Page 90 of Hat Trick Daddies

The horn blares, and the arena explodes into celebration. My teammates swarm the ice, shouting and cheering. The Swans look furious, their captain shaking his head as he skates off.

I lock eyes with Ally in the stands, and her wide smile sends a jolt of pride through me.

We head back to the locker room, everyone riding the high of victory. This is why we play: to feel this rush, to see the payoff for all the hard work.

Back in the locker room, the mood is electric. Teammates slap me on the back, shouting congratulations for both the win and the engagement.

“Ally must be your lucky charm,” one of the defensemen says with a grin. “You popped the question and the team won the game, all in one night.”

“Guess I should keep her around, huh?” I joke, laughing along with them. But as I watch them all head to the showers, the words linger in my mind.

The sounds of the locker room cascade over me, washing away the sweat and tension of the game, but not the gnawing thoughts.

Ally said yes, and I know I want her in my life. But as the rest of the team towels off and gets dressed, I notice the twins sitting silently by their lockers, their smiles dimmed slightly, almost forced.

The chatter about “Future Mrs. Brooks” carries through the room, and I can see how it’s hitting them.

They’ve been such a huge part of this, of us, and now, it feels like I’ve stolen something that was meant to be shared.

I leave the locker room, the excitement of the win tempered by the weight of what’s to come. I need to figure out how to make this work, how to keep Ally and keep us all together.

But for now, I head to find her, eager to see her smile again, even if the road ahead feels uncertain.

When I see Ally standing in the hallway, her arms hugged tightly around herself. Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes dart to me, wide and searching.

“Ally,” I call softly, closing the space between us.

Her lips part, but no words come out at first. Finally, she mumbles, “I was thinking of leaving...taking a position across the country.”

The words hit me like a slap, and I stop dead in my tracks. “What?” My voice comes out sharper than I intend. “Leaving? When were you going to tell me this?”

Her eyes well up, and she stammers, “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how you felt…about us. I panicked. But this,” she gestures down the hall toward the rink, the cheers and memories of my proposal still fresh. “This seals the deal, Brooks. I do want to marry you. I’m just scared. And I don’t know about…well, you know.”

Her hesitation says it all, and I step closer, tilting her chin up so she meets my gaze. “Don’t worry about any of that, Ally. We’ll all figure it out together. You’re not alone in this, I promise.”

Her lips tremble, but she nods, her smile breaking through the fear. “Okay.”

“Good,” I whisper, leaning in to kiss her forehead. “Now, let’s make this official.”

I lead Ally back to the locker room, my crutches a necessary nuisance slowing us both down.

When we step inside, the room erupts. Cheers and applause ricochet off the walls as the team crowds around us. “Future Mrs. Brooks!” someone shouts, and the chant catches on, laughter mixing with their voices.

Ally blushes furiously, her smile shy but radiant. I catch her glancing up at me for reassurance, and I give her a slight nod, letting her know she’s doing great.

Players come forward one by one, clapping her on the shoulder or giving her quick hugs. It’s like a giant family welcoming her in.

Nick and Tyler linger toward the back, watching everything unfold with their usual handsome, cocksure composure. When they finally step forward, I notice how they keep their hugs brief and chaste, the kind of affectionate but professional touch that won’t raise eyebrows.

It’s a subtle move, but it tells me everything I need to know: they understand the balance we’re trying to keep.

Ally’s gaze shifts between the twins and me, her eyes brimming with emotion. It’s a lot for her to process, but the way she clutches my hand tells me she’s in it for the long haul.

“You okay?” I whisper.

She nods, the blush on her cheeks deepening. “Just...overwhelmed. But in a good way.”

“I feel so lucky,” Ally says, her voice trembling with sincerity as she addresses the room. “Not just to have worked with the Marauders but to have met...the love of my life here.” Her eyes meet mine, and it feels like time stops for a moment.

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