Page 140 of Rinkmates

Rory hugs his bear tightly and then wraps his arms around me, and my heart swells again and again.

He pulls back after a couple of heartbeats, his face alight as he looks me over. “You were so pretty, Mommy. You won the show! I saw with Gran and Grandpa!”

A watery laugh bubbles out of me. “Thanks, bud,” I whisper, tucking an errant curl behind his ear. My baby. My reason for everything.

I never want to let him go. Never want this moment to end. I want to freeze time right here, with Rory safe and happy in my arms, his little hands clutching at my shoulders. I want to memorize every detail—the exact shade of his eyes, cornflower blue with flecks of periwinkle. The constellation of freckles dusting his nose. My nose.

I want to absorb him into my very being, so I’ll never be without him again, never have to endure another day, another hour, another second of the bone-deep ache of missing him.

“Where’s the hockey player?” Rory asks suddenly, his voice cutting through my spiraling thoughts.

I blink, drawing back to look at him in confusion. “What?”

Rory squirms in my arms, his eyes darting around as if searching for someone. “The hockey player,” he repeats impatiently. “The one on TV with you. He is really good! He won the Cup!”

My heart stutters, then kicks into overdrive. “Riley? Yes. His team won the Stanley Cup! He’s the best player I know.”

“I just love hockey, Mommy,” Rory declares, his voice ringing with the absolute certainty only a child can possess, and something tugs around my heart. “I wanna play just like him when I grow up!”

My throat tightens.

“That’s great, bud,” I manage to choke out, forcing a smile that feels more like a grimace. “But you know, hockey players have to practice really hard. It’s a lot of work.”

Rory nods solemnly, his little face scrunched up in determination. “I can do it,” he insists. “I’ll practice every day, I promise! And then…” He lowers his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Maybe the hockey player can come visit us and teach me some tricks!”

I laugh. Oh, Riley would love this. “You know what?” I wink at him. “I’ll ask him.”

Behind Rory, Trish and Spencer, his grandparents, exchange a meaningful glance, their eyes brimming with unshed tears. Trish clasps her hands together, her smile wavering as she watches us, and I look up at her, my face full with the biggest smile I’ve ever had.Yes, my eyes tell them,yes, we really made it. I bought a house. On my own. For me and my baby and a certain hockey player who can’t wait to visit us.

Early Bird BONUS CHAPTER

LIORA

The crisp air nips at my cheeks as I glide across the smooth ice, Rory skating beside me in his blue hockey jersey and pads. He was so thrilled when Riley sent us a huge Falcons fan box. I watch my baby boy, his cheeks flushed pink from the cold and exertion, his eyes shining with pure joy as we circle the rink together. He loves it when I show him my spins and twizzles. Summer is nearly over, and the leaves outside are already turning shades of orange and yellow.

“Watch this, Mommy!” Rory calls out.

He picks up speed, pumping his little legs, and then attempts a wobbly spin on his skates. I smile and clap as he completes the turn without falling.

“Great job, sweetie! You’re getting better every day.” I beam at Riley with pride.

Teaching him real hockey moves is a bit beyond my skills, but just spending this time with him and seeing his face light up—that makes everything worthwhile. After the struggles we endured, scrimping and worrying about affording his medications and treatments, being able to give Rory a stable home and focus on being a mom means the world to me.I’m so happy I can tell him he can become whoever he wants because now I can actually afford it. Just thinking about it feels incredible. I can give my boy the world.

Our new house in Pennsylvania is a dream come true as well. There’s more than enough space for all of us, plus a yard for Rory to play with friends and for Mom and me to tend a small garden. Our cat Kitty, of course, loves all the different corners around the house where she can hide. Simple pleasures that I once thought impossible. Now, Rory and I can cuddle together each night in his room, reading his favorite books and watchingPAW Patrol. Weekends are now filled with adventures around our property or visits from Priya or Rory’s grandparents, who were overjoyed to have us close by. It’s just ten minutes to their house, and whenever Rory misses them, we’ll visit with our bikes.

As we skate in lazy loops, hand-in-hand, I breathe deeply, letting the frigid air fill my lungs. I never want to take a single moment for granted again. This is everything I ever wanted for us.

“Mommy, look!” Rory suddenly shouts, pointing across the rink with his hockey stick.

I follow his gaze, squinting against the glare of the light on the ice. A familiar figure strides toward us, long legs eating up the distance with ease. My heart leaps into my throat. Riley. He was supposed to be at training camp for at least another week. I haven’t seen him in what feels like forever, our stolen moments always late at night after Rory was asleep. But now, here he is, in the flesh.

Rory lets out a squeal of delight, bouncing up and down on his skates. “It’s the hockey player! Mommy, Riley’s here!”

I can only stare, completely stunned, as Riley hops onto the ice and skates toward us. He looks incredible, his cheeks flushed from the cold that hits you after leaving the warmth. A brightsmile lights up his face—the same smirk that first drew me in all those months ago.

“Hey, you two,” he says, coming to a stop before us.

His gaze meets mine, and I can tell he wants to kiss me—I want it just as much—but we agreed not to. Instead, he shifts his focus to Rory.

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