Ace is laughing at the doorway before he wiggles his car keys.

“You gotta save your back for the kids, Mickey.”

“K-Kids?!” That’s got our girl’s face burning red in seconds.

“You never heard of that saying?” He ponders. “Grandma says it all the time.”

“I heard of it before,” she admits. “I just didn’t think it was legit.”

“You need your back, Mickey,” Ace stresses as if he’s some kind of doctor. “That’s how you’re gonna push the babies out.”

“Or just get an epidural,” she mumbles. “My pain tolerance can go to hell.”

We laugh at that one.

“Don’t worry, Sweet Kay. I’ll hold your hand as you push.” I don’t know why my heart goes from fast to pitter-patter crazy at the sound of Maddox’s voice, but it does.

My heart always beats wildly whenever Mikayla is in a mile radius.

Our baby girl isn’t a girl anymore. She’s grown up to be the finest woman in this facility, and now she’s our new team nurse intern for Strattonville Vipers.

The level of distraction has only doubled with her on our team.

The way the team was going gaga for Coach Johnson’s daughter was pucking wild. Literally salivating when they saw her the other day in shorts and a sweater while she was showing that other team nurse how to skate.

How the fuck did that dude get a hockey internship when he can’t skate?

Connections.

Of course.

I learned quickly that when it comes to America, Canada, or any first-world country. As long as you have money and connections, you can do anything you dream of.

In Russia, no one gives a shit how rich you are.

Pucking work for it or get lost.

Aside from that, there was a very obvious connection between Mishka and our devoted captain, Maddox O’Riley Wilson.

They’re officially dating.

I knew it was going to happen. The moment we got the letters confirming we were chosen to be on the Strattonville Vipers, I knew Maddox wouldn’t fuck this up.

He regretted losing Mishka.

We all saw how it tore his fucking heart to pieces.

O’Riley knew how to hide his emotions so pucking well, it was absolutely infuriating when you’re his best friend. It’s like knowing someone is drunk, yet letting them take their keys and drive off in hopes they’ll get home.

We didn’t let him do that when he tried.

The world outside our circle thought he was all good. That the years dating Mikayla was easy to brush aside because he was still young.

We were the ones who had seen the dark side that awakened from losing his shining light.

The O’Riley who wished to burn the world down because his Queen was no longer at the side of his throne.

That was the hidden reason why I started to hate Jayce. Honestly, I may have hated him long before that but was willing to be friends with him because it made Maddox happy.