Page 87 of Triplet Babies for Pucking Christmas

“All right,” I say finally, clapping my hands together. “First step: figure out how to tell people. Second step: survive the next, uh…eighteen or so years.”

Savannah laughs again, and Jamie rolls his eyes. “Real helpful, Troy.”

“Hey, I’m just saying what we’re all thinking,” I shoot back, smirking.

Savannah leans her head on Jamie’s shoulder, her eyes drifting closed. “You guys are ridiculous.”

“And you love it,” Jamie murmurs, pressing a kiss to her temple.

She smiles, and for the first time all night, I feel like maybe—just maybe—we’ve got this.

***

The locker room feels off the second I walk in. Everyone’s quiet. Too quiet. Finn’s sitting on a bench, staring at the floor, and Axel’s leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, jaw tight. I toss my bag down and look around.

“What the hell’s going on?” I ask, unzipping my jacket. “Did someone die, or is FlexPro backing out of the deal?”

Finn shakes his head, not even looking up. “It’s worse than that.”

“Worse?” I glance at Axe. “What’s worse than losing our sponsor?”

Axel straightens, pushing off the wall. “Just wait. Coach’ll be in any second. He’s the one who’s gotta tell you.”

“Tell me what?” I snap, my patience already wearing thin. “Would someone just say it?”

But before anyone can answer, Coach Nate walks in, his expression grim. He claps his hands once, the sound sharp in the dead-silent room.

“All right, I know you’ve all heard the rumors,” he starts, his voice steady but heavy.

“What rumors?” I blurt out, looking around at the guys. “Am I the only one out of the loop here?”

“It’s true,” Coach says, ignoring my question. “The trade’s off.”

There’s a collective murmur through the room, a mix of confusion and frustration. I narrow my eyes at him. “Okay, and? Trades fall through all the time. What’s the big deal?”

Coach lets out a breath, his shoulders sagging like the weight of this is getting to him too. “At the end of the season, the Chicago Icebreakers are going through some changes. Big ones.”

“Changes?” Declan’s the first to pipe up, leaning forward with a scowl. “What kind of changes?”

Coach hesitates, and I don’t like it. Nate’s not the type to sugarcoat shit, so if he’s holding back, it’s gotta be bad.

“The rumors are true,” he says finally. “There’s going to be a merger. With the Blackhawks.”

For a second, nobody says anything. Then the room explodes.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me!” Declan shouts, standing up so fast the bench scrapes against the floor.

“Merger?” Finn echoes, his voice a mix of disbelief and anger.

“They’ve been our fucking rivals for years!” Axel growls, slamming his fist into the locker.

I stare at Coach, trying to process his words. A merger? Withthem?

“You can’t be serious,” I say, my voice low but sharp. “The Blackhawks? The team we’ve been beating into the ice every season? How the hell is that supposed to work?”

“I don’t have all the details yet,” Coach admits, holding up his hands to calm us down. “But I know it’s happening. The decision’s coming from way above me.”

Declan lets out a bitter laugh. “This is bullshit. They play like crap, and now we’re supposed to carry them? What happens to our roster? Half of us gonna get benched so their dead weight can skate?”

---