Slap Shot (D.C. Stars, #3)

by Chelsea Curto

I could love him. I could love him, and it would be perfect.

I think about him all the time, too. I miss him when he’s gone. I feel alive when he touches me.

Sweetheart makes me think this thing between us could last forever.

Be gentle with me when you kill me, he said, and I hope I can be just as gentle with his precious heart.

I can’t do that when you’re hiding your vegetables from me like a child, Hudson Hayes.”

Hello, there, he scribbles in terrible handwriting. Mustard on hot dogs?

Lucy wrinkles her nose and shakes her head.

“She and I are going to get along just fine...

“You’ve never brought a girl around the guys before. And here you are doing it twice in a couple weeks? You’re so fucked, Huddy.”

“Who gives a shit if she doesn’t want to get married? Look at me! I was so against monogamy, and now I’m wondering how I can order a fucking

casket that fits two people so I can hold Emmy’s hand when we’re dead. Marriage isn’t the only path for relationships. You don’t need a piece of paper to love her, do you?”

Down the road, if we got to that point, if I’m lucky enough to have more years with her, I wouldn’t care about a ceremony or vows. I’d care about her.

Lucy comes barreling into the kitchen. The dogs chase after her, and she’s dragging Ethan by the sleeve. When they get close, he throws the notebook at my shoulder.

“You’ve all been replaced,” he announces. “Lucy and I are best friends now.”

“Of course I mean it. I’d go to war for your daughter. For you, too.”

“Because y’all are mine.” I tuck a loose piece of hair behind her ear. “And I protect what’s mine.”

Lucy runs around the apartment with the dogs, giggling when Riley chases her and lifts her on his shoulders.

Lucy climbs out of my lap and joins Piper on the floor. My heart is full while I watch them talk about the headband Lucy is wearing and her pink sparkly shoes.

“He grew on me, though. He’s like my brother. I’d run through fire for him, and he’d do the

same for me.

and I cook for you because I want to. Not because I’m obligated to.”

“She’s perfect.”

“Just like you.”

She’s the safest space I’ve ever had.

You’re the most spectacular man I’ve ever met. Everything you’ve done for us up to this point has been thoughtful. This isn’t going to be any different.”

You are one of my favorite people in the world, Lucy girl, and I’m so excited we can talk to each other. I might not be very good at

it, but I’m going to keep learning for you, okay?”

And you. You make me happy. You make Mommy happy too.

how I really am falling in love with her and her daughter.

“And I do. I’m going to practice every single day. I won’t stop until I know every word, every phrase, every handshape in existence. In English. In ASL. In whatever other language Lucy wants to learn.”

“She wants to give you a name sign,” Madeline explains, and my heart rate kicks up. “Do you know what that is?”

This is the most important moment in my life. Bigger than the Stanley Cup win. Bigger than any contract I could ever sign, and I’m so excited, I’m going to be sick.

“I don’t think you’ll ever know how much it means to us that you did that, Hudson. I could visit a hundred different worlds and I’d never find someone as wonderful and kind as you.”

“I don’t think we’re going anywhere anytime soon, Hudson.”

I’m falling in love with Hudson.

The man learned sign language for my daughter. He spent hours and hours of the little free time he has to figure out how to communicate with her. He put in the effort, did the work, and because of it, he stole my fucking heart.

He makes me think I’ll never have my heart broken again. He makes me realize there’s so much good that comes with giving yourself to someone, and maybe one day, after I’ve been with him for a year or two, I’ll never be afraid of the pain that could come from things going wrong. He makes me believe. In love, in healing, in relationships that don’t end.

“I want you all day, every day, Mads.”

“I think I’m falling in love with him,” I blurt, and the four women blink at me.

If we went down, we’d go down fighting like hell to stay afloat, and there’s a comfort in that.

Hudson tells her if the guy doesn’t bring her flowers, he’s kicking him to the curb.

He’s perfect. God. I think I love him. I think I love him with my whole heart. “Hudson loves you, too,” Piper says. “And he’s going to be willing to wait for you until you’re absolutely sure.”

I’m proud to sit beside them. I’m honored to call them my friends, and I know no matter what happens with Hudson, I’ve fallen in love with four women I’ll have in my corner for the rest of my life.

Liam even stole her away for a minute, and I think he might’ve been smiling,” I say, and that gets a laugh out of her. “Hell is freezing over.”

“You don’t get to talk to her.” I keep my arm against him, and that’s when I see the first moment of panic in his eyes. “Don’t look at her. Don’t talk to her. You go through me, buddy, and

guess what? I don’t want anything to do with you. After the shit you pulled? You can burn in hell.”

“I want you to know I’m going to spend every second I’m on this earth proving to you that I’m not him.” I untangle our limbs and cup her cheeks. I stroke my thumbs over her skin, smiling when she sighs and melts into my touch. “I will never be him. I will never leave you and Lucy, and I promise you won’t ever doubt my…”

“It’s you, me, and Lucy. For as long as you’ll have me.” Her grin is my favorite thing. “What a team we make.”

Madeline grins and stands on her toes to kiss my cheek. “Seeing you that protective was hot as hell.” “Hopefully he learned to not fuck with what’s mine.

How long is all this spoiling and pampering going to last?”