Page 44 of Taking The Shot

“Are you ready to prove it?”

“Anytime – anywhere.”

To her surprise, Keith looked over his shoulder at Jamie and Constance, smiling. “That’s my girl…” and while Constance wasn’t in the film industry or familiar with recording videos, as she looked at Jamie’s camera, Paige could be seen advancing toward Keith with that determined look. There must have been something on Constance’s face that her husband saw because he turned, sank down to one knee before Paige, and smiled at her.

“How would you like to be on my team?”

“A Wolverine?”

“A Kit – the child of a Wolverine – and the first person to join our new youth hockey team. You wanna learn from yourstepdad?” he said gently, smiling at Paige – and extended his hand toward Constance, wiggling his fingers.

She leaped forward, giving him the helmet, and he put it on Paige’s head using one hand to hold it. Man, she could not get over how smooth, sexy, and masculine it was to see him manage that helmet with his hand and fingers splayed across the plastic – and putting it on her child’s head as Paige’s features softened. He handed her the hockey stick, his expression tender, and smiled.

“Show me what you’ve got on the ice, kiddo, when we have our first practice together – and make me proud.”

Keith’s voice was steady, filled with warmth and encouragement, but Constance could barely breathe. Her hand flew to her mouth, pressing against the gasp that threatened to escape. The entire rink had gone quiet. Every player, every coach, every bystander had stopped what they were doing, their eyes locked on Keith and Paige as if the world itself had stilled for this moment.

Paige’s breath hitched. She stared at Keith with wide, disbelieving eyes. Constance’s heart pounded in her chest, knowing exactly what was running through her daughter’s mind. She had spent so long dealing with the loss of her father, and then here comes Keith – an outsider barging into their family, and Paige never quite finding where she belonged or fit into this strange new life she had been thrust into. And now—now she was being invited into something bigger than herself… with her stepfather guiding her.

“Are you serious?” Paige’s voice was barely a whisper, and yet it echoed in the silence, fragile with hope and hesitation.

Keith’s smile was easy, reassuring.

“Very,” he confirmed, his voice firm with certainty. “It’s gonna be a lot of hard work, but it’s fun. And the friends you make on the ice? They last forever.”

The words hung in the air, wrapping around Constance like a warm embrace. She saw it happen—the exact second Paige realized that this wasn’t just a casual offer.

It was an invitation.

A place to belong.

And then, just when she thought the moment couldn’t possibly get more overwhelming, a sound erupted through the entire crowd around them. The team—dozens of voices—threw their heads back and let out a wild, untamed howl. The sound vibrated through the room, echoed against the walls, and reverberated through the very air in her lungs.

It was fierce.

It was primal.

It wasacceptance.

Paige’s face split into a grin so pure, so radiant, that Constance’s vision blurred with unshed tears. And then—without hesitation—her daughter lunged forward, throwing her arms around Keith’s neck.

Constance sucked in a sharp breath.

Keith didn’t hesitate, not even for a second. His arms came around Paige, holding her tightly, his expression unreadable for a moment before he closed his eyes and smiled. A real, genuine, unguarded smile.

The smile of a daddy…

Constance’s chest ached. She pressed a trembling hand to her heart, feeling it splinter in the best possible way.

“I think I might cry,” Jamie whispered beside her, her voice thick with emotion. “That was the sweetest freakin’ thing…”

Constance let out a shuddering laugh, blinking back the tears that blurred her vision. She had spent so many nights worrying, so many days praying that Paige would find someone to lift her up, to believe in her, to help her find her footing in this world.

And here he was.

She exhaled sharply, her voice breaking as she murmured, “I adore that man.”

And as if the moment couldn’t possibly be more perfect, Kayla ran over, sliding seamlessly into the embrace, wrapping both arms around Paige and Keith. She would follow her sister’s lead – every… single… time.

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