Page 124 of On Thin Ice

“No, no, I’m fine. I just missed you guys,” I said, eyeing Dad over Mom’s shoulder. He was looking a bit choked up, too.

“How about we go inside?” Penny suggested.

I took a step back into the condo with Mom still hugging me.

“There she is. Give me that baby,” Darcy said. “Oh, yeah, hi to you too, Ally.”

I laughed softly and turned to see Dom right behind me, concern in his eyes, as he held our daughter.

“Sorry about that. These hormones.” I released Mom and snaked an arm around Dom’s waist to give him a quick squeeze. “Everyone, come in and meet Livi. And say hi to Dom, of course.”

Penny quirked her brow at me, her eyes drifting down to see me still holding on to Dom. Then she grinned and turned to my brother. “Be good.”

“I’m always good,” he grumbled. “And I should get to hold Olivia first. I’m her uncle.”

“And I’m her grandmother,” Mom retorted.

“Hey, what am I, chopped liver over here,” Dad said, flashing me a wink.

I’d missed them all so much.

Darcy scooted around my parents and pulled me, Dom, and Livi all into a hug at once. “Hi, guys. I’m happy for you, and she’s freaking adorable. So cute. And you look beyond happy, Ally.” Then she kissed me on the cheek and scooped Livi into her arms before we could stop her.

I chuckled. “Dirty trick, bestie.”

Darcy grinned at me and leaned down to coo at my daughter.

“What just happened?” Dom asked, looking adorably befuddled.

“She snagged my granddaughter first, that’s what happened.” Mom pretended to sound put out. “Hello, Domenic. It’s been a while.”

“Uh, yeah. It has. Good to see both of you.”

I worked hard to not snort at how stiff he sounded.

Dad held out his hand, and Dom shook it. “Welcome to the family, Domenic. As long as you make our Ally and Livi happy, that’s all I care about.”

“Thank you, sir. I’m doing my best.”

I bit the inside of my cheek.

“And Ethan will stop being a dick to you on the ice.”

That was the one that made me finally snort out loud.

“Oh, Dad,” I said when he let go of Dom’s hand and hugged me.

“I’m not a dick,” Ethan grumbled. “And he had it coming.”

“And now I’m very happy and in love with Dom, so you’re going to stop trying to injure him with your posturing.”

Mom grinned. “Oh, Ally, I’m so happy for both of you.” Then she turned to Ethan and pointed at him. “You. Behave.”

“It’s hockey, Mom. Hits happen,” he muttered.

“Harty’s right. They’re part of the game. Just stop gunning for me because of your sister,” Dom said.

“Fine. But if you hurt her,” my brother started, and I rolled my eyes. He meant well, but it was annoying as hell.

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