Page 118 of In My Hockey Era
I huff, glancing down at the tiny, wriggling dog in her lap.
Lucy lifts him so they’re nose to nose.“You hear that, Waffles?Your dad is trying to strip you of your identity.”
Dad.
I pretend like that word doesn’t make my chest feel all warm and tight.
I sigh dramatically.“Alright, Waffles can stay.”
Lucy grins in victory.“Damn right he can.”
I nudge her knee.“But I’m calling himHat Trickwhen he misbehaves.”
She rolls her eyes but pulls me in for a kiss anyway, while Waffles stays squished between us, tail wagging like he knows he just won.
EPILOGUE
THE BEST PLOT TWIST
Bennett
I’ve never been more exhausted.Never been more overwhelmed.Never been morefreaking wrecked—in the best possible way.
I stare down at the tiny, pink, wrinkly human swaddled in my arms, my heart so full it might actually burst.Our son.My son.A seven-pound, dark-haired, already stubborn little miracle who came into the world screaming and immediately stole whatever was left of my heart.
My hands shake as I tighten my hold on him, keeping his tiny body close to my chest.I’m a big, clumsy, hockey player with hands built for gripping sticks and throwing punches—not for holding something as impossibly small and perfect asthis.But the second he was placed in my arms?It was over for me.
“Hey, buddy,” I whisper, my voice thick.“You are so damn lucky your mom is the strongest, most incredible woman on the planet.”
Lucy, exhausted but absolutely glowing, lets out a breathless laugh from her hospital bed.“Ididjust push out a human,” she mutters, head against the pillow, eyelids heavy.“I’d say I deserve at least a little credit.”
I turn toward her, swallowing hard.She looks sobeautiful, even after hours of labor, hair messy, cheeks flushed, eyes barely open.I want to say something profound, tell her how much I love her, how proud I am, how she just gave me the greatest gift in the entire world.
But the words won’t come.
Instead, I just lean down and kiss her forehead, lingering there as my throat tightens.
She shifts a little, reaching out, and I gently place our son in her arms.
She sighs softly, gazing down at him with so much love it nearly knocks me sideways.
“Hey, little guy,” she whispers, running her finger over his impossibly tiny hand.“Welcome to the world.”
His fingers curl around hers instinctively, and I swear, I’m done for.
I rub my chest, trying to ease the ache there.“I’m gonna go tell everyone.”
Lucy grins up at me.“Brace yourself.Your mom is going tosob.”
I chuckle, but she’s not wrong.
I press a kiss to her temple, then my son’s forehead, before forcing myself to pull away and head for the waiting room.
The second I step through the doors, I’m ambushed.
My mom gasps thesecondshe sees my face.“Bennett..”
“He’s here?”my dad asks, jumping up from his chair.
