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

by Chelsea Curto

“Forever, if you’ll let me,” he says, and my heart skips a beat. “And then some.”

“Okay,” I say, and his hold on me tightens. “Forever so...

“Do I make you happy?” I ask, voice low. “You make me so happy, I could burst,” she whispers. “You make me so happy, I’m terrified because good things like this don’t last forever.” “Hey.” I hold her to me, kissing the top of her head. “With us they do.”

She does, doesn’t she? Can I tell you a secret, Lucy? Sure. She grins. I love secrets. I love your mom. Very much. I’m going to tell her soon. Do you think that would be okay with you? If I was around more? Like a dad? My friends say their daddies love their mommies. I’ve never had a daddy. Yeah. I swallow. Like a dad.

It might be a big game for us tonight, but I don’t care.

I’ll have those two in the stands, which means I already won.

“I love you so much. You and Lucy are the greatest things to ever happen to me, and I… I love you so much it hurts, Maddie, to think about my life without you in it. I… I can’t hold it in anymore. I know I said I’d be patient, but you need to hear it and⁠—”

“I love you so much, and I’ve loved you for so long. Even when I didn’t know what the feeling was. You’ve done so much for me and for Lucy and… I just want to make sure you’re sure. That this is really what you want, because there’s not going to be a wedding. There aren’t going to be more kids. It’s going to be the three of us, and I want to know if that’s enough.”

“Loving you is easier than anything I’ve ever done. It’s like breathing. Something that comes naturally, because I don’t have to think about it. You’re just… there. Perfect and wonderful and mine. Made for me, I think.” I think he was made for me, too.

“When I’m with you, I’m the most sure I’ve ever been about anything in my entire life.”

I’m going to spend the rest of my life disappointed I’ll never get the chance to meet Sarah Hayes. If I could spend just thirty seconds with her, I’d tell her how good of a job she did as a parent. How strong and self-aware her son is without being cocky or overbearing.

“I meant you. To feel like I’m living and not just surviving. I didn’t know if my heart could take losing my mom. There were so many days where I pretended I was okay. Where I’d smile and laugh at practice with the guys then come home and cry myself to sleep because I was so fucking sad. I haven’t been sad since meeting you, though. You’ve… you’ve poured love into the cracks I’ve tried so hard to fill myself, and I think I’m finally whole again.”

“Madeline told me about your mom.” Julie gives me a sad smile. “I hope you know she’d be proud of you.” “Yeah.” I nod. “I do.”

“For you, Mama,” I whisper.

“Get your ass over here, Galloway, so I can celebrate with my girls.”

“I’m so proud of you,” she whispers. “And your mom is so proud of you.” “That goal was for her. Felt like the perfect way to end the best year of my life.” I take off my helmet and throw it on the ice. I cup Madeline’s cheeks and kiss her forehead. “God. I love you, Maddie.”

He takes off his glove and holds up an I love you that makes me put a hand on my chest.

Lucy waves and jumps up and down. She answers with an I love you of her own, and I’m still not sure how I ended up in love with a man who publicly acknowledges my daughter.

Lucy is grabbing from her desk drawer. He’s clueless about the adoption papers she begged me to file so Hudson could legally be her dad. He’s been in that role since they met, and no one else will ever hold the title.

“It’s an adoption petition,” he says slowly, signing at the same time.

Lucy wants you to be her dad, I explain, and Lucy nods along beside me. You’re her favorite person in the world. She wants to be a part of your family, and she wants to have you be a part of ours. Legally. Officially. In every sense of the word. I take a breath and stop signing. “I know this is a big step. You don’t have to say yes right away—or at all. We’re not married, and⁠—”

He pulls me close, and the three of us huddle together. I love you, Maddie. And I love you, Lucy.

We love you too. I sigh and close my eyes. “You’re stuck with us, Bombshell.” “There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”