Page 93 of Lucky Hit

I take a deep breath and head for the hotel room door. I open it and am attacked with a hug before I have a chance to speak. Mom's soft cries make my heart ache. I slowly wrap my arms around her.

"I swear, Mom, I am not redoing your makeup again," Gracie scolds. She shoves past us and heads into the room. "Where's my future sister-in-law?"

Girly giggles ring through the room, as I pull out of Mom's hug. "Hold your horses, pipsqueak. You'll scare her away."

"If she can handle looking at you every day, I don't think it's possible to scare her away," Gracie shoots back and rushes over to Ava. "That reminds me! Your new apartment is beautiful. I'm still shocked you were willing to live with that ogre, though,” she adds as they hurry into the bathroom.

"Is she trying to steal Ava for herself or something?" I chuckle.

"Who knows with your sister,” she shrugs and reaches into her purse. Pulling out a Kleenex, she wipes away the remnants of her tears. "Your dad would be so proud of you, baby." She balls up the Kleenex and looks over at me with wet eyes.

My vision blurs when she says that, and I have to look away from her. All I ever wanted was to make my dad proud, and I know wherever he is, he's looking down at me with a grin on his face.

"If you guys are done with your sob fest, I have hot hockey player asses to look at," Gracie announces as she and Ava rejoin us.

"You aren't going to be looking at anything. Don't think I haven't noticed what you're wearing. Would it have hurt you to cover up a little?" I glare at the mini dress that leaves way too little to the imagination.

"I think you look beautiful, Gracie. Ignore grandpa over here," Ava jumps in, wrapping her arms around me from behind. She kisses the back of my neck, and all of my negative thoughts disappear.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and just like that, my nerves come barreling back.

"Shit. We need to leave, Will has interviews set up for me and we're already behind."

"C'mon, then. Time to watch my baby become the newest face of the pro’s!" Mom claps excitedly.

I look at Ava as she laces her fingers with mine. I can't help but be blown away by the way she's here, doing this with me. We really did make it.

???

"Holy shit! That was exhilarating!" Gracie shouts as soon as we find our allocated seats in the Arena.

I can't help but nod my head in agreement. I've never had that many cameras in my face before. When Will told me I had interviews, I didn't expect to be stuck doing them for the last two hours. My brain is practically throbbing.

"Gracie! Language," Mom scolds from her spot on my left. My sister just waves her off and continues to eye every breathing male in the vicinity.

As the lights dim and everyone starts to take the stage, I rest my hand on Ava's exposed thigh and squeeze. She looks up at me with a comforting smile and wraps her hand around my arm, leaning her head against my shoulder. Mom takes my free hand and squeezes it in her own.

My stomach is in knots. My legs tremble.

One by one, the first three picks are called up to the stage. My heart is hammering against my ribcage as I watch the Seattle GM walk up on stage and stand in front of the microphone.

My name is called and the world starts to move in slow motion. Both of my arms are pulled as the three most important women in my life look proudly at me with tear-filled eyes.

I make it to my feet and am immediately wrapped up in my mom's arms. I squeeze her back just as tight and whisper an “I love you” in her ear before the deafening sound of clapping snaps me back into reality. I pull back from her and turn around to lift Ava off of her feet.

"I love you," she whispers in my ear.

"I love you, baby," I reply and set her down to hug Gracie, who squeezes me tightly.

My body goes into auto-pilot as soon as I start making my way to the stage. Voices congratulate me and I manage to give some of them a thankful wave before reaching the stage.

The stairs disappear beneath my feet as I reach my destination. My grin gets even bigger when I reach the line of management and shake their hands.

"Thank you so much. You won't regret this," I state confidently when I reach the General Manager.

He looks at me with a grin and gives my hand a firm shake. "You're welcome, kid. We're lucky to have you as a Seattle Seal."

He hands me a jersey and my chest puffs out proudly. Hutton is written in white on the back, contrasting well with the navy blue and bright green silky material.

I instantly pull it over my head and grab the Seals baseball cap from another team member. Beaming, I move to the middle of the line and smile for the camera in front of us.

I spot my family across the Arena and my grin grows tenfold at the proud looks written across their faces.

I finally did it.

I made it.

---