build a place nearby—something small where they can spend at least a few months of the year.

“I think I figured out where I want our ceremony to be,” Rain says excitedly.

I give her my full attention. “Oh yeah? The orchard?”

She shakes her head immediately. “No way. Although there are beautiful views from the orchard, I want a unique place. Ruin and Gio got married at Biltmore. It was spectacular but a little too over the top for me.”

Her face lights up as she talks, and the excitement she radiates pulses through me.

“Well, maybe what I have in mind is also over-the-top, but it’ll be more relaxed. More us .”

I grin. “Okay, so where are we getting married?”

“I found this resort in the Caribbean. It’s in a secluded part of Colombia.

We can rent as many bungalows as we need, and their security is top-notch.

Our families would love a little break by the sea, and you and I can get married at sunset, then dance the night away on the beach.

A cookout, delicious pastries, and fruity cocktails all night long. ”

She looks toward the horizon with a dreamy gaze.

I love how much she’s grown to love the beach. It was a big part of my life growing up.

Last summer, we spent two weeks with my family at the Cape, and then we went on a cruise. Rain loved waking up every morning on a different island.

“Sounds amazing, I can’t wait to check their website and see pictures. How can I help?”

She turns her gaze to me, her smile widening.

“You can help me with the guest list, make sure you have something to wear for our ceremony, and keep your bachelor party tame. The resort will take care of everything else. I just have to pick my dress and let Ruin know I want my bachelorette party in town. I can’t ask Blair and Daisy to take a week off from work to go to the Caribbean and travel for a bachelorette party too. ”

I chuckle. All I want for my bachelor party is a night in with friends—good food, an open bar, maybe darts or a game of pool, and I’m all set.

We continue walking down the path. The orchard comes into view just as a familiar truck pulls up.

“Look who’s here—the soon-to-be-two-time national hockey champion,” River calls from the driver’s seat.

“Good to see you too, dear brother,” Rain greets him.

“Need a ride? I’m heading to Mama’s house for lunch.”

Rain immediately gets into the truck. “Thank you, Riv. I’m not sure why, but I’m so tired. And after all that walking, I feel like I could eat an entire cow.”

I raise my brows, watching her settle into the seat.

I hope she’s not coming down with something. I need her with me at the arena for the last game.

This match has been, by far, the hardest in the series.

It took us seven brutal games to beat Boston, but we fucking did it.

Both teams were phenomenal on the ice. Every player gave it their all, and now we’re thirty seconds away from becoming back-to-back champions.

I’m on the bench, itching to jump out there and wrap my teammates in a group hug.

No one believed we could do it. But here we are, seconds from proving every last one of them wrong.

Rain is in her usual spot.

There’s something about her tonight—some extra gleam I can’t quite figure out.

Every time I looked up during the game, I felt a special energy radiating from her.

She’s wearing her lucky jersey, as she calls it. The first jersey I gave her—the one I wore to the first game she came to see me.

The crowd starts the final countdown.

“Five…four…three…two…one—”

The whistle. The arena goes wild.

I leap onto the ice.

The first person I congratulate is Matt. He and Trinity are expecting, and Rain and I are thrilled for them.

Blake, Nico, and Viktor pile in next. We’re all howling, laughing, nearly delirious from the adrenaline.

“We did it, asshole!” Cory shouts as he tackles me in a hug.

“Fuck, yeah. We did.”

“And to think, you were ready to retire over that injury. We couldn’t have done this without you, old man.”

I punch him on the shoulder pad, grinning. “Asshole.”

Someone from the organization waves us over for the trophy ceremony.

I glance toward Rain’s usual spot, but it’s empty.

I’m sure she’s trying to get my parents and Gramps to come to the ice, just like she did last year.

Do I have one more year in me?

I’ve been thinking a lot, and I’m still not sure what to do next.

I want to spend more time with Rain, but at the same time, I still feel the need to lace up my skates and hit a puck.

After the ceremony, I see Rain rushing my way.

I’m holding the trophy when she reaches me, and when I lift it toward her, her eyes water.

I love how deeply she feels for me. My struggles are hers. My wins are too.

I could never find a more perfect woman for me than her.

“Hotshot, you fucking did it!” she shouts, pure joy in her voice.

A boisterous laugh forms in my belly and bursts free. I’ll never tire of her filthy mouth.

“I did, Cherry. But without your support, I wouldn’t be here, and you know it.”

I grab her and lift her into my arms. She straddles me with no hesitation.

“And tonight,” she says, breathless, “you didn’t just win a trophy and a new ring… you earned a new nickname too.”

I raise an eyebrow.

Her lips brush my ear. “Calling you Daddy Xander does things to me.”

I jerk back, stunned.

“What did you just say? Don’t fuck with me tonight, Cherry. My emotions are already at an all-time high.”

“There’s no way I would joke about this… Daddy Xander.”

I howl with all my might. The sound rolls out of me from somewhere deep.

Just when I thought we already had everything, the love of my life surprises me with the best gift of all.

“We’re going to be a family of three?” My voice breaks as my eyes start to sting.

Rain nods, tears glistening on her cheeks.

“You’re telling me… we’re getting married with our kid in your belly?”

She nods, overwhelmed.

I kiss the fuck out of this woman, who, without even trying, gave me everything I ever wanted and everything I ever needed.