Page 140 of She Wolf

“Well, that works out perfectly then.”

“We need to go and buy some camping equipment. It’s three weeks from today.”

“Wow, the school doesn’t give you much notice, do they?”

Coralie appears in the doorway, beautiful smile on her face. Her gorgeous light brown hair flowing loosely down her back, yoga pants hugging her perfect butt. “They did but he’s been working himself up to ask you.”

I kneel down so we’re eye to eye. “Why did it take you a long time to ask me? You should know by now that if I can do something for you, I will always make it happen.”

“I don’t know, it seemed too good. Like something would ruin my birthday wish.”

“What was your wish?”

A wistful look crosses his face, “Well, when I woke up, I was going to wish for a dog, but just before I blew my candles out, I swapped and made the same one I did last year.”

I reach down to scratch behind the furball’s ear, who’s still sitting next to him. “And what was that?”

“That you would be my dad.” I can’t help as my eyes fill with tears. I lift my head to meet Jack’s shiny gaze and when I squash a kiss to his face his cheeks are wet too.

I don’t know what sort of pain he’s felt with his dad not being around all this time, but I’m sure it’s similar to the way I feel about my dad skipping out on us.

June’s husband more than made up for it though, and I’ll have to tell Jack all about James Johnson and everything he brought into my life one of these days.

Coralie would never say a bad word about Nick if Jack ever asked, but I suppose that adds to the confusion of why his dad is absent.

Maybe it’s a bridge we’ll have to cross eventually. Who knows?

All I know is that being a father to the boy standing in front of me, makes pride and love swarm my chest.

“I love you, Jack. So much.”

It’s the sound of a sniffle a few feet away that makes me loosen my hold on him.

“Where were you all my life, Gunner Grey?” Coralie asks as she makes her way over to us.

“I was just waitin’ on you.”

She throws her arms around both of us, and we stay that way for what feels like a lifetime, in the best possible way.

“Just us, a family of five,” Jack says into Coralie’s hair.

“Five?” She asks with a gulp.

“Yeah, five. Me, you, Gunner, Biscuit, and Kate. Maybe one day I’ll have some little brothers and sisters too.”

Fuck I cannot wait for the day this house is full of kids. But for now, I keep a hold of this gift I’ve been given for a little while longer.

***

It’s the day before Christmas Eve and I brought Jack in early with me for practice. Then we have the annual family skate after. We’ll have two days off for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day but then we have a game two days later, so we’ll be straight back to it.

This has been the best year of my life and the future looks like it’s only going to get better. There’s a cup to be won, a son to raise and a girlfriend to love—what more could I want?

Except for my ring on Coralie's finger and a million more kids, but all in good time.

Most of the team are lacing up, eager to get this show on the road. There’s no doubt

though that Coach will work us extra hard today, then we’ll have the families join us. All three Madden brothers are out on the ice with my little dude.

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