Page 44 of Make Your Save

“I think so,” I tell her, my voice quiet as I let out a deep breath. “Do we just walk down there?”

Riley dips her head. “They’re about to start warm-ups, so we are able to go down to the glass and watch them. We’re in a protected area, so no one can get to us or the kids. It’s a safe place for families before the game.”

“Rowan said we go up to the suite level to watch the game then?”

Nova chimes in. “Yeah, we have a box up there where we can watch without having to deal with other people. I had an incident in the stands before, so Lincoln’s a little particular on where I sit.”

Riley bites back a grin and laughs. “What she means is, Lincoln doesn’t want to have to worry about her while he’s on the ice.”

“That makes sense.” I smile at the two of them, attempting to reach inside to find some kind of confidence. These women are used to all of this, but I unfortunately am not. “Do you think anyone is going to notice?”

Riley’s eyebrows pinch together as she glances at me as we begin to walk down the tunnel. “Notice what?”

“Lucy and me.”

“Without a doubt,” Nova tells me, wrapping her arm around my shoulders as she gives me a gentle side hug. “It will be okay. Rowan can deal with the media. Just stay off social media. The fans can be vicious, especially the ones with crushes on the players. Some will be supportive, but there will be some who say fucked-up things.”

“Mommy.” Posey tugs on Nova’s hand and Nova releases me as Posey’s eyebrows lower. “We don’t say ‘fucked up.’ That’s a bad word.”

“Oh my gosh.” Riley laughs, immediately covering her mouth as I do the same.

Nova gives Posey a big smile and lifts her into her arms, tucking her against her side. “You’re right, baby. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“It’s okay, I won’t tell Winky,” she tells her mother, bobbing her head eagerly as we reach the end of the tunnel. I can’t help but smile at her nickname for Lincoln as we step out into the light. She’s the exact comedic relief I needed in this stressful moment.

The cold air surrounds me and I pull Lucy closer against my body. We’re the only ones in the gated area that’s mainly hidden by the seats and the three of us walk up to the glass with our babies. I see Rowan immediately and he looks like he’s exactly where he needs to be. His gear makes him look massive and I watch as he blocks a few shots as the guys all warm up.

Some of them begin to skate around and Rowan begins to move, digging his skates into the ice before he looks over to where we’re standing. His eyes find me from across the distance and suddenly my surroundings begin to fade.

All the fans in the crowd, the people gathered around to watch them along the glass. None of those people matter. I see his lips relax into a smile as he stares at Lucy and me where we’re standing. I know people are going to talk. They’re going to wonder who the woman is that he’s skating over to right now, but I don’t even fucking care.

Rowan slows to a stop as he reaches the boards, lifting his helmet as he pushes it up over his head. Nash and Lincoln stop by Nova and Riley, but I’m not worried about them. Tilting my head back, I look up at Rowan, unable to fight the smile drifting across my mouth.

He holds my gaze for a moment before dropping it down to Lucy. I move her in my arms, holding her up to see him, the light from above catching on the diamond on my ring finger. Rowan moves his face closer to the glass and there’s nothing but adoration written in the man’s expression.

“Who is that?” I hear a voice, but I’m not sure where it’s coming from.

“Since when did Taylor have a baby?”

“He has a baby?”

My brain starts to move a mile a minute and I want to pull Lucy back to my body. I want to shield her from the people asking questions, along with tucking myselfback in the safety of the wives’ room. As I watch Rowan, who has no idea of the chatter going on around, I know I can’t do that.

All he can see is Lucy.

His eyes flash to mine and my heart is a puddle at my feet.

“Do you want me to take a picture?” Nova asks me, while also asking Rowan as she holds her hands up with her phone, making the motion of taking a picture.

I look at her and back at Rowan, silently asking him if that’s what he wants. He pulls his hand from his glove, holding it under his arm as he removes his helmet completely from his head. We got some pictures earlier before anyone was allowed in the building, but this is different.

This is their first picture together at one of his games. The first picture of them where there are currently thousands of people around who can see.

“Sure. I’m not sure how I should stand to hold her for him since he can’t.”

Nova’s expression is soft as I turn around to face her. “He’s going to want you in the picture too, babe.”

Riley looks over at us with a smile on her face as my heart crawls into my throat. I take a step backward, stopping as my back hits the boards. Lucy is awake, so I move her to an upright position, holding her against my body as I support her chest and her bottom at the same time.

---