Chapter 26 #2
Emmie was stunning, effortlessly so. Not just in the way she looked, but in who she was. Every part of her caught me off guard. Now that I had her, I couldn’t imagine her not being in my life. Which was crazy to say since we’d only known each other for two months.
Not wanting to bother Emmie and Wren, I skated over to Wyatt, Trevor, and Bryton. I caught the tail end of their conversation when I stopped beside them.
“Fitz won’t be missed, that's for sure,” Trevor muttered.
“He wasn’t a team player anyway,” Bryton added.
“Wait, did Fitz finally get traded?” I asked.
Wyatt nodded. “Yep, the deal was finalized this morning.”
“Surprised the guy hasn’t been traded until now,” I remarked. Fitz has been with the Toronto Knights for years, but not a single player liked the guy. In a way, he reminded me of Jennings. There’s always one player, no matter the sport, that ruffled feathers.
“Management finally listened.” Trevor shrugged. “Plus, he was shit on the ice.” The others grunted in agreement.
“Are you guys ready for the season to start?” I questioned.
“It’s going to be a good one,” Wyatt said with a wistful tone. I knew what he was alluding to. What he’d been alluding to for months now—same as Trevor and Bryton. I didn’t think any of them wanted to say the words out loud quite yet—hell, I didn’t either—so I kept my mouth shut.
“I’ll be there for the first game of the season.” I’d been to every single season opener since Wyatt entered the league. It would be a tight schedule since I had a game that morning and puck drop was at six. Thankfully, I could get on a plane as soon as the game was over and make it in time.
“You know you don’t have to,” Wyatt said, but I shook my head. Like hell I’d miss my brothers, as well as Trevor and Bryton’s, potentially last first game of their career.
My tone left no room for arguments. “Of course I’m going.”
“Wow, since when did you become so mature?” Trevor joked.
“I’ve always been the mature one.”
“Yeah, right,” Bryton snorted.
“Funny,” I said, glancing between them. “Your wives never complained.”
Wyatt let out a dry laugh. “Say that again and I’m shoving you down into the ice.”
I shrugged. “Not my fault I’ve been their favorite since I was seventeen.”
“You know,” Trevor turned to Bryton and Wyatt, “we never beat his ass because he was just a kid, but now…”
“Now he’s an adult,” Bryton finished.
“I’d like to see you try.” I knew I was goading them, but I couldn’t help it. Probably not smart considering they were three of the best hockey players in the country, but I never said I was intelligent.
They shared a look as if coming to a secret agreement. I angled my body to the side, pushing back on my heel in case I needed to take off. A sudden thud behind us made all four of us whirl around.
Wrenley sat on the ice, legs spread out in front of her. It took all of a millisecond for Wyatt to take off for his daughter, pulling her up in one smooth motion. I waited for cries but none came.
Wyatt stopped in the middle of the rink as Josie came over, both checking to make sure she was okay. Everyone else stood still, as if afraid to move. I glanced over at Emmie, who hovered nearby, expression tight.
“Again!” Wrenley said through her helmet. Josie and Wyatt shared a look.
“Baby, maybe we should take a break,” Josie started to say, but Wren shook her head.
“Again!” She wiggled in her dad’s arms, wanting to be put down.
“She is so much like Josie,” Trevor muttered beside me. “Can’t tell her no.”
“Nope.” I grinned. She fell but that wasn’t about to stop her. Even at four, she was a determined little thing.
Wyatt gently put her down but held onto her arms as she wobbled.
“Okay, knees bent,” he coached, guiding her forward a step. Josie moved back to give the two space, the softest look on her face as she watched her husband and daughter.
Wrenley immediately tried to take off on her own. Her skates slipped out from under her again. Before she could hit the ice, Wyatt caught her under the arms.
I skated away from Trevor and Bryton and toward her. “Easy there, speed demon.”
I expected her to reach out toward me like she always did, but this time, she didn’t. She looked past me, one arm extended. “Emmie!”
With a glance over my shoulder, I found Emmie standing there looking surprised that Wren called out for her. A look of uncertainty flashed across her face as she came forward. Wyatt still held Wrenley as she reached for my girlfriend.
Emmie looked at Wyatt in question. I could tell she was trying not to overstep. He gave Emmie a nod as Wren’s hands latched onto hers.
“Remember, tiny steps,” Emmie said softly. I could tell the others were watching, but I only had eyes for my girlfriend.
It was adorable seeing Wren’s little tongue poke out as she concentrated on moving her feet. It wasn’t pretty, but each little inch she moved, she stayed upright.
“There you go,” Emmie encouraged.
“Daddy! Did you see me?” Wrenley whipped her head around to look at her dad.
“Always,” Wyatt said.
“That’s my Wrennie girl,” I boosted.
“Your girl?” Wyatt repeated. “Pretty sure she’s not yours.”
I shrugged. “Could be.”
“Keep talking and see how fast your brother takes you out,” Trevor joked.
Josie came up beside us, hands clenched to her chest. “Look at her go.” Her voice was soft and wobbly.
“I think you guys have a future figure skater on your hands,” Bryton remarked.
“She can be whatever she wants to be.” Wyatt said it almost breathlessly, his arm wrapping around Josie as they watched their daughter.
For the next thirty minutes, Emmie stayed with Wrenley while Wyatt hovered like a mother hen.
The rest of us made laps around the rink.
At one point, I held Jayden as I skated backward, his laughter echoing across the ice.
Trevor and I raced from one end to the other, cutting each other off while Bryton playfully hit the boards.
Off to the side, Kai clung to Tasha’s back as she drifted along, deep in conversation with my mom.
Just as I predicted, there was no holding Tasha back from being on the ice.
This was exactly what we all needed before everyone went home tomorrow. Having all of us together like this didn’t happen enough these days, so it meant a lot that we were making time for it.
As the time for us to be off the ice neared, I noticed my mom standing off to the side, hesitantly watching us all. Steven pulled her into a hug and whispered something that seemed to relax her for a moment, but then she went back to looking like something was wrong.
“Hey.” I stopped beside Landon. “Is mom acting weird?”
“What do you mean?” He glanced in her direction with a raised eyebrow.
“I don’t know, something just seems off today.” With my mom getting older and me not being there to help, I always worried, even if she and Steven lived together now, and Wyatt and Landon were close to check in if needed.
I opened my mouth to ask if things between her and Steven were okay when my mom’s voice interrupted me.
“Hey, guys?” Her voice carried across the ice, halting conversation. “Can I talk to you all for a second?”
That did nothing to ease the concern growing in my stomach.
“What’d we do now?” Wyatt asked, swinging Jayden up into his arms.
“If something happened, it was totally Mateo,” Trevor instantly defended.
“Excuse me.” I shoved him, but in true Trevor Hall fashion he didn’t move an inch. There was a reason he was called The Beast on the ice.
The ten of us skated toward my mom where she stood near the boards, Steven at her side. When Emmie came up, I laced my fingers through hers and gave a small squeeze. Throughout the last hour, if we weren’t by each other, I’d skate by and palm her hip, or she’d skate by and tap my ass with a grin.
I’d always been the single one at any family function, so it was nice having her here with me. Made me feel less like a third wheel.
“Is everything okay?” Josie asked, glancing at Evelyn and Steven with a frown.
“Oh, yes. Everything is fine. Great, actually.” It wasn’t often I saw my mom nervous and rambling. I think the last time I saw it was when she told us she was seeing Steven years ago.
I shifted on my skates, my brothers doing the same as we waited for my mom to continue. I didn’t know why, but I found myself bracing for bad news. Emmie’s hand tightened around mine, and the silence seemed to stretch.
My mom glanced up at Steven, who wrapped an arm around her waist before taking a deep breath.
The words left her mouth in a rush. “Steven and I are engaged.”
My mom looked at all of us, eyes darting around like she was bracing herself for some sort of blow up at the news. An inaudible sigh left my mouth, and the tension in my shoulders eased.
“CONGRATULATIONS!” Josie cried, moving forward to pull my mom into a hug.
“That’s amazing!” Mila cheered alongside Tasha as they went over to the couple.
Trevor and Bryton went next, holding Wrenley and Kai. They had no clue what was going on but were clearly excited. I let out a chuckle at the awkward half hug they gave Steven.
Next to me, Emmie shifted, unsure of what she should be doing.
She leaned in and whispered in my ear before slipping her hand out of mine. “I’ll let you guys have a moment.” I waited back with my brothers as she congratulated my mom and Steven.
Landon and Wyatt were quiet beside me, probably processing the news like I was. My mom was getting married. Married. Surprisingly, it wasn’t that shocking. I was more surprised they took this long, seeing as they’d been together for six years.
A small part of me felt like I should be upset, like I owed it to someone to be.
But I wasn’t. Not even a little. I’d never known my father and never wanted to either.
All I cared about was my mom being happy and living the life she chose for herself, especially after spending so long putting us first.
I didn’t think my brothers were upset at the news, but even if they were, it wasn't my place to tell them how to feel. It was something they needed to work through on their own.
It was like everyone knew we needed a private moment because they cleared the ice, taking the kids with them. Emmie shot me a supportive smile before following them.
Mom stood there, staring at us, hesitation clear on her face. Even Steven stood there like he wasn’t sure what to say or how to act. It was clear I needed to be the one to say something.
Feeling nothing but happiness for my mom, I skated toward her. “Congratulations, Ma.”
“Yeah?” The way her voice cracked a little made my chest want to cave in.
I put my arm around her upper back, pulling her into my chest for a hug and steadying her when her ice skate slid a little.
She hugged me back just as tightly, and for a split second, it was like I was six again being wrapped in my mom’s arms.
“You deserve to be happy, Mom,” I said softly.
She pulled back a little, eyes searching mine as if she needed to be sure I was telling the truth.
“You couldn’t have found a better man. In case you didn’t notice, we all kinda like Steven,” I joked lightly.
Mom sniffled. “He is pretty great.”
“I’m happy for you.” I meant it with every fiber of my being. I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek, untangling from her so my brothers could have a chance to talk to her.
When I turned to Steven, I contemplated doing the whole tough guy act like I did when I first found out he was seeing my mother, but I was pretty sure it wouldn’t work on him. It never did.
So instead, I pulled him into a hug, grinning at the awkward pat that landed on my back. “Took you long enough,” I said.
When I stepped back, Steven shook his head, but he couldn’t deny the smile trying to form on his mouth. “Gee, thanks.”
“You know what this means, right?” I wiggled my eyebrows, which earned me a long sigh.
“I’m dying to know what will come out of your mouth,” he said, his lips turned down.
“This means you’re my daddy now.”
“Oh for fuck’s sake.” Steven closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. My grin got even wider at his reaction. Have I mentioned how much I loved teasing him?
“What? It’s true.” I tilted my head to the side. “Does your reaction mean you don’t want me to call you Daddy in front of the others? Because that’s kinda harsh.”
“That word will never leave your mouth again, is what it means.”
I heaved a dramatic sigh. “Even in private?”
“Mateo.” Steven’s tone told me I was on thin ice.
“Fine. Fine. We have time to work it out before the wedding.” I put my hands up and pushed back on the ice, putting space between us in case Steven decided to punch me. Judging from the hard look on his face, it was a possibility.
Thankfully, before he could do that, Landon appeared next to me. I patted his back in silent thanks and skated back a few feet to give everyone room.
I crossed my arms, watching as Wyatt talked with my mom while Landon spoke with Steven. I caught bits and pieces of their conversations—I’m so happy for you, and I’m glad you kept your promise to take care of my mom. All of it was genuine.
When Wyatt stepped in front of Steven, I half expected some lingering tension—old habits from the whole coach thing—but there wasn’t any. Not really. Six years was a long time, long enough for Wyatt to see what Steven meant to our mom.
Their hug was a little awkward, but it didn’t feel forced. When they pulled apart, they both looked genuinely happy.
“When did this happen?” Landon asked a moment later as we stood there together.
“Steven proposed on the cruise.” Mom beamed up at her now fiancé, wrapping her arm around his back. “It was really romantic.”
I scrunched my nose at the two. While I was happy for them—truly—I didn’t need to see my mom giving Steven lovey-dovey eyes. From the grunts beside me, my brothers thought the same thing.
“Well, we’re really happy for you two,” Wyatt said.
“We know this may be a little soon, but we want to have the wedding in a few months.” Mom looked at Wyatt and me. “We want to have it while Mateo has a bye week and Wyatt doesn’t have back-to-back games.”
“Smart idea, actually.” They already waited this long, why wait any longer?
“Sounds good to me,” Wyatt added.
“I bet as soon as you tell the girls, they’ll jump right in to help plan,” Landon supplied as well.
As mom started talking about the wedding, an important thought suddenly came to mind. I sliced a hand through the air and interrupted them mid-conversation.
“Wait!” Four sets of eyes landed on me. “I’m going to be the flower boy, right?”