Page 69 of One Pucking Destiny

“I love you, too. Now go win that Cup.” I give him a final kiss.

“Fuck yeah.” He grins, supplying my ass with a quick smack. “This is the best day ever.”

He walks backward toward the locker room doors, and I blow him a kiss.

“Hey, Ari,” he calls out. “You look damn fine in that jersey.”

I do a little curtsy. “Thanks! I think eleven’s my number.”

“It sure is.”

I mouth, “I love you,” one more time as Bash gives me a final backward glance, and the smile on his face quiets every fragment of doubt still clinging to my soul until all that’s left is love.

The third and final round of the Cup finals is about to begin, and I’m so excited I can barely sit still.

“You get it now?” Iris teases from my side.

“Oh my gosh. Do I ever. This is single-handedly the most stressful and exhilarating day of my life,” I say with a grin.

Beckett’s mom leans over her daughter and puts a hand on my leg. “It’s always that way. It never gets easy or less exciting.” She chuckles.

“Yeah, we’ve been watching Cade and Beckett play since they were ten years old,” Iris adds.

I think of Bash and my future life with him, and my heart smiles. I wonder if we’ll have little kids who are obsessed with hockey. If they’re anything like their father, I’m sure we will.

As if she can read my mind, Iris whispers, “Nice jersey.” She winks.

“Thanks.”

“So you two going to make it public knowledge any time soon?”

“How did you know?” I ask her.

She giggles. “Because I have eyes.”

Her response causes me to laugh. “Well, my mom hasn’t noticed, so I thought we were pretty sneaky.”

“Elena has a lot going on. If she wasn’t two years pregnant and uncomfortable as hell, she probably would’ve caught on. How late is she again?”

“Ten days.”

“Yikes.”

“I know. I feel bad for her, but I’m glad she gets to be here for the game.” I look at the empty seat to my other side and wonder why she isn’t back yet. The game is about to resume. “Anyway, I’ll tell her tonight. We actually just made it official today.”

“Really? Haven’t you guys been hot and heavy since bye week?”

“Iris!” I cover my mouth, suppressing a laugh. “We actually first met in September. One-night stand on my twenty-second birthday.” I point my finger toward her. “Which I will not be telling my mother. Then we ran into each other again during bye week.”

“Scandalous.” Iris shoots me a wink. “Well, I know all about the magic of bye weeks. That’s where Cade and I first hooked up, too… in Barbados.”

My phone buzzes, and a text from my mom comesthrough, telling me to meet her in the VIP box. “Uh, my mom wants me to meet her in the VIP box. I’ll see ya.”

I hurry to the VIP box, worried about the sudden location change. I peek inside, but when I don’t see my mom yet, I wait outside the door. She shows up a few seconds later, looking out of breath.

“Mom, are you okay? Are you in labor?”

“Yes,” she answers, and her mouth falls open. “I have been all game, but the contractions are starting to get intense. So I need you to get word to Beckett that I’ll be in the box for the last period. Do not tell him I’m in labor. Just say my feet are swollen, and I’m going to sit up here. He’ll buy that, considering how swollen my feet have been, and this VIP area has the most comfortable cushioned seats.”

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