Page 72 of Heartfelt Goals

“You got me aweddingring?” she choked out.

His smile was warm, tender, filled with the kind of love that made her knees weak. “Married people do that,” he teased. Hisvoice was gentle, but firm—like he needed her to hear it. “You might be my sister’s best friend, butyouare married tome. You’re my wife, my life, mysoulmate, and I’m so grateful you said ‘yes.’”

She swallowed against the lump in her throat, tears burning at the corners of her eyes.

“Dustin?”

“Yes, love?”

“I love you, too.”

He exhaled, his whole body relaxing, his smile deepening in that way that made her stomach flip.

Before she could say anything else, the roar of approval from the Wolverines exploded through the arena. The team lifted their hockey sticks in the air, a wall of solidarity, camaraderie, and support.

Laurel wiped at her eyes and laughed, nodding toward the rink. “That Stanley Cup is waiting, boys. And we’re not getting there without a win.”

The team erupted in cheers.

Dustin grinned. “You guys heard my wife.” He started to skate backward, his eyes never leaving hers. “Laurel—this one’s for you.”

Then, just before he turned away, he winked.

“Tell Kendall to watch that puck.”

And with that, he was gone, blending back into the team, into the game.

But Laurel just stood there, her heart still racing, her fingers brushing against the new weight on her hand, and knew?—

No matter what happened, no matter where life took them?—

She hadalreadywon.

EPILOGUE

“How is she?”

Kendall’s wary voice was enough to bring her out of the moment just before fading into sleep as Laurel opened her eyes and saw her sister’s nervous expression – and Dustin standing right behind her with an encouraging yet steadying hand on her shoulder.

“I promise your sister is doing great – and so is your nephew.”

“We have the weirdest family tree,” Kendall said under her breath as she walked toward the hospital bed laughing and almost in tears of sheer relief. “You scared me. No person should ever see their sister’sstuffin an ambulance.”

“Well, I happen to agree with you,” Laurel chuckled, hugging her tightly and reaching out a hand for Dustin. She had not been prepared for how fast the baby came.

She had thought it was a case of food poisoning since she’d had chicken the night before and everyone else had steak. It never dawned on her that it was the baby coming two weeks early until things got serious. Dustin was on the ice at a game and met them at the hospital along with others on the team tohelp Kendall during this moment. The teenager had been scared no matter how much she tried to reassure her everything was fine but couldn’t drive herself to the hospital – only to deliver two hours later.

“Did you meet the baby yet?”

“The squishmellow? Yeah, I saw him in the glass. He’s cute – and not because of the dork… love ya, Dustin.”

“Love you too, Kendall,” Dustin chuckled emotionally as he scooped up the sleeping infant in his arms. Laurel’s heart just melted seeing the raw look of love in her husband’s unguarded expression. “Do you want to hold him?”

“Can I?”

Laurel fought back a smile as Dustin’s eyes met hers, and she nodded. Kendall wanted to hold the baby, and she was as much a part of their lives as their son would be now. She never wanted her sister to feel excluded, but there were some moments that were for just them. When Laurel delivered the baby, Dustin had been there, covered in sweat, having come straight from the game to the hospital. He’d arrived in time to see their son born, and the moments that followed would forever be etched on their hearts.

He’d been so proud, his face so full of awe, love, and reverence for the miracle he was sharing with her – and those feelings would be something truly special, truly intimate, that no other would ever know between them.

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