Page 117 of In My Hockey Era

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Like, fullmeltinginto me, fingers in my hair, pressing up on her toes because she’s still cradling the damn dog between us.

I smirk against her mouth.“Am I getting this much love, or is this still all for him?”

She pulls back just enough to shoot me a look.“You just made all my dreams come true, you can shareonekiss with Waffles.”

I groan, but wrap my arms around her anyway, making sure to get my hands under her sweatshirt so I can actually feel her.“If he startssleeping in our bed, we’re gonna have problems.”

She grins.“You jealous?”

“Of adog?No.”

Waffles licks my chin.

Lucylaughs.

I glare.“Okay, maybe a little.”

Lucy kisses me again, softer this time, hands sliding down my chest.“Thank you, Ben,” she murmurs.“For everything.”

Something tugs deep in my chest.

I drop my forehead against hers, inhaling the sweet, familiar scent of her shampoo, ofhome.

“Yeah,” I murmur.“Anytime, babe.”

Waffles lets out a happy little bark between us, completely ruining the moment.

Lucy giggles.“You’re officially adog dadnow.”

I sigh dramatically.“I blame both of you for this.”.”My gaze cuts over to Max.“You okay, buddy.”

But when she grins at me,thatlook in her eyes?

I know I’d do it all over again.

“We’re changing his name, by the way,” I announce.

She gives me a curious look.“To?”

“Puck.”

“Ewe.No.”

“Gordy,” I say.

“No.”

“Gretz?”

She glares at me.“Absolutely not.”

I smirk, undeterred.“Biscuit?”

Lucy folds her arms, unimpressed.“You want to rename our dog… Biscuit.”

“Well, yeah.It’s hockey-related, still kinda breakfast-adjacent.Feels like a good compromise.”

She shakes her head.“No way.Waffles is perfect.”

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