I grab my wallet, phone, and keys to follow him out of the locker room.
Fans line the barriers outside, wanting a picture, an autograph, or even just a glimpse of the latest Stanley Cup champs. And I appease them. It’s all part of my new image where I’m completely and utterly myself.
Shockingly enough, fans like me more now than when I was putting on an act.
Maddison’s and my new agent is a family guy who understands the kind of people we are. He doesn’t pressure us into keeping up appearances and only brings us opportunities that we’d be comfortable with. Both he and the Raptors organization have prioritized showcasing Active Minds, and the charity has gotten a ton of recognition over the past few months once people learned I was an equal founder.
It’s nice to have not only a new agent who is in my corner but an entire hockey franchise. I finally feel like I can be myself without being punished for it.
Rich’s client list is teetering dangerously close to zero. He, of all people, knows the paparazzi loves a good scandal, and word travels fast. Once other athletes got wind of the shit he pulled with me, not telling me I had a contract offer on the table, they started firing him one by one.
But Rich missed out because the duo Maddison and I have now is endlessly more popular than the one we played into for years. Who would’ve thought Chicago fans would love the dog-dad, stay-in-on-the-weekends-with-my-girl, happy, and authentic version of myself?
But don’t get it twisted. I’ll still throw hands on the ice if you come at my guys. One thing that will never change is how endlessly protective I am of my people.
“Uncle Zee!” Ella runs at me once I finally make it to the players’ parking lot, past the fans. “What you get me this year?”
I pick her up, carrying her to where her mom and Stevie wait. “Hmm. I don’t know. You’re four now. I think we should upgrade. What do you want from each city we visit?”
“Maybe like a new outfit or a doll.”
From magnets to dolls. Quite the upgrade.
“You want a doll from every single city we visit? That’s a lot of dolls.”
“Yeah,” she plainly states, popping her shoulder as if thirty-one dolls is an entirely reasonable ask. Her emerald eyes go wide as she looks over my shoulder. “Hi, Daddy!” She squirms out of my grasp, running over to him instead.
I pop a kiss on Logan’s cheek and give MJ a little tickle on his belly to hear his new laugh before finding Stevie waiting by my Benz parked next to Maddison’s truck.
I swing both my arms around her shoulders, swaying.
“Good game.” She runs a hand down the length of my back. “That fight was pretty sexy. Did things to me.”
“I know, right?” I show off my face, turning it from side to side. “Look at this money-maker. Untouched and still as flawless as ever.”
She playfully rolls her eyes, but she’s used to my mouth by this point.
“How’d it go with Teddy?” We both look down at the overly excited terrier on the ground, wagging his tail so fast you can barely see it.
“Great. Cheryl said her inbox is full of people wanting to set up a time to come by and meet him.”
“Rio said he’s interested.”
“He should call SDOC after your flight. He and Teddy would actually be a good match. They remind me of each other.”
Teddy stares at us, eagerly wanting some attention. “I can see it.”
I melt into Stevie, hiding my face in her neck. “I don’t wanna go,” I mumble against her skin.
“You’ll be fine,” she laughs. “Tell Indy I said hi.”
“I cannot believe you convinced her to move in with your brother. That’s a disaster waiting to happen.”
“I think it’ll be great.”
My girl is as terrible of a liar as I am. “I’ll tell her you said hi.”
“We’re going to have to celebrate her promotion when you guys get back.”
“No more Tara, huh?”
“Nope. Fired for fraternization. Would you imagine that?” Stevie tries to hide her satisfied smile, but I hear it in her tone. “Indy is in charge now.”
“You know, Stevie girl.” I pull back, eyeing her. “You’re not a flight attendant anymore. You can’t get fired, and I remember a little something about a mile-high club I’ve been dying to join.”
“Miles,” she corrects. “But I’m not having sex on a public airplane.” She pats my chest condescendingly. “Sorry about it.”
I lift a single brow. “If you don’t think I’d charter a private jet to make this happen, you clearly don’t know me very well, sweetheart.”
“You’re ridiculous.” Her blue-green eyes shine with humor.
“You love me.”
“Hell yeah, I do.”
“All right, man,” Maddison cuts in. “We gotta get to the airport.”
“It’s just a few days,” Stevie reminds me. “I love you. Have fun with your teammates.”
Hooking my hand behind her neck, my thumb skims her jaw. I pepper kisses up the column of her throat, dotting her freckled cheeks before I urgently press my lips to hers. We both smile into the kiss, acknowledging I’m acting overly needy right now, but fuck it. I am.
“I love you, Vee.” I seal it with one more kiss before heading off with Maddison, my suitcase in tow.
“When are you going to make it official?” he teases once we’re out of earshot of the girls.
I playfully roll my eyes while climbing into the passenger seat of his truck. “Not everyone gets married the second they meet their person.”
“Yeah, but you’re not everyone. So, what’s the deal? You popping the question or what?”
“Lewis is working on her ring.” My sly smile lifts on one side of my mouth. “Getting her fingers sized all those months ago was the perfect cover. It should be ready soon.”
“It’s extravagant as fuck, isn’t it?”
“Have you met me?”
Maddison pulls out of the parking lot as I keep my focus out the passenger window, watching my girl.
“Welcome to the club,” he says. “Leaving home absolutely sucks.”
Stevie waves goodbye, her smile as soft and sweet as she is, and I can’t believe how lucky I am that I get to come home to her.
I never thought I’d say this, but, “I hate road games.”
THE END