Page 64 of Wrapped Around My Heart
I drop my stick and wrap an arm around Dom.
“You fucking did it, man!” I yell, pulling him in until our helmets clash together.
“Wedid it,” he corrects and I shake my head.
By the time the guys start pulling away, everyone who’s allowed is pouring onto the ice while all of us line up to shake hands with the Nighthawks. Dominik falls into line in front of me at the end, only this time, Coach James joins us, followed by our team’s assistant coaches as well.
Coach pats my shoulders with both hands to get my attention.
“You did good out there,” he tells me and I immediately puff up with pride.
Once we’re finished saying ‘good game’ on repeat, I twist on my skates as I scan through the sea of people that have swarmed the ice. I’m used to looking around, happy to watch my teammates celebrate with their loved ones. But right now…
“Dean!” a voice that I have memorized calls out, and I turn just in time to watch Ari duck around her brother and rush toward me.
She’s in my arms in the next second. Ari yanks me down, and her kiss is enough to drown out all the chaos around us.
When she pulls back, her eyes are lined with tears. She cups my face in her hands. “I’m so proud of you.”
And there goes the rest of my heart. Floating off to live happily in the clouds for the rest of my life.
Hearing Arianna tell me she loves me made me feel like I could walk on water. It was like fitting a final piece of the puzzle into place, and everything just fell into place.
But hearing her say that she’s proud of me was like locking it into place.
I stare down at the woman in my arms, and I know in this moment, with my teammates surrounding me, her family circling us so they can celebrate this moment too, Arianna is mysun. I’ll spend the rest of my life doing everything and anything to remain in her orbit. To show her that I’m worth the trust she places in my hands.
My team might have won the championship. But I won something even better, Arianna’s love.
CHAPTER 23
Arianna
“You knowwhat would make you the most amazing man on the planet right now?” I say, reaching over to trail my finger along Dean’s bicep.
He turns to me, an excited smirk plastered on his face.
Poor man…
“If you went and got tacos. And chips with guacamole. And a burrito.”
His expression falls, but only into one that shows he should have known better.
We’re officially in the final countdown to baby girl’s arrival. And at least every other night around this time, there has been a new craving that hits out of nowhere. Even after we’ve already had dinner. He learned the second time it happened that if he doesn’t go, I’m more than willing to get in my car and get it myself.
“Mm, that does sound good.” He snaps into action, grabbing his shoes and slipping them on. “You want some tres leches too?”
“Is that even a real question?” I fire back with a grin.
“Obviously a dumb one.”
“Can you help me up before you go?” Because yes, at thirty-eight weeks pregnant, there’s no way in hell I’m getting off the couch without some help. Center of gravity? Wouldn’t know what that is anymore.
“Do you need something?” he asks but comes to me anyway.
“Yeah, to empty the bladder your daughter is using as her punching bag.”
Dean chuckles, taking my hands and helping me to my feet. Instead of letting me go right away, his eyes practically darken before me as he moves to hold my very round stomach. There’s no doubt in my mind that if the bump wasn’t in the way, his gym shorts would not hide how he feels about the sight of me.
