Page 165 of Slap Shot

“I’m a full-fledged adult. Hey, G-Money,” he yells. “Want to see how many grapes we can fit in our mouths?”

“And there we go. It was nice while it lasted,” I say, and Madeline giggles.

“It’s amazing how sweet everyone is with Lucy.” She strokes her daughter’s hair while Lucy kisses the dogs on the head. “I appreciate how no one treats her like a burden.”

“A burden?” I frown. I don’t like that word. “Why would they do that?”

“Because she communicates differently. It’s what people in the past have implied. Athletic coaches, her friends’ parents. The woman at the grocery store who said it must besucha challenge to raise a difficult child.” She sighs, disappointed. “It’s a shame, because Lucy isn’t a burden at all. She’s a regular kid, and more often than not it’s hearing people who don’t have the empathy and patience to make room for a style of life that’s different from theirs.”

“Listen to me, Madeline. If anyoneeversays some shit like that to you again, I want you to come find me so I can give them a piece of my mind, okay? And if any of theplayerssay it? I will have their asses shipped out to Alaska real fucking quick.”

Madeline chews on her bottom lip. She wrings her hands together, almost unsteady on her feet. “You mean that, don’t you?”

“Of course I mean it. I’d go to war for your daughter. For you, too.”

“Why?” she whispers, and I think of a hundred ways I can answer that question.

Because I’m attracted to you.

Because I’m determined to show you there are good men out there.

Because it’s the bare minimum of what you deserve.

Because I’m fucking falling in love with you,and I’d let you break my heart if that’s what you wanted.

“Because y’all are mine.” I tuck a loose piece of hair behind her ear. “And I protect what’s mine.”

FORTY-EIGHT

MADELINE

I’ve workedin restaurants throughout my entire adult life, so I’m familiar with large groups in small settings. There’s always been a camaraderie in the kitchen. There’s communication and kinship with long working hours, but I’ve never experienced something like this.

Being at team dinner gives a new meaning to the word family.

It’s Thanksgiving but amplified, with laughs, jokes, plenty of food, and a ton of love. A dozen conversations happen around me about league standings and playoffs and someone named Amelia Green, but never once do I feel out of place.

Lucy runs around the apartment with the dogs, giggling when Riley chases her and lifts her on his shoulders. The girls and I talk about the Spring Fling dance that June, Maven’s daughter, has next week, and we gush over the dress she picked out.

It’s perfect.

I feel welcomed here, like I belong, and the togetherness is something I’ve been missing since leaving the restaurant industry.

“Hey.” Maverick whistles, and everyone glances at him. Lucy climbs in my lap and I lift my hands, ready to interpret for her. “It’s time for our game.”

Grant groans. “Can’t we playFIFAorGTAlike we always do?”

“Nope. Coach told me he wants us to start doing more team building off the ice as we move toward the playoffs, and that means putting down the controllers. Everyone knows how to play hide and seek, right?” he asks, and there’s a murmur of yeses. “Good. You’ll be with a partner, and if your team is caught, you join the seeking side. When we get down to the last two people, they win.”

“What’s the prize for winning?” Ethan asks. “That’s going to determine my likelihood for participating.”

“Given it’s mandatory, if you don’t want to join in, I’ll kick your ass at practice tomorrow until you’re crying in pain, Richardson,” Maverick warns.

“He runs a tight ship,” I whisper to Hudson.

He took the seat next to me ten minutes ago, his thigh pressing against mine as he listened to us discuss what color hair ribbon would look the best with a bright green dress.

“You should’ve seen him five or six years ago. He missed his alarms and skipped practice. Politely escorting his one-night stands out of his apartment was a regular occurrence for me. Maverick from his first year in the league wouldn’t recognize this dude.”

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