Page 97 of Pucking Fate

Laughing, he says, “I guess that means you haven’t seen their sign yet.”

“What sign?”

Oh god. The last time there was a notable sign in the stadium, it was Elle’s, comparing the size of “my stick” to Preston’s and underperforming. Now what embarrassing shit has she written in glitter?

Preston points a finger over to the seats at the glass where Elle is standing. A giant blue and yellow posterboard sign takes up at least three seats and says,My Dad is our MVP!

Dad.

“Is that…”

“Maya and Finley,” Preston answers. “Who else would it be?” Scowling, he adds, “You better not have any other baby mamas.”

“I don’t, I swear!” I tell him as I skate over to the glass. The sign lowers to the ground, revealing my two favorite people in the world. Both of them are wearing my jersey, making my heart swell. I press my gloved palm to the glass. “You’re here!”

Reading my lips over the crowd noise, Maya replies, “We’re here!”

“Hey, Dad!” Finley says as he jumps up to high five me through the glass. “Did you see our sign?”

“I did! I love it!” I shout loud enough for him and the rest of the arena to hear. To Maya, I say, “I’m so glad you’re here, but doesn’t school start tomorrow morning?”

Maya shakes her head. “Here. Next week.” She points a finger to the ground, meaning…here, in town?

“You’re moving?”

She nods. “The movers brought everything down to a little house in the suburbs we’re renting earlier today,” she says. “Surprise!”

“Holy shit,” I mutter, wondering if I’m misunderstanding or dreaming. When Maya frowns at me with her brows raised in chastisement, I know it’s real. “I meant, holy crap!”

“Riley, we’ve got to get warmed up!” Preston calls out to me.

“Coming!” I shout over my shoulder. Then to my family, I say to them, “I love you both so freaking much. Thank you, baby!”

“We love you too,” Maya calls back. She blows me a kiss, which Finley copies, and I blow them one back.

EPILOGUE

Christian

Two years later…

“Mom, Dad, can we go out on the ice now?” Finley asks.

I glance over at Maya, raising an eyebrow. “What do you think? Is it time?”

She nods, her smile widening. “Everyone’s here, so let’s do it!”

“Just…please be careful, baby,” I say as I take her left hand, the one where her wedding band and diamond ring shimmer underneath the arena lights. I help her step down onto the ice in her sneakers, since skates would be even more dangerous.

Finley skates laps around us while Maya and I slowly make our way to center ice, where our friends and family are gathered around. Maya and I decided to invite our parents, even though we didn’t think they would show. But both are here, waiting expectantly with Preston, Elle, Audrey, Luke, Jason, and the rest of our teammates.

“I’m so excited,” Maya whispers, her voice barely audible over the sound of happy chatter.

“Me too,” I reply, squeezing her hand.

She smiles up at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “You really don’t have a preference?”

“I don’t,” I assure her. “As long as he or she is healthy, right?”

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