Page 174 of Beauty
After a few claps on the back, I tap my heart and point to the owner’s suite, then fold my hands into the sign for a butterfly, letting the two most important people in my life know that this goal was for them.
My heart is still pounding as I take the bench again. It doesn’t slow as I watch Brooks defend our goal. A minute later, I’m back on the ice, doing my job.
As the clock counts down, every single one of us skates our asses off, and when the buzzer sounds, we’ve left it all out on the ice. We gave it our all.
“Motherfucking champions,” War howls as the two of us skate toward our goalie, who just pulled off one of the biggest games of his career.
Thanks to Brooks’s shutout, the Bolts win the Stanley Cup 2-0.
Sara’s screams can be heard above everyone in the crowd as she darts out onto the ice. But I’m preoccupied, waiting for the two pieces of my heart to get here.
When they finally appear, Sienna’s face is tearstained, her hand locked around Ollie’s. They rush toward me, and because she’s the best damn woman in the world, she lets my son go in for a hug first. “You stink.” He leans back, holding out a hand to stop Sienna. “Don’t do it. Save yourself.”
“Thanks,” she laughs, even as the tears continue to fall, “but I’ll risk it.”
“Might want to close your eyes, bud. I’m about to take one of my two allotted kisses,” I tease.
Huffing, he does as he’s told. And once she’s ensured she won’t offend him, Sienna jumps into my arms and wraps her legsaround my waist. Holding her tight, I kiss the ever-loving shit out of her. Screw the two-kiss rule.
“I’m so proud of you.” She beams.
“Thank you, baby. It means the world to me that you’re here. I love you.”
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I loveyou.”
War smacks me on the shoulder, breaking us apart. “Come on. We’re gonna take the kids around the ice.” He’s already got Scarlett on one shoulder and Josie on the other, and Brayden has his little brother in his arms.
I eye Ollie. “You willing to risk the stench for a ride around the ice?”
He tilts his head, his lips pursed, like he actually has to think about it, then nods sharply.
One by one, the guys take off with their children, some helping those who have multiple. Brooks carries baby Taylor, who’s dressed in head-to-toe blue, and Aiden has Addie on the front of his skates. Snow tosses Beckett’s son Finn onto his shoulders, and the rest of the older kids rush the ice in their sneakers, making it a full-on family affair.
It’s the best damn way to end my career. And as “Blank Space” plays through the speakers, we all sing the Bolts’ version. We’re officially legends, and we love this game.
Sienna
Aiden: So on a scale of one to ten, how late will you be?
Beckett: I’m here.
Gavin: Same.
Brooks: Walking in now.
Aiden: Obviously not talking to you.
Beckett: Which you?
Aiden: Duck.
Aiden: I mean duck.
Beckett: Hahahahaha.
Gavin: Should we say it?
Brooks: Definitely feels like he deserves it.
