47. Riley
47
RILEY
A urora is practically bouncing on my lap, her tiny body buzzing with excitement as she watches the Huskies Championship game with wide, sparkling eyes. The arena is electric, filled with the deafening roar of fans, but all I can focus on is her joy and absolute awe at finally seeing Logan play live again. She’s been talking nonstop since we left the house this morning, her excitement growing with each mile we drove closer to the arena.
“Look, it’s Lo! That’s him, right, Mommy?” she asks for what must be the hundredth time, pointing eagerly toward the ice. Her voice is shrill with anticipation, making me smile every time.
“That’s him, sweetie,” I say, my heart swelling as I watch Logan skate across the rink. He looks so focused, so determined, every muscle in his body taut with concentration. The game is tied, and there’s less than a minute on the clock. It’s been a grueling match, with each team fighting with everything they have, but the Huskies have held their ground. They always do.
Beside me, Grayson is leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his eyes locked on the game. He’s as tense as I’ve ever seen him, his fingers curled into tight fists. Royce, on the other hand, sits back in his seat, exuding a calm confidence, but I can see the flicker of nerves in his eyes, the way he clenches his jaw every time the puck changes hands.
Logan secured tickets for Ava, Isabella, and Tara to join us. I’m pretty sure Tara’s just here for the hot hockey men—and quite possibly the violence—but Isabella has become as avid a hockey fan as Aurora.
“The Huskie’s goalie,” Ava muses, leaning over to talk in my ear. “Who is he?”
“I think his name is Nico.” I glance her way. “Why?”
She shakes her head. “Just asking.”
“He’s hot.”
She scoffs. “Don’t go getting any ideas, I’ve sworn off all men. I was only asking because he’s doing an incredible job of stopping the pucks.”
“Uh-huh,” is my only response. I’ll let her hold tight to that belief for now.
“Go, Lo! Go!” Aurora yells, drowning out any further conversation. Her little fists pump the air, her voice shrill as she cheers Logan on. She’s been waiting for this moment for weeks. All those nights spent watching him play on TV, her tiny voice cheering him on even when he couldn’t hear it. And now she’s here, in the thick of it, watching her newfound hero in action. My heart aches with love for her, for how much she adores him.
How much she adores all of them.
And how much they dote on her.
Logan lit up like a firework on the Fourth of July when he skated onto the ice. His gaze instantly found us and zeroed in on the matching jerseys Aurora and I are wearing, the number seven standing loud and proud on our backs. Even Gray and Royce are wearing Huskie beanies in support.
The seconds tick down, and the tension in the arena is palpable. I can feel it in the way Grayson’s fist clenches and Royce’s foot taps restlessly against the concrete floor.
And then, like a dream unfolding in slow motion, Logan takes the puck, weaving through defenders with a grace and agility that leaves the crowd breathless. Aurora is on her feet now, standing on my thighs as she grips the railing in front of us, her eyes glued to him.
“Go, Lo! Go, Lo!” she chants, her voice nearly drowned out by the thunderous roar of the crowd.
Logan moves in, his stick a blur as he dekes past the last defender. The goalie lunges, but it’s too late. The puck sails past him and into the net with a satisfying thwack. The arena explodes with noise, the cheers so loud they rattle the seats. Aurora screams with pure, unfiltered joy, her little body bouncing up and down as she throws her arms around my neck.
I’m not even sure she fully understands what’s happening; she’s just caught up in the excitement.
“Did he do it, Mommy? Did he do it?”
“He did it, baby.” I laugh, pulling her close, my heart so full that it might burst. “He did it.”
Grayson and Royce are on their feet, their faces split with grins. Grayson lifts Aurora out of my arms, spinning her around as she squeals with delight. Royce pulls me into a hug, his laughter rich and deep in my ear.
The Huskies swarm Logan, their victory chants echoing through the arena as they pile on top of him in celebration. And there he is, at the center of it all, his eyes searching the crowd until they find us. He grins that familiar, crooked smile that melts my heart every time and raises his stick in a silent salute.
In this moment, everything feels perfect. All the struggles, all the heartache—it all led us here, to this—to a family, to love, to a happiness that I never dared to dream was possible.
Eventually, Logan breaks away from his team and skates over to us. His hair is slick with sweat, and his helmet has been forgotten somewhere. Happiness oozes from his every pore, shining in his eyes beneath the bright stadium lights and evident in the brightest grin I’ve seen yet on him.
He stops in front of us, clapping a gloved hand against the plexiglass right in front of where Aurora and I are sitting. She hurries to stand on my knees, practically falling as she leans forward to press her hand to his.
“Careful there, sweetheart,” Grayson chastises as he catches her, settling her on his hip so she can safely reach Logan’s hand.
She giggles, staring up at Logan with something akin to hero worship. Her hand is so much smaller against his large, gloved one, and I take a mental snapshot, wanting to remember this moment for years to come.
His gaze is soft as it rests on hers before flicking to me.
“Congratulations,” I mouth, knowing he won’t be able to hear me over the chaos of celebration.
His lips hitch higher, and he glances pointedly down at his hand when Aurora removes her much smaller one. “Come on, Shortcake,” he mouths. “Give me what I want.”
Rolling my eyes, I cannot suppress my grin even if I tried as I press my hand to the glass. Logan smirks, winking at me before he skates to center ice when the announcer calls for the captain of the Huskies to come forward.
An award ceremony has been set up in the center of the rink, and the NCAA Championship trophy gleams under the bright lights as it's handed to him, and for a moment, everything seems to stand still.
Logan accepts the trophy, hoisting it high above his head, a look of fierce pride and accomplishment etched on his face. And then, just as if it were the most natural thing in the world, his eyes find mine. The connection between us feels electric, pulsing with the shared emotion of the moment. His gaze then shifts to Aurora, who is waving frantically at him, her joy infectious, and he smiles—a smile that’s meant for us, for this family we’ve fought so hard to build.
As he passes the trophy to his teammates, the celebration intensifies. They pass it from player to player, each taking a moment to bask in the glory of the win. The arena buzzes with excitement as the photographers gather the team for the official championship photo. The team clusters together at center ice, the trophy front and center, as they pose for what will become a lasting memory of this victory.
Suddenly, I feel Grayson’s hand on the small of my back, guiding me down the stairs toward the ice. Aurora, still bubbling with excitement, nearly drags Royce along as she runs ahead of us. The security at the gate steps aside, allowing us onto the ice, and the cold bites at my cheeks as we step onto the surface.
We step carefully toward the team, Aurora’s giggles echoing as she slips and slides, clinging to Royce’s hand. When we reach Logan, he doesn’t hesitate—he scoops Aurora up in his arms, spinning her around as she squeals with delight. The rest of the team greets us warmly, patting Grayson and Royce on the back, pulling me into hugs as if we’ve all been part of this victory together.
Logan pulls me close, his arm wrapping around my waist as we stand in the midst of it all. Aurora is in his arms, her small hands reaching out to touch the trophy that glimmers in the light. It’s a moment I’ll never forget, this feeling of unity, of love, of everything falling perfectly into place.
The crowd begins to thin, players skating off the ice until only the five of us remain. Aurora is snuggled against Logan’s chest, half asleep. Grayson drapes an arm around my shoulder, Royce’s large hand wrapped around mine as we huddle close in the middle of the ice, soaking up this moment of triumph.
Not just for Logan’s win.
But for everything we’ve faced and overcome.
For everything we’ve endured to get to this moment.
To find one another.
To create this perfect family.
And I know, without a doubt, that this is our happily ever after.