Chapter 34
CHAPTER
THIRTY-FOUR
Enzo
We swarm the locker room, pleased to have another win behind us. People start tearing off their pads.
“I have an announcement.” Axel clears his throat.
A few people look at him. Most continue removing their uniform and chatting.
“Fine.” Axel rolls his eyes and stands on the locker room bench. “Announcement time.”
Coach’s face pales. His gaze darts to me at once. “You don’t want to give your announcement after playoffs?”
Axel scrunches his lips together. “Nope.”
“After playoffs is a really good time for announcements,” Coach says. “Especially when certain owners are fussy.”
“Well, this announcement is about two first line players who have led the team to the playoffs.”
“And the US to Olympic Gold,” Finn shouts.
Axel beams and gives Finn a double thumbs up.
“Fine,” Coach says. “Announce away.”
Axel grins. “I am in a relationship with Enzo Bellanti.”
“An enemy relationship?” Troy teases.
“A super hot physical and deeply romantic one,” Axel says, his expression serious.
Axel told me he wanted to make our relationship public. Somehow it’s different to actually hear him say the words though.
“Perhaps you don’t need to describe your relationship that way to the press,” Coach says.
“Enzo and I are raising a child together,” Axel says. “We’re a family. And…” Axel winks to Troy. “I’m hoping to make it legal.”
I frown. Legal?
Troy tosses Axel his helmet, which is weird, then Axel removes a box from it, which is weirder, and then… Oh, God. There’s a ring inside. My heartbeat quickens.
“Enzo Bellanti,” Axel says in a strong voice. “You’ve already made me the happiest man in the world with your awesomeness.”
My eyes snap open.
“You have,” Axel says softly. “You have.”
I press my lips together.
“Will you do me the honor of being my partner for the law?”
“Partner for the law?”
“My man on government documents and everything official?”
I nod.
“My man on adoption papers and future official co-dad for the most wonderful boy in the world?”
My heart drops.
I stop breathing.
He knows. He saw the thing I was too afraid to ask for, and he’s giving it to me anyway.
“Adoption papers,” I repeat. The word catches in my throat. “You want me to adopt him. Legally.”
“I want you to be his father. Not just in practice. On paper. Forever. Even if—” He stops.
“Even if what?”
“Even if something happens to us. Even if you wake up one day and realize I’m too much. You’d still be his dad. No one could take that from you.”
My eyes burn. “Axel.”
He shrugs. “You’ll have to lose your unc-unc title. It won’t work. You’ll be his father.”
Father. Not uncle. Not caretaker. Father.
A smile breaks over my face.
Axel’s eyes sparkle, but he winks. “My man in the bedroom.”
I smile and stifle a laugh.
“My man on dates in fancy restaurants and cool, unnoticed bistros.”
Coach clears his throat. “The press is waiting.”
“Right.” Axel gives a nonchalant shrug. “My husband. Will you marry me, Enzo?”
The locker room goes silent. Or maybe I just can’t hear anything over my heartbeat.
“I will,” I breathe.
Axel’s face splits into the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. And then in the next moment glitter explodes through the room, and joyful music plays.
Axel pulls me up onto the locker room bench, and we make out, right there, in front of everyone to the sound of claps and roars of approval from our friends.
Afterwards, Axel takes my hand in the elevator. The door pings, then we walk hand in hand in the hallway.
“Someone might see,” I whisper.
“Pretty sure our teammates aren’t the most discreet. There are going to be rumors about us.”
“There are already rumors about us. Enzel.”
“Sounds like something else, honey bunny. Gotta be Axelo.”
I frown. “That sounds like a gasoline store.”
Axel wags his eyebrows up and down. “Want me to give you some energy, Enz? Because I can pump it in.”
“Axel!”
“Premium unleaded. Full service.”
I shove him, but I’m laughing.
“Actually, I thought you could pump it in tonight?” he says.
“Axel?”
“Give me some of your life source.”
“What?”
“You want me to remain a virgin until my wedding night, baby? That’s so traditional of you!”
“I don’t think you count as a virgin,” I say.
“Yeah, what we do is pretty hot.”
Then he puts his hand on the doorknob, even though I absolutely want to talk more after he said a thing like that.
“Wait! I gotta do this properly.” Then he hoists me in his arms, and I enter the apartment bridal style. I’m an NHL player being carried over the threshold like a Victorian bride.
Patricia and Luca are waiting for us. Their eyes widen.
Then Luca starts to giggle. “What are you doing, daddy?”
“Carrying unc-unc!” Axel marches through the apartment. Patricia and Luca follow us.
“Not unc-unc for much longer,” I murmur, and Axel’s grin widens.
“Carry me!” Luca screams.
“Okay. Patricia, can you pick Luca up and place him on Enzo?”
Patricia’s eyes round. “You don’t want to put Enzo down first?”
“I am a top hockey player. I am perfectly capable of carrying both my men at once!” He winks. “And of course, if I drop Enzo, he’ll be the perfect cushion for Luca.”
“Better put him on me before Axel loses his arm strength,” I say.
“I am not going to lose my arm strength,” Axel pouts. “Top athlete here! I’ve been lifting since I was eleven! My muscles are impeccable!”
Patricia laughs. “Come on, Luca.” She scoops him up and places Luca on top of me. I move my left arm to protect Luca, and Axel marches triumphantly around the apartment.
“Congratulations on your win,” Patricia says.
“Major win,” Axel says. “Major, major win. Best win in the world.”
My heart warms.
Patricia tilts her head, then Luca picks up my hand. “You’re wearing a ring, Unc-Unc!”
“Oh my God!” Patricia squeals.
Axel’s arms wobble, and he laughs. He carries us to a couch, then puts Luca and me gently on it.
“We have news,” Axel says.
I scramble up. So does Luca.
“I see.” Patricia still looks at the ring.
Luca stares at Axel. “News?”
“You know how Unc-Unc and I live together?”
“Yes.”
“And you know how we went to Evan and Vinnie’s wedding?”
“Stella’s daddies?”
“Uh-huh,” Axel says. “Well, Unc-Unc and I are going to get married too.”
“Really? Will you put cake in each other’s mouths?”
“Uh-huh.” Axel nods. “I can’t wait for that part. Unc-unc’s face is going to be so dirty.”
Luca laughs.
“You want Unc-Unc and me to practice?”
“Yes! Practice!” Luka claps his hands.
“Patricia, do we still have that cake from—”
“Already on it,” Patricia calls from the kitchen. She hurries back with cake. She hands the plate to Axel.
Axel takes it from her solemnly. He grabs a piece of cake with his hands and gives it to me. “Take this.” He picks up another slice.
“This is going to get so messy,” I warn.
Axel shrugs. “We can always get another couch. Don’t think I didn’t notice that you disapprove of the black leather.”
“It belongs in a bachelor pad!”
“You had a black leather couch in LA!”
“I was a bachelor then!”
Luca looks back and forth between us.
Axel clears his throat. “Enzo and I are going to put cake in each other’s faces, Luca. But do you know why we’re going to do it?”
“Because it’s funny.”
“Yes,” Axel agrees. “And also…”
Luca stares.
Axel looks down. “And also because Daddy and Unc-Unc love each other very much. In fact, Daddy and Unc-Unc are going to marry, and then...” He glances at me. “And then you can call Unc-Unc Papa.”
“Okay.”
Papa. The word settles into my chest like it was always waiting there.
Then Axel smashes cake into my face, and Luca and Patricia break into long, loud laughs, as crumbs fall down my collar.
I fling cake into Axel’s face a moment later, and then we’re laughing and kissing, and Axel’s couch is definitely going away.