Page 62 of Hat Trick Holidate

Dane says softly, “We’re having a girl. Another beautiful girl.”

Emmaline wraps her hand around my arm and squeezes.

Lettie screams and jumps into his arms, and most of the women have their phones out to document the moment.

But she’s not the only girl to jump into a man’s arms—Jolie comes flying from across the patio and leaps into my body in a tight embrace. “Daddy! I want a baby sister!”

Daddy. Baby sister. Emmaline.

chapter 26

BRYCE

On the plane ride home,Emmaline sits in the same row with me, with Jolie between us.

Emmaline keeps stealing glances at me, and a car wash machine couldn’t wipe the grin off my face. The muscles in my face ache. They’ve been stretched so wide.

Jolie’s asleep with her head on my arm. Emmaline whispers, “I’m so happy for you. I told you.”

“You did. Her voice… damn music to my ears.” Those are the only words Jolie has spoken to me or anyone, but it was like a preacher or a motivational speaker. I hung on every word and haven’t stopped thinking about them. “It’s all because of you, Emmaline. Helping me. Being with her… with us.”

She blushes. The woman doesn’t know how to take a compliment.

“Do you have plans for Thanksgiving?” she asks.

“Jolie and I are going to Reed’s. Are you and Roman taking a quick trip home?”

“No, my parents are coming to my house, and I’ve got a million things to do,” she says while putting in the code to unlock her phone. “Roman and I wanted to invite you and Jolie over, but she’ll be more comfortable with Cannon and the Cross kids.”

0514.

Why does that number seem familiar?

“What’s on your to-do list?”

She scoffs, “What’s not? While we were gone, the list got longer. A neighbor called and said a water pipe burst in my house. She was walking her dog and saw water running off the front stoop. She called the water department, and they shut the line off to my house.”

“Didn’t realize they could do that. Why didn’t you tell me before now? We didn’t have to go to Dane’s house; we could have flown home after the game. In fact, if I knew I wasn’t going to play, we could have flown home this morning.”

“Still upset about not playing?”

I lay my hand on Jolie’s leg. “Not as much. Jolie gave me the greatest gift. I’m just not made to sit and watch. My life and circumstances made me a doer. Practice and play. Practice and play some more. Then I added, weightlifting, cardio, commercials. I rarely have true downtime. I don’t like sitting on the sidelines.” My hand that’s hung around Jolie’s little body reaches for Emmaline’s leg. “Not with hockey or with you.”

I move it up to where it’s not as noticeable, and her body heats at my touch through her leggings. My fingers move into the crease between her thigh and her center. Her head falls back against the blue leather seat, and she hums.

Realizing she made a noise, she turns her head, looking for where her brother is seated, then continues, “Roman wants you to like him.”

Removing my hand, I say, “I do like him. More than I used to.” I let a chuckle escape my throat. “Back to the list.”

She hands me her phone.

Water damage removal.

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