Until I Get You (Fairview Hockey, #1)

by Claire Contreras

I turn back to my father and find him smiling proudly. I can’t remember the last time I saw that smile on his face.

“So, when’s the wedding?” he asks, s...

“Of course.” Dad smiles softly. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

When we’re leaving, I give Dad a tight hug and a kiss and tell him I’ll see him soon. He seems surprised by my gesture, but smiles so wide when I fully pull away.

He turns and hugs Lachlan. His eyes have tears in them again as he pats him on the back.

“I haven’t seen my daughter smile,” he starts, swallowing hard, “or show any kind of emotion in years. I can see the love between you two...

“I know I’ve been a shitty father, but if you hurt he...

“Noted.” Lach’s lips tug into a small smile. “I’m not worried about it. I would...

We received word yesterday that David Jameson would probably be in a coma for the rest of his life, and his loved ones decided to pull the plug and let him go.

Doing the world a favor fr

I try to focus on breathing and look at Lyla again, since she’s the only one in this office I’m not liable to kill, even if it is her fault they’re all here.

I can’t remember the last time I cried.

In the hospital when she left you

She laughs along with everyone else, but I’m too lost in the sound of hers to pay attention to anyone else.

The beginning dun-dun-dun-dun of “Back That Azz Up” starts blasting through the speakers when the door opens, and I’m kind of regretting not sharing my input on the music.

Banks, Mason, Nolan, Logan, and Mae burst out laughing from the seats, and when Marissa and Liam walk out, they’re smiling wide and shaking their heads.

Leave it to Lyla. . . The door opens again and she yells out, “JUST KIDDING!” This fucking girl. I look at the crowd again, shaking my head, as I laugh along with them.

The door opens and Prescott walks out, offering his arm to Lyla.

She starts walking and pauses again when she reaches her father, extending her hand for him to take.

He stands and she holds his arm, walking toward me with both him and Prescott at her sides. Her dad wipes his face. Prescott wipes his face. These fuckers are going to make me cry.

Awhhh

Prescott lets go of her and gives me a tight hug that I return. One full of love and gratitude, because he’s been such a good friend. Even though I hated that he warned me about her and didn’t tell me where she was, he kept her safe all these years, and I can never repay him for that.

“You are, by far, the most difficult person I’ve ever come across in my entire life. You shut me out repeatedly. You made me chase you, which is ludicrous,” I say, pulling a face that makes everyone laugh. “You were rude, mean, standoffish. . .”

“Okay,” Lyla interrupts, squeezing the tips of my bandaged hands lightly. “I think we need to go over what wedding vows are supposed to be like.” Everyone laughs again.

“But then you le...

You quickly became my favorite person on the planet, and I became addicted to you. I’m in love with you. I’m obsessed with you. I promise to do everything in my power to keep you happy, so you can be mine forever.”

“When I met your mother, she told me that love has no logic. You’re the reason I believe that. You’re relentless, annoying, cocky, possessive, and hands down, the most insane person I’ve ever met in my life.”

“But you make me feel safe, cherished, loved, and wanted. I walked around completely numb to everything before you came along and made me feel. You understand me in ways that I can’t explain. You’ve ruined me for anyone else. You’re my best friend, my husband, my everything, forever.”

and finally — fucking finally — he tells me to kiss my bride. I lift her in my arms and crash my lips against hers.

The world vanishes, replaced by a world where only Lyla James exists. With me and only me, of course. She pulls away slightly with a huge smile — mine, only mine,

“You fuck me up, Lyla James,” I bring my forehead to hers. “You fuck me up.”

That makes her start laughing and crying. I kiss her repeatedly until my mother laughs and shouts from the crowd that I need to stop.

He’s so fucking cute. I drop the stick in my hand and open my arms for Will, who likes to switch between the three of us like he’s a hot potato. I’d never held a baby before this one. I didn’t even like babies before this one. I’m still not sure I do, but I love Will, and I know I’ll love mine.

I love hockey, but it’s started taking a toll on my body, and I don’t want to be one of those dads who can’t run around with his kids because of back issues.

The look in her eyes when she’s on the pitch is worth waiting a million years to start a family.

“Hey.” I lift her chin. My chest tightens when I see the uncertainty in her eyes. “I want you. Of course, I want to start a family with you, but you’re my priority. You’re the only thing I need. You know that.”

He practically lives at our house when either of us is home. He bought a place a few blocks from us and recently started dating a lovely woman Lyla loves.

“How do you feel?” I ask her after a moment. Between the disbelief and elation, I completely forgot to ask her the most important question.

I know she wants this. Maybe not as much as I do, but I can tell she’s happy. Still, I’m not the one carrying a human being inside me for the next nine months.

At night, he lathers me with cocoa butter and gives me “prenatal-approved massages.” He's read more about pregnancy and childbirth than I have.

Since he can't be with me 24/7, he hired Ronnie full-time. Ronnie, who used to do badass security jobs, is now helping me with shopping bags or waiting for me while I'm at the hockey rink. I feel so bad for him, but every time I say that to him, he laughs and tells me his bank account is happy.

Ronnie, the traitor, who's supposed to be my sidekick,

I love visiting Marissa and Prescott, who officially (finally) live together.

YAAAAYYYY

I wish I could pack all of us up and move over there instead, where life moves slower, and kids ride bikes without worry.

I turn our bodies to face each other in our little corner at the back and grab his face, bringing him down to kiss him. When we pull back, I run my thumbs softly over the stubble on his face, and he exhales, wrapping his arms around me.

Theodore James Lucas Duke's

Awee

When he turns around, I see a small bouquet of black roses in his hands that makes me laugh, and cry, before he even reaches me. He smiles that smile that makes my heart skip

"How do you feel?" "Like a 21-inch ten-pound human came out of my vagina." “You’re amazing.” He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses it. “I can't even believe you did that."

He kisses the back of my hand again. "But look at what we got." He turns to look at our baby and smiles wide. "He's so fucking perfect."

"Thank you," Lach says suddenly. "For what?" I frown as I open my eyes. "For loving me,” he says, kissing my hand. “For choosing me.” Another kiss. “For never leaving me.” Another kiss. “For being my best friend.” Another kiss. “For this baby.” Another kiss. “For being you. For everything. Thank you."

"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me," I say quietly. "Fuck, Lyla," he whispers, swallowing hard. “I mean that. I’ll always mean that.” I caress his face and smile at how he shuts his eyes and leans into my touch.

“You fuck me up, Lachlan Duke,” I whisper.