Page 108 of Rookie's Redemption
"SURPRISE!" Eli bellows, his voice echoing off the arena walls. "Championship celebration practice!"
"Eli," Coach says, rubbing his eyes in frustration. "That's not what we agreed to say. We haven't won the championship yet."
"Ah, so what!" Eli waves dismissively, popping the first bottle. "This team's got magic this year. I can feel it in my bones. Besides, when was the last time any of you celebrated properly?"
Blake looks around at all of us, then shrugs. "I mean, it's pretty much all we do."
But soon enough, we're all sprawled around center ice still in our gear, passing champagne bottles and laughing like the bunch of overgrown kids we basically are.
The wives and girlfriends have joined us on the ice, turning our impromptu celebration into something that feels like family.
Sophia sits between Blake's legs, stealing sips from his bottle while updating her phone.
"This is so going on the team Instagram," she announces.
"Make me look good," Blake requests, pressing a kiss to her temple.
"Good on ya! Giving the woman an impossible task," Connor calls out, earning himself a face full of ice chips from Blake's direction.
Lucy laughs, settling against Connor's side. "You two really are like an old married couple."
"Hey, we're the old married couple here," I protest, pulling Mia onto my lap where she fits perfectly. Just like she always has. "Show some respect for your elders."
"Elders?" Emma snorts from where she's sharing Logan's champagne, both of them still wearing their Nest & Grind aprons. "You've been married for six months, not six decades."
"Still counts," Mia says, grinning as she steals my bottle. "We're practically ancient by hockey standards."
Logan, who's been quietly watching this chaos unfold, suddenly speaks up. "You know what's funny? A year ago, most of us were bachelors convinced we were too focused on hockey for relationships."
"Some of us more convinced than others," Natalie teases, nudging Coach Brody's shoulder.
"I was perfectly happy being single," Coach protests.
"Fuck off. You were a grumpy hermit who lived on protein bars," Blake corrects.
"Still am grumpy," Coach mutters, but he's smiling as he pulls Natalie closer.
Jackson raises his bottle. "To Coach, for proving that even the most stubborn among us can find happiness."
"To all of us stubborn bastards," Connor adds, "for finally figuring out what actually matters."
"To Iron Ridge," Sophia chimes in, "for being the kind of place where love stories actually come true."
"To the women who put up with our shit," Blake says, earning cheers from the girls.
"And to Eli," I add, raising my bottle toward our impromptu party host. "For always believing in magic even when the rest of us are too practical."
Eli beams, raising his own bottle highest. "To family!"
"CHEERS!"
We all drink, and for a moment, the arena is filled with the kind of contentment that comes from knowing you're exactly where you belong.
Because Iron Ridge isn't just a place on a map.
It's where frozen ponds become childhood dreams, where rivalries turn to brotherhood on the ice, and where second chances aren't just given… they're fought for.
This town has hockey in its veins and love right where it belongs... in your heart.
