Page 34 of King

Everyone quiets down, turning their attention to me. “First of all, thank you all for being here. It means the world to me to have each of you around this table. Brittany, Izzy, you’ve been my rock through everything, and I’m so grateful for your support and love. To our guests—King, Rafferty and North—thank you for joining us and bringing your warmth and friendship into our home. It’s not just about the food and festivities, it’s about sharing these moments together and creating memories.”

I take a moment to catch my breath, feeling a little emotional. “This year has had its challenges, but it’s also brought new opportunities and wonderful people into my life. I’m incredibly grateful for that.”

Lifting my glass a little higher, I conclude, “So, here’s to family, friends and new beginnings. May this Thanksgiving be filled with joy, laughter and love. Cheers!”

“Cheers!” everyone echoes, clinking their glasses together.

I settle back into my chair and I’m about to give the order to dig in when Izzy stands up on her chair, her little face glowing with excitement as she holds up her glass of apple cider.“Um, excuse me, everyone! I wanna say something too!” she announces, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

We all turn our attention to her, King and I exchanging a smirk. Brittany gives her an encouraging nod, and Izzy clears her throat. “I just wanna say I’m really thankful for my mommy and Aunt Willa,” Izzy begins, her words tumbling out quickly. “Mommy, you’re the bestest mommy ever, even though you make me eat broccoli. And Aunt Willa, you always make me laugh and you give the best hugs.”

Everyone chuckles softly and I note that these three big hockey players look absolutely enchanted by my niece.

“And I wanna thank Aunt Willa and Coach King for teaching me and my friends how to play hockey,” Izzy continues, her eyes bright. “Even though I keep falling down a lot, it’s still really fun. And Coach King, you’re really good at tying skates!”

Laughter erupts around the table, and King gives Izzy a playful salute.

Izzy takes a deep breath, clearly proud of herself. “So, um, yeah, thank you, everyone! And let’s eat lots of turkey and pie and maybe not too much broccoli. Cheers!”

“Cheers!” we all echo, again tapping our glasses and laughing.

As Izzy sits down, King leans across the table and presents his fist for her to bump. He taught the kids that at the last practice. “That was perfect, Izzy. Very mature. Maybe we should make you team captain.”

“Really?” she asks, eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Sure. But captains have to eat broccoli to be strong and fast.”

Izzy wrinkles her nose and shakes her head. “Never mind. I don’t want to be captain.”

The guys roar with laughter and King bumps his knee against mine under the table. My gaze cuts to him and he leans over tome, whispering. “Thank you for inviting us. It’s hardly started but this will be one of the best Thanksgivings ever.”

I blush from the compliment and nod toward the food. “Dig in, everyone.”

Once our plates are loaded, I look to North on my right. “So, what’s your story? Where are you from and how did you land in Pittsburgh?”

North smiles. “I grew up in Laval, just north of Montreal. It’s a beautiful place, especially in the winter. Lots of snow and, of course, plenty of opportunities for hockey.”

“Sounds lovely,” Brittany chimes in, serving herself some mashed potatoes. “Did you always know you wanted to play hockey professionally?”

“Pretty much,” North replies. “My dad played in local leagues, and my mom was a huge hockey fan. They encouraged me from a young age. I started playing on the frozen ponds around our town and then moved on to more organized leagues as I got older.”

“How did you end up in the NHL?” I ask, genuinely curious.

“I played in the Canadian juniors with the Laval Lynx,” North explains. “That’s where I really developed my skills. I was drafted by the Seattle Storm and spent several seasons there. That’s actually where I met Gage Heyward, who’s now a coach with the Titans. It’s great to be reunited with him here in Pittsburgh.”

“That’s quite a journey,” I say, impressed. “And what about you, Rafferty? How did you find your way to professional hockey?”

Rafferty grins, taking a sip of his wine. “I grew up in Calgary, Alberta. Hockey is a big deal there too. My dad coached youth teams, and I played for the Calgary Cougars in the Alberta Youth Hockey League. From there, I was drafted into the juniors by theCalgary Thunder. After a few good seasons, I got picked up by the Edmonton Grizzlies.”

“And now you’re with the Titans,” I add on with a smile.

“And very glad to be at your table today. Thank you again for taking in us poor souls.” Rafferty cuts a piece of turkey and waves it at me. “What’s the deal with you and King?”

I almost choke on the green beans in my mouth but manage to chew while shooting a quick glance at King who just smiles in amusement. I swallow, look back to Rafferty. “We’re coaching the Ice Pups together. He graciously volunteered to help me since I didn’t know what I was doing.”

“Right,” Rafferty says, still waving the fork. I tense for the inevitable question about how we’re going out on a date. “But how did you meet? He was low on details.”

“Oh,” I say with a laugh that I hope doesn’t sound too relieved. “I believe he saw my ineptitude during a game and felt sorry for me.”

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