Chapter 35
FISHER
I slump down on a bench in the locker room between Penn and Noah, drenched in sweat. We just played a grueling game seven against Vancouver, and despite giving it our all out there, we lost tonight…meaning our playoff run comes to an end, and our season is officially over.
Since the final buzzer went off a few minutes ago, I’ve been waiting for that familiar feeling of disappointment—of trying my best and still failing—to settle over me, but it doesn’t come.
It’s hard to feel disappointed when we made it much further than we ever expected to. And instead of failure, there’s an air of pride and camaraderie in the locker room as Coach Anderson and Coach Slater give us one final speech to wrap up the season.
“You all should be proud of what we accomplished this season,” Coach Anderson says. “We’re a newer, younger team than any other franchise in this league…still learning how to work together out there. You guys killed it this season, and I’ve no doubt next season will be even better.”
A ruckus of cheering fills the room.
Coach Slater raises his hands in a gesture for us to quiet back down. “Take care of yourselves this summer. Relax, have some fun…but be ready to come back this fall and kick ass. Because next year, we’re going all the way.”
More whistles and applause. I join in, pumping my fist in the air. I believe in this team…believe in myself and the decisions I’ve made that brought me to this moment. And even after a tough loss tonight, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now.
My teammates rush for the showers, but I pause and turn to our coaches. “Have a great summer, try not to miss me too much.” I wink at Coach Anderson.
Coach Slater snickers, and Coach Anderson shakes his head. “You improved this season more than any other player out there, Fishy,” Coach Anderson says. “Keep it up next season.”
I nod. “Will do.”
Once Penn, Noah, and myself are showered and dressed, we stride out of the locker room.
There’s a crowd waiting for us, and the sight makes my stomach dip.
This is where friends and families of the players always wait to greet them after games, but all of my admirers up to this point have been fans, mostly of the female variety.
Women who wanted something from me but didn’t know—or care to know—me as a person.
My family never came to my games, never cared about my hockey career.
But now my wife is smiling at me, her eyes filled with pride.
She’s my family now. Alongside Noah, Penn, Ally, and Hazel…
and having my loft 3B family feels better than having a big bank account or winning any game.
This is what it’s like to be truly loved.
This, right here, is the real definition of success.
Lila crosses the space between us, and I pull her into my arms, kissing her hard.
She kisses me back but looks surprised when she pulls away to look at me. “Are you okay? I thought you’d be disappointed.”
I smile down at her adorable, worried brow. “How could I be disappointed…I have everything I need right here.”
Her cheeks turn pink. “Well, I must admit, a part of me is happy to start the off season and have you home more, Husband.” Her eyes glimmer with all the unspoken ways we can spend our free time together. “Are you ready to go celebrate the official beginning of summer break?”
“Yes, Wife. Let’s get out of here.” I reply with a smile. Because no matter what else happens, I know this will be the best summer ever…with Lila by my side.
Between the 3B gang, my teammates and their families…Tommie’s is packed. The live band plays booming jazz from the center stage, the food comes in a steady stream to our tables, and the beer and champagne are flowing.
Everyone’s smiling and having so much fun, you’d almost think we won our game tonight.
Lila, Hazel, and Ally are across the room from our table, dancing in front of the stage where the band plays.
They’re laughing as they twirl each other, while the three of us guys inhale food like we haven’t eaten in days.
We’re starving after our game…and now that we’re done with the playoffs, we don’t have to watch our nutrition for a while.
My eyes don’t move off my wife while I finish my meal and beer. I’m enamored by the way she moves her body, the sway of her hips, the sheen of her dark hair. She’s gorgeous. And she’s all mine.
“How’d we get so pucking lucky?” Penn asks, and I turn to find him watching Hazel.
Noah nods without taking his eyes off of Ally. “Seriously.”
I blow out a breath. “I’m not sure, but I feel like the luckiest son of a bitch on earth.
” Huffing out a laugh, I shake my head. “If you’d have told me at the beginning of the season that by spring, Downsby would be madly in love with a dancer, Matthews would be smitten with a spider-loving genius, and I’d be married… I wouldn’t have believed you.”
“I would’ve bet money on Fishy being the last of us to get married,” Noah teases.
Penn takes a swig of his beer. “Same.”
I smirk. “Yet here we are.”
The three of us laugh, then clink our pint glasses together in silent cheers to the wild ride our rookie season in the NHL has been.
The girls spy us watching them with dopey grins on our faces and make their way over to our table.
“What are you three smiling about?” Ally chides, popping a hand on her hip. “Did you guys tell them the surprise without us?”
Hazel narrows her eyes on Penn. “It was you, wasn’t it?”
Penn raises his hands up. “I didn’t say a word!”
Noah smirks. “Well, we might as well tell them now.”
Lila sits in my lap, and I wrap my arms around her, nestling my chin in the crook of her neck. “Tell us what?” I ask.
“Well, we realized we never got you guys a wedding present,” Ally says.
I raise a brow. “You don’t need to get us anything.”
Lila nods in agreement, but Noah shakes his head.
“We wanted to. And we thought you and Lila could use a proper wedding…” Noah tells us. He opens his mouth to continue, but Penn jumps in and yells, “in Thailand!”
Noah rolls his eyes at Penn’s impatience but takes six printed airline tickets out of his back pocket and places them on the table.
“We’re all going together next month!” Ally claps her hands with an excited squeal and Hazel beams at us, awaiting our reaction.
“Wow.” I blink. “This is amazing.”
“You guys totally didn't have to do that!” Lila adds, then grins. “I kind of loved our weird little wedding.”
“Me, too.” I kiss her cheek. “But I’d love to see you walk toward me in a dress that doesn’t swallow you whole.”
Lila laughs. “Okay, I guess it would be nice to have some pretty photos of us in clothing from this century.” She relaxes against me. “And Thailand? This is going to be incredible…I haven’t been there since I went with my mom years ago.”
I glance at my wife, her eyes full of tears. “Thank you guys, this was incredibly thoughtful. Not to mention generous.”
“You’re welcome,” Noah says, then sighs. “But I have to warn you…Matthews refused to splurge on first class.”
Penn laughs. “Please, we’re twenty-three and in peak physical condition, not frail old ladies with bad hips who need to lie down—what would we need first class for?”
I shrug. “I’m no high roller these days, either…remember the Fiat we drove here in?”
Noah grabs my shoulder in a comforting gesture.
Laughing, Penn stands and loops an arm around Hazel's waist. “Let’s dance, Bubbles.” He spins her onto the dance floor without waiting for her to respond.
Ally glances at Noah expectantly. He acts like he doesn’t want to dance, but stands and allows her to drag him out for a dance.
“You want to dance?” I ask Lila, and she nods.
She slides off my lap and takes my hand as we join the others in front of the band. The fast-paced song that was playing fades to an end, and they start up a slow ballad.
I pull my wife against me, loving how she fits perfectly there. I love drifting into her current, letting her scent wash over me. My hands clutch her to me, her arms wrapping around my neck, then her fingers sliding into my hair. She tugs gently, a promise of what’s to come when we get home…I hope.
We sway in each other’s arms, allowing our friends, the bar, the band…
everything…to fade into the background until it’s just the two of us in our own little world.
Her body sliding against mine, my hands touching her, memorizing every dip and curve.
Lila kisses me, angling her head and encouraging me to take the kiss deeper.
I nudge the seam of her lips with my tongue, and she opens to me, allowing me to taste her.
She tastes like champagne sweetness and naughty fantasies and everything I’ve ever wanted but never thought I’d be lucky enough to have.
She moans softly against my mouth, and I pause so I can pull back to look at her. Her lips are swollen, her eyes heavy lidded, her cheeks flushed. She looks absolutely perfect. “I love you, Lila.”
“I love you, too, Hercules,” she whispers back, then sinks back into our kiss, and I’m home.