Page 172 of Three Pucks and a Baby

“I was just thinking that it makes sense that out of all of us, you’d be the one to fuck up a condom,” Theo teased.

“Fuck you,” I replied with a grin.

“Well, I’m very grateful to Grayson for messing up the condom.” After glancing down at Griffin, she said, “Without hismistake, I wouldn’t have this little guy.” She lifted her gaze to ours and smiled. “And if I hadn’t gotten pregnant, I wouldn’t have you three.”

Theo shook his head. “You would’ve come to your senses and sought us out for another threesome.”

“You think?”

He nodded. “And if you hadn’t, we would’ve eventually broken down and come pleading on your doorstep.” His expression grew serious. After glancing over at Bennett he said, “After all, we were meant to be together.”

Bennett winked at him. “We sure were.”

“And it all started with a hockey superstition,” I said.

“Don’t forget about my vision board. I mean, without it, I wouldn’t have come back that night at The Dive when you two propositioned me.”

With a grin, Bennett replied, “I’ve never owed so much of my happiness to absolute bullshit.”

“Speak for yourself. Our foursome brought an NCAA championship,” Theo countered.

“And this little guy,” I replied.

Bennett held up his hands. “Okay, from now on out, I’ll always raise a toast to superstitions and vision boards.”

“And condoms that break,” I added with a chuckle.

As the others groaned, I couldn’t help feeling like the most blessed motherfucker in the world.

EPILOGUE: THEO

Four Months Later

As I slidmy Swarm jersey over my head, my body hummed with pride. In just a few minutes, I would be taking the ice for my first NHL game. It was so fucking surreal that I kept having to pinch myself.

It was moments of absolute and complete euphoria like these that made the last five weeks of loneliness and isolation worth it. When I thought about that day at the airport when I’d said goodbye to the loves of my life to head to Charleston, my chest clenched. Halfway to the gate, I’d thought about turning around and saying fuck it to the NHL. That’s how much I didn’t want to leave.

But some unknown force had pushed me on. I like to think it was the emotional strength that therapy had given me. Maybe it was the prayers Viv and Bennett were putting up for me. I wasn’t normally a believer, but at this point, I’d take anything.

There were good days on the ice and bad days. A lot of the guys hadn’t taken to me because I was replacing a very well-likedgoalie. But it was through no fault of mine or his since he’d taken a really bad hit that ended his career.

Thankfully, a few of my teammates had embraced me. I enjoyed late-night beer and pizza binges with them. Of course, nothing could replace the bond I had with Grayson and Bennett.

Usually, I’d catch Vivian and the guys when I was heading home from my beer nights because it was Griffin’s last feeding before bedtime. He still wasn’t sleeping through the night. He liked to be topped off with the tatas around two am.

He was changing so much in just the short amount of time I’d been gone. I’d joked that he was more like a loaf of bread when I left—he just laid in our arms or snoozed. Now he was bright-eyed and responsive on our phone calls. I loved to hear his laugh and giggles.

I never could’ve fathomed the amount of love I had for him. I thought I’d loved him when he was cooking in Vivian’s stomach. But there was nothing like holding him in my arms. Or feeling him snuggle into my chest. And now it was the sweet gummy smile he gave me.

I was completely over the moon for him. And the crazy thing was I couldn’t imagine feeling any different for him if he was my biological son. He truly was mine just as he was Bennett’s and Grayson’s.

My thoughts were interrupted by the assistant coach telling us it was time to take the ice. As I started making my way through the tunnel, I was grateful I wouldn’t be on my own tonight. Since I was the scheduled goalie, the gang had flown in to see me play. It meant so much having them here on such a big night.

As I skated onto the ice, my gaze began bouncing around the arena. Anxiety pricked me when I didn’t see them. And then finally, there they were.

My world.

Bennett and Grayson started waving maniacally while Vivian gently waved Griffin’s fist at me. With a grin, I skated over to them. At the sight of me through the plexiglass, Griffin smiled and kicked his feet.

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