Page 104 of Icy Pucking Play

But it's the everyday moments that hit hardest. Evan teaching Natalia to butterfly slide in the kitchen. Helping Ryland perfect his shot late at night. Making everyone feel safe. Protected. Loved.

"See?" Video-Julia appears. "This is who you are, little brother. Not the Ice Man. Not the divorced dad with trust issues. Just...you. The guy who takes care of everyone. Who loves completely even when it scares you."

The screen splits to show dozens of moments—big saves and quiet victories, family dinners and practice sessions.

All scored to the song that was playing the first time he kissed me in his kitchen.

Finally, my own face appears.

"Everyone says you're made of ice," Video-Me says softly. "But they don't see what I see. They don't see how much warmth you hold inside. How carefully you guard it. How much courage it takes to let anyone close enough to feel it..."

The screen fades to black. For a moment, no one moves.

Then Natalia breaks the silence. "Did you like it, Daddy? I helped pick the music!"

"It was..." He clears his throat. "It was something."

"That's not an answer," Julia mutters.

"Maybe..." I step forward. "Maybe everyone could give us a minute?"

Everyone files out, leaving me alone with Evan and what feels like every emotion we've been trying to hide.

"So," he says finally.

"So."

"That was..."

"Too much?" I wrap my arms around myself. "I know it's a lot, but I needed you to see…"

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do all this?" He gestures at the screen. "After everything?"

"Because." I take a deep breath. "Because I needed to do this. To show you…"

He stands abruptly. "Sophie…"

"No, let me finish. Please?" I step closer. "Because this story? Our story? It's not about hockey or features or professional anything. It's about family. About love. About second chances."

"I can't…"

"Can't what? Trust me? Let me in? Love me back?"

The words hang between us, heavy with everything we've been afraid to say.

"All of it," he says finally. "None of it. I don't know."

"Then let me help you know." I close the distance between us. "Let me show you that not everyone leaves. That some people stay. That some people choose you, every day, not because of what you can give them, but because of who you are."

"And who am I?"

I reach for his hand. "You're the guy I fell in love with. Ice and all."

He stares at our joined hands.

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