“I’ll always be there for you, Char. Let’s not worry about something that may never even happen, okay?”
I took a deep breath. “You’re right. Okay.” I cleared my mind of the worry that was gripping me. “Are you nervous about the game tomorrow night?”
His eyes lit up. “Not nervous. Excited. It’s a pretty kick-ass time to be the new team captain. We’ve got something to prove. It’s been too long since our team’s had our shit together enough to be in contention for the playoffs. Eight years since we’ve made it. Sid and Orion put us there, and we’re not letting this season end now.”
“I can’t wait,” I said, feeling the excitement myself. I’d picked up a men’s 2X hoodie in Flyers blue to wear. It was the only size I could fit over my belly.
Whether I was watching Bennett’s games in person or on my computer, I always hoped for him to play his best. I wanted his dream of playing in the NHL to come true. But now that I knew that meant he’d be leaving me, it was hard to want it. I wasn’t the sort of woman to let go of the life I’d built so I could follow a man. But in this moment, with the glow of meeting Bennett’s family still warm inside me, I kind of wished I was.
Bennett
There was fire running through my veins as I waited for the puck drop. This was it—make it or break it, and we had to make it. Every bruised rib and sleepless night away from Charlotte had brought me here and I wasn’t squandering it.
Killian was watching from the owner’s box. He’d given me a salute when I glanced up there. The only thing that was missing from this night was him, but I was proud of him for moving up to Indy. It meant a lot that he was here, even if he was off the ice.
As soon as the puck was dropped, we came out hitting hard. I’d given the guys a pre-game locker room talk about having no regrets. Tonight was about giving our all plus a little more, so we’d know at the end that there was nothing to wish we’d done better.
I could hardly hear Orion’s yelling over the roar of the crowd. And damn, was that nice. These fans deserved a win tonight for sticking with us.
In the dreams I’d been having about this game, it lasted forever. I played for hours and hours with no line changes until I collapsed on the ice and the other team skated around my limp body to score.
But in reality, it flew past me. I was so busy trying to be everywhere, see everything, and keep all the guys fired up that the clock got away from me. We had less than a minute left and were up 3–2, and all I could think about was securing a win with one more goal.
They got in a strong final shot and Shuck dove to the ice, deflecting the puck. I cried out and pumped my fist in the air.
And then . . . it was over. The guys crowded around me, half of them yelling and the other half crying.
“Fucking shit! Fucking shit!” someone screamed next to my ear.
Sticks were dropped to the ice as we embraced each other. I shed a few tears myself. It felt damn good to hear our fans celebrating.
“Hell yeah,” Orion said behind me. I turned and opened my arms to him.
“Nice, Captain,” he said.
“It was you, Coach.” My voice was thick with emotion.
“It was us.”
We milked our on-ice celebration for every second we could get. As soon as we hit the tunnel to go to the locker room, I saw my girl. I’d asked an usher to bring her down after the game for me, and there she was.
Tears streaked Charlotte’s cheeks and her smile lit up her whole face. I bent to kiss her and she grabbed my face and held me close for a second.
“Congratulations,” she said softly. “I’m so happy. So proud of you. I love you, Bennett.”
“I love you, too. I hope you’re up for a celebration dinner with the guys.”
“Absolutely. Wouldn’t miss it.”
I touched my forehead down to hers. “It means everything that you’re here with me for this.”
“To me, too,” she said.
A photographer was shooting photos of us. Usually, they weren’t allowed in the tunnel, but Keri must’ve made an exception for this.
Charlotte saw Liam and went to hug him. I soaked in the moment for a few seconds. I knew in my heart that this was probably my last season of hockey. I needed to get a better job now that I had a family.
I was going out on one hell of a note, though.
Charlotte
I waddled into the courtroom with as much dignity as I could muster. The status of my pregnancy was the source of much chatter among the courthouse staff. There was an office pool going to guess my due date and the baby’s weight. The date I was fine with, but having people seriously wager money that I would have a ten-pound baby was a little insulting.