Page 161 of Of Pucking Course

They both grin wide. My sister and Shawn take the kids to the side so I can have a moment with Dakota.

She steps forward and presses her palms on the glass.

“You did it, Sam. You won!”

Her smile is wobbly as she gazes at me. Emotion rockets up my chest, making my throat tight.

“I need to be with you,” I holler. “Meet me on the ice.”

Her eyes go wide. “Really?”

I nod.

“This is your moment with your team,” she says. “You should celebrate with them.”

I shake my head and hold her gaze. “None of this is worth it without you.”

Emotion flashes in her big, beautiful brown eyes. I point to the tunnel entrance to the ice. I tell my family to meet me there, too.

As I skate over to them, I see Coach Porter on the ice celebrating with the team.

He turns to me and flashes the biggest grin I’ve ever seen from him.

“Incredible job out there, McKesson.” He pats my shoulder. “Way to take a risk.”

“Thanks for giving me the push I needed, Coach.”

I spot Dakota and my family on the edge of the rink and race over to her. I hug my parents and Caitlin and Shawn. I scoop Liam and Layla into my arms. My parents and Caitlin take a million photos of us.

A bunch of my teammates’ family members andsignificant others join us on the ice. Del’s mom comes over and hugs me. She and my parents talk while Caitlin and Shawn help the twins so they don’t fall on the ice.

I turn to Dakota and take her hand, helping her onto the ice. Around us, my teammates are going wild, cheering and hollering and screaming.

I grab Dakota by the waist and pull her against me, kissing her hard.

When we break apart, her gorgeous brown eyes are teary. “I’m so proud of you,” she says, her voice shaky with emotion.

Joy bursts through me. It feels like fireworks are going off inside my entire body. It’s an incredible feeling, winning the Stanley Cup. But it feels even more incredible to do it with Dakota by my side.

“There’s no way I could have done this without you,” I say to her.

She chuckles. “You’re the one who played your heart out on the ice. I was just in the stands wearing your jersey and cheering you on.”

I shake my head and cup her cheek in my hand. “You believed in me, Dakota. You helped me realize that I could be more than a defenseman who helps his teammates and fades into the background. You helped me realize that I deserve to take some shots for myself.”

Her eyes are bright and teary as she beams at me.

“I mean it. I wouldn’t have had the guts to go for that goal if it weren’t for you, beautiful.”

She sniffles and gets on her tiptoes up to kiss me. “I love you,” she murmurs against my mouth.

“I love you. So, so much.”

When we break apart, cameras and photographerssurround us, snapping a million photos. I hold Dakota’s hand in mine.

Sasha, the team reporter, makes her way over to me, mic in hand.

“Sam, congratulations on the win and on scoring the winning goal for your team. How does it feel to be a Stanley Cup champion?”

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