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Lucy giggles and pads to the center of the living room. The dogs lift their heads, watching her. She holds out her hand and waves it toward her. Gus and Millie jump to their feet and trot over. When they get close enough, she turns her palm upright toward the ceiling. She lifts it in front of them, and they sit on their bottoms and wag their tails. “You taught the dogs sign language?” I ask, and she nods excitedly. “That is so cool!”
“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.
She wipes under her eyes with her thumb and lets out a soft laugh. “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 was afraid it was too much,” I admit. “I know I’m… some guy y’all are living with. But I wanted to show you that there are people out there who are willing to show up for you girls. That you should never have to settle for someone who can’t do the bare minimum.” “Nothing you do is too much, and you’re not some guy we’re living with. You’re my best friend in the entire world,” she whispers, and I drop a kiss to her forehead. “I think you’re everything to me.” “You’re my best friend too, Maddie. And I was serious when I said I want y’all to stick around.”
I’m falling in love with Hudson. How could I not be? 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.
“And not just how hot you look. Going to miss your smile too, Golden Girl. How my heart beats fast when you’re around.” “It does not.” “Does to.” He takes my hand, resting it on his chest. I feel it beating rapidly, and it makes me blush. “Told you.”
“One time, some of the other players joined in when I was teaching Hudson some ASL,” Piper says. “You all should’ve seen him, Liam, Maverick, and Riley sitting around and talking with their hands. I think it’s important to remember there are men out there who would do things if they wanted to, and these guys do. The title of dad doesn’t have to apply to the person who’s biologically attached to a kid. It can be someone else who’s willing to step up and fill that role.”
“Let’s go. I need to change, then we’ll head out. Lucy is with Piper. She’s doing okay. 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’m sorry.” I drop him from my hold and take four steps back. “I didn’t—” “I know.” Her smile calms me down. It makes me take a deep breath, and I huff. “You protect what’s yours. I remember.” Mine. Mine, mine, mine. Lucy and Madeline are mine, and I’ll do anything it takes to keep them safe.
“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…” Love for you, I want to say. I swallow it down, but she nods, eyes bright. “I know,” she whispers. “I know that. I’ve never doubted you for a second. I’m not scared, Hudson. I just… go slow with me, please.”
“Wow.” I smile and close my eyes. “Sounds like you want to keep me around. How long is all this spoiling and pampering going to last?” “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 sounds really nice.”
“I don’t know what Lucy and I did to deserve finding you, but I’m so glad we did. Thank you for loving her like she’s yours. Thank you for treating us right. Thank you for giving me hope that good things are worth the wait.”
“Yeah.” Hudson’s smile is soft and slow, the beautiful kind I’ve felt in my soul from the second I first met him. “I love you, Madeline Galloway. I’ve loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you. I love how strong you are. How wonderful of a mother you are. I love your sarcasm, but I also love when you slow things down. You make me feel things I’ve never felt before. And if there’s ever a doubt in your mind, I want you to ask me, because that means I’m not doing a good enough job of showing you how fucking gone I am for you.”
“I love you. I think I’ve loved you for months, but I finally let myself accept it, you know? I’m sorry it took me so long to get here.” “You’re right on time, sweetheart.”
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’d tell her how he loves everything in his life with his whole heart, and he holds himself accountable when the situation calls for it. I’d let her know he’s emotionally mature. Breathtakingly beautiful. Passionate and proud, humble and gracious in moments of defeat.
“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.”
Maverick scores, and the crowd cheers. He finds the camera after he does and pulls out the necklace tucked into his jersey, proudly showing off the little charms with the initials of Emmy and their daughter to all of America.
His mouth moves as he reads the first couple of sentences, and I see the moment understanding dawns. The papers fall from his shaky hands and land in his lap. He looks up at us with wide eyes. “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
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