Page 33 of Twin Babies for the Pucking Billionaires

Chase squeezes my hand. “See? It’s awesome.”

We move closer and I see the players interacting with the puppies, laughing and posing for photos. The puppies are bouncing around, tails wagging like crazy.

“Hey, can we help with the puppies?” Chase asks one of the crew members.

“Absolutely,” the guy says. “Just sign these waivers and you’re good to go.”

We quickly sign the forms, and soon enough, I’m holding a squirming little puppy in my arms. “This is the best surprise ever,” I tell Chase, who’s also holding a tiny, fluffy dog.

“I knew you’d love it,” he says, his eyes sparkling.

We join the players on the mats, surrounded by a flurry of puppies. One of the hockey players, a tall guy with dark hair, hands me another puppy. “This little guy seems to like you.”

I take the puppy, laughing as it licks my face. “I like him too.”

Chase is talking to another player, who’s showing him some hockey moves. I catch snippets of their conversation about upcoming games and the team’s prospects this season.

“You play hockey?” I ask Chase, teasingly.

He grins. “Nope, but I might start.”

“Right,” I laugh, watching him fumble with the stick someone handed him.

The puppies are getting playful and soon there’s a mini chaos of barking and laughter. I see a few more players from the Icebreakers joining in, their faces lit up with genuine joy.

“This is amazing,” I say again, feeling completely at ease.

Chase looks over at me, his expression softening. “I’m glad you like it.”

The camera crew starts setting up for interviews, and one of the player’s gestures for us to join them. “Come on, you guys should be in this too.”

We get roped into a few shots, holding puppies and answering questions about the event. I’m a little nervous at first, but the players are so down-to-earth that I quickly relax.

After the interviews, we continue playing with the puppies. I see Chase chatting with a few more players, probably getting tips on how to impress me further with his non-existent hockey skills.

“Hey, you okay?” one of the players asks, noticing me looking around.

“Yeah, just...I thought I saw someone I knew,” I say, trying to shake off the weird feeling.

He nods, understanding. “Happens all the time. Small world, right?”

“Yeah, definitely.”

“I’m Troy by the way, and you are?”

“I’m Millie.”

“Nice to meet you!”

Chase comes over, a big grin on his face. “Ready to head back to get Peanut?”

“Sure,” I say, handing the puppy back to one of the crew members.

We thank everyone and make our way out of the rink. The sun is setting, casting a golden glow over the city.

“Thank you,” I say to Chase as we walk back to the motorcycle.

“For what?”

---