Page 44 of The Captain's Curfew
Beside her, our kids, the twins, Alec and Rosie lean against the glass, practically vibrating with excitement.They’re three now, serious as ever, sitting stiffly in his miniature Thunder jersey like he’s mentally reviewing every play I’ve made tonight.Rosie, all curls and chaos, is bouncing on the balls of her feet, grinning ear to ear.
When I wave at them, Rosie presses her palms to the glass and mouths,That’s my daddy!Like the entire town doesn’t already know.
The final buzzer sounds and the team rushes the ice, another win sealed.But I barely register it because my eyes are on them—the three people who made all this worth it.
Later that night, after the post-game press and locker room chaos, I step into our house and hear it immediately—the muffled sound of laughter, the thud of feet on hardwood, and Violet’s voice as she corrals two hyper kids who should’ve been in bed an hour ago.
I barely get my jacket off before Rosie launches herself at me, all limbs and energy.
“Daddy!You scored!”she squeals, her curls wild and her face flushed.
Alec’s behind her, quieter but grinning.“You almost missed that third goal.”
I huff a laugh, ruffling his hair as I scoop Rosie into one arm.“Thanks for the critique, bud.”
“He’s been replaying it all night,” Violet calls from the living room doorway, one eyebrow arched like she’s trying not to smile.“And someone refused to go to bed until you got home.”
I glance at Alec, who shrugs like he’s too cool to care, but I catch the small smile he tries to hide.
Rosie buries her face in my shoulder.“Did you win?”
“Of course,” I murmur, kissing the top of her head.“You think I’d let your mom’s screaming from the box go to waste?”
Violet rolls her eyes but grins.“You’re lucky I love you.”
Later, after baths and stories and Violet bribing Rosie back into bed with promises of pancakes in the morning, the house finally settles.
I stand at the doorway of their room, leaning against the frame.
Alec and Rosie are curled up in Rosie’s bed—even though they each have their own rooms now, they always end up here, tucked under a mess of blankets and stuffed animals, limbs tangled like they never want to be apart.
Violet slips in behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist.
“You okay?”she asks softly, chin resting on my shoulder.
I nod, staring at the two little people who changed everything.
“So this is it,” I murmur.“My last year.”
Her arms tighten around me.“You’re ready.”
I don’t say it out loud, but she’s right.I’ve spent my entire life on the ice, my entire career trying to be the best, to lead, to fix things.
But nothing compares to this.To them.
“I think I’ll coach,” I say after a beat.“Maybe run the youth program.”
Violet hums, pressing a kiss to my back.“They’d be lucky to have you.”
I glance at Alec and Rosie one last time before flipping off the light.
I’ve spent years fighting, sacrificing, leading a team.
But this—this family, this messy, beautiful, loud life—is the only thing I ever really wanted.
And now I have it.
Forever.
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