Epilogue – Drew
I f you’d told me eighteen months ago that I’d be sitting in a box at Steele Arena with Leila on my lap and our nine-month-old, blue-eyed beauty of a daughter sitting across the room with her “Aunt KK” after a six-month shoulder rehab that has vastly improved my quality of life, I’d have laughed in your face.
Because eighteen months ago, I chose pride over the love of my life, missed the pregnancy and birth of our baby girl, and would have rather set my shoulder on fire than undergo another procedure.
All those moments, all those missed opportunities, the toll of those physical, mental, and emotional struggles led us here.
Steele Valley’s pro hockey team made it to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, and since Noah is best friends with the team’s starting center, our entire family is here to show our support.
The neon,glitter-covered signs Oakley and Jett made are bright enough to blind the players if the lighting catches it just right.
“Did you know they call the puck a biscuit and the net a cage? Who comes up with this stuff?” Lelia asks as she studies an article on her phone.
I’ll keep to myself how adorable I find her when she doesn’t understand something.
“I mean, I’m all for supporting Silasand Oakley, and it’s super impressive the team made it this far, but why would anyone want a tiny piece of rubber flying toward them at those speeds?
And then, they skate closer! Are they all short a few screws? ”
The chuckle that rumbles through my chest is drowned out by Jett and Noah’s outright laughter. The two of them bleed Voltage red and black year-round, and today they’re wearing team sweatshirts with Silas’s number 31 on the back.
I give Leila’s thigh a little squeeze as she continues to scroll through random hockey articles.
“Definitely a special breed, but you’ve got to admit it’s entertaining to watch.
The adrenaline. The testosterone. It’s almost tangible in this kind of environment, ”I say as my gaze once again shifts to the other side of the room.
Kaia stuffs another cheese puff into her little chipmunk cheeks while pointing and grabbing at all the snacks her precious little heart desires.
As I turn my focus back to the beautiful mama in my arms, Leila’s green eyes cut through her lashes, faked annoyance sparkling in her eyes. “Of course, you think so. That’s such a sports guy response.”
“Oh, like you and Jett aren’t sitting here imagining it’s one of your hockey love story books?”
Jett snorts, nearly spilling her Dr.Pepper in the process.
“Hey, now. You don’t know good hockey romance until you’ve read the bad ones.
This right here?” She motions to the ice where players are warming up.
“This is real hockey romance. The sport needs to be engrained in the story. ‘Reformed puck bunny and the coach’ is one of my favorites. Plenty of angst, intimacy, and ice time.”
I catch the subtle nudge Jett sends into Leila’s arm before she pulls typical Jett antics.
“Oooh, mama. Check out that hunk stretching right down there. Oh, wait. That’s Silas.
Hey, Oaks!” She leans around Noah, purposely pushing his head down to clear her line of sight.
“Your boy toy is doing his sexy stretches! Hurry or you’ll miss it! ”
Noah gently moves his girlfriend back into her seat with an exasperated sigh. “Do you have to cause chaos where my sister is involved? I don’t need those images in my head.”
Jett shrugs, but the mischievous grin on her face says she knows exactly what pot she’s stirring. “You’re the one who told me to embrace the chaos, honey. Bet you regret it now, don’t you?”
“Never, baby girl,” he whispers before pressing a chaste kiss to her lips.
Jett chases his lips before the figurative switch in her head flips again and she spins back to Leila. “Speaking of baby girls and boy toys. Have you told him yet?” she asks excitedly.
Leila freezes in my arms, the struggle to not look at me evident when I lean around to catch a glimpse of her face.
Noah pulls Jett to her feet before guiding her to the snack table. “Okay, pretty girl. Time to remove yourself from this conversation before your foot lodges itself in your throat.”
From my periphery, I can see Jett looking between us and Noah, confused, before Noah steers her away.
Yeah, so am I. My mind whirls over what Jett said, wanting to believe what I think it means but hesitant to hope.
“Sunshine?” I ask, guiding her eyes to mine with a finger to her chin.
Her breath catches as she finally looks at me. “How do you feel about having to buy diapers for several years to come?”
I graze my palm over her stomach almost teasingly, still needing her to say it outright. “Are you…”
When she settles both her hands over mine and gives me a watery smile, I’m done for. “We’re pregnant,” she whispers.
The shout of excitement slips out before I can even consider stopping it.
I stand, pulling Leila into my arms and spinning her around.
Everyone’s eyes are on us, but I don’t care.
I only have eyes for the girl of my dreams. “Kaia gets to be a big sister,” I whisper,amazement lining my voice as I shift my gaze to Leila’s belly, my hands cradling it gently as I drop to my knees.
“You’re making my insides all melty, Drew Flynn.”
I glance up at her, ignoring the moisture gathering in my lashes. “I’ll be there every step of the way this time. Swear it.”
“I know you will, baby. Never doubted you.”