Page 152 of If You Love Me

“You’re in the same league as Bowman with your stick-handling skills. Forget about everything else and be that guy tonight.” Lexi points at Madden. “You’re not idiot teenagers anymore. You’re teammates. Put everything else aside like you have been and keep showing up for each other.”

Madden nods. “I hear you, Coach.”

“For the welfare of your team. For the legacy of the guys who are not coming back next year, play like nothing else matters but winning this game.”

Madden starts clapping. “Beautiful speech, Coach Forrester.”

Lexi rolls her eyes. “Fuck off, Madden.”

“I’m serious.”

Everyone starts clapping, and then they start whooping, and I’m halfway to a hard-on because that’s my fucking wife bolstering the team.

Vander Zee stands back, wearing a smile, all proud peacock. “Let’s get our asses out there and score some goals.”

Within the first two minutes of the second period, Madden scores with Grace as the assist, giving us a one-point lead. Boston comes back at us, trying to even it up again. But the shift is exactly what we need. Madden and Grace are playing like a unit, and it’s fucking magic.

Boston ties it up at the end of the second period, but Stiles scores another goal at the top of the third, and with the help of defense, we manage to keep the lead, win the game, and secure the position we want in the playoffs. It wasn’t easy, but we’re one step closer to where we want to be as a team—and not justfor the playoffs. Hopefully the progress Madden and Grace made in recent months will follow them into next season.

Before I take off my gear, I check my messages. Callie had a shutout tonight, which is a huge deal. I wish Lexi or I could have been there to witness it, but I know that time isn’t far off. Lexi has already sent a huge congratulations, and I follow suit, with promises of dinner out tomorrow night to celebrate her win.

“We need to go out tonight,” Flip says as he strips out of his gear. “We fought too hard not to enjoy it.”

“Everyone up for the Watering Hole?” Hollis asks.

“Yeah. Not many more opportunities like this,” I agree.

“I’ll text Aurora.” Hollis types a quick message.

Half an hour later, we arrive at the Watering Hole. With Shilpa pregnant and showing, the club is not her scene. It isn’t really mine at this point either, but I’m all about going with the flow. Peggy throws her arms around me. “You were awesome tonight, Dad. The whole team was.”

“Thanks, kiddo.” I give her a squeeze.

She smiles up at me. “I’ll be sad not to have you in the office all the time next year, but I’m excited for you to be at the Hockey Academy.”

“I feel the same way.” It’ll be a transition, like all the others. It feels easier this time, though. Having Lexi and the girls has shifted my focus. “But at least you still live across the hall from me.”

“Hollis and I aren’t going anywhere.” She gives me a squeeze and kisses my cheek.

She joins the girls, including Dred, who left a sleeping Callie in Fee’s care. They’re all sitting at their favorite table, laughing and chatting.

Lexi tucks herself under my arm. “You feeling nostalgic, Goalie?”

“Yeah, Coach, I am.”

“They’re still your family. That won’t change.”

I kiss her temple. “I know. It’s been a great run, but it’s timeto move forward. Who knows, we might be raising the first female goalie the league has seen.”

She looks up, eyes alight with the possibility. “Wouldn’t that be incredible?”

“It would.” I can see Callie rising through the ranks, see my wife doing the same while I train the next generation. The future is taking shape, and I’m in love with the way it looks.

I’m ready to slow down. To give Lexi time to build her career. To be a dad to Callie and Fee. To change gears. To have a family of my own to love and grow with.

Lexi joins the girls, who are deep in conversation about Rix and Tristan’s upcoming wedding, and I join the guys.

Tristan hands me a beer. “We’ll miss you next year.”

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