Page 104 of Playboy

Millie pulls out her phone and taps on the app. The first note on the screen is filled with words. Half-written songs. Ideas. Bits of songs I recognize from her last album. Millie is a goddess. She somehow managed to write and record an album while parenting an infant.

My chest tightens. I hadn’t thought about how challenging it must have been for her, but it gives me hope. If she can do it, then maybe I can figure out how to be a mom and have a career.

“Want me to distract Daniel so you can get the scene done?” Millie offers. “I can tell him all about what Gavin did to me last night in the locker room after practice.”

With a laugh, I shake my head. Oh god, her poor brother would be horrified. “Nah, I think I’m good.”

Arm looped with mine, she tips her head in my direction. “Okay, but the offer stands. I’m always happy to torture him to buy you more writing time.”

“Appreciate that.” I lean into her.

It’s the absolute truth. Especially because our little moment distracted me from the nerves that have been plaguing me all day, not knowing exactly what Daniel has been up to.

When we step into the arena and I spot all of my girlfriends hanging out by the bench while the guys skate, all in casual clothes rather than their hockey gear, my stomach does a somersault, and this time it’s not because the baby is kicking me.

He or she has been doing it more and more every day. Especially when I stop moving like I am right now. With a hand over my stomach, I take in the scene. So many of our friends showed up to find out the sex of our baby. And—my heart expands almost painfully—my brothers. Every single one of them. Even Ash.

I have to blink back the tears at the show of support.

Never in my life have all of my favorite people been in one room. Most certainly not for something for me.

“Surprise,” Millie whispers as she pulls me toward the ice.

Likely noticing the way the chatter in the arena quiets, Daniel slows to a stop and spins. When he spots me, his face lights up. “Hey, dream girl!” he yells like a complete lunatic.

I shake my head, but warmth blooms in my chest. The man has no shame.

“Hi, Playboy. What are we doing here?”

My brothers get to me before Daniel can, each pulling me in for a hug. It takes far more effort than I’d like to admit to hold back the tears as I squeeze them all extra tight. “I cannot believe you’re here,” I say to Ash as he releases me.

“Wouldn’t miss it. Besides, your boy threatened bodily harm if we didn’t show up.” His lips kick up on one side, his eyes twinkling.

I peer around him, focusing on Daniel—sweet, young Daniel, and look back at my brother—a former Navy SEAL who’s as tall as the guys on skates and knows seventy ways to kill a man. Maybe more.

“Listen, anyone who has the balls to threaten me in order to keep my sister happy deserves my respect,” Ash mumbles.

“He is always full of surprises,” I whisper, mostly to myself. I’m still processing the scene.

He waves me over to the boards, and with Gavin’s help, lifts me and settles me on my feet on a length of Bolts blue carpet that’s been rolled out on the ice, leading to the center where the puck is normally dropped.

“Hi, dream girl,” he says.

I shiver, not only because of the affection in his tone, but also because it’s cold in here, and I stupidly didn’t even bring a sweatshirt. I rub at my bare arms as I take inventory of all our friends, and I’m immediately warmed when he wraps me in a hug and holds me close.

“All my brothers are here,” I tell him, like he doesn’t already know it.

He chuckles as he drags his knuckles down my skin, sending goose bumps rushing across my flesh. “Yes, they are. I wanted to share the excitement with everyone. That okay?” He peers down at me like this is really a question. As if this isn’t already one of the best days of my life, and nothing’s even happened yet.

“It’s more than okay.” I press a kiss to his lips.

Behind me, Lennox shouts, “Drop the puck already!”

Daniel turns me so we’re facing our friends. Everyone but War, Brooks, Aiden, and Noah—who remain on the ice with us—has gathered on the other side of the glass.

Daniel clears his throat. “Thank you all for coming?—”

Aiden zooms past us, and doing his best Britney Spears impression, croons, “Oh baby, baby.”

---