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

by Chelsea Curto

“I think I might die if I don’t.”

“That would be a horrible tragedy.”

“You really do make me see the stars, Hudson.” “Let’s get you to see a couple more, yeah?”

“You have to be quiet, Maddie.”

“I don’t want my teammates to hear you. They don’t get that privilege.”

“you’re so good, Maddie, you deserve this,” I lose it completely.

“Sounds like you’re flirting with me, hockey guy.” “I’m always flirting with you, Mads. Pretty sure I was flirting with you the first time you walked into my condo.”

“You can talk to me, you know. About anything. About your mom. About your games. I want to be a safe space for you, Hudson.”

I’m practically sweating on the couch. Lucy is next to me, and Madeline is on the other end. Gus is at my feet, and I think he can sense how anxious I am.

I’m terrified I’m going to mess this up. I’m terrified I’m going to sign something incorrectly and miss half the words. I take another breath, and faintly, like it’s pulled from somewhere beyond earth, I hear my mom’s voice.

The echo of her laugh and how she held my hand in the kitchen when I told her about my terrible grade in French.

“At least you tried,” she said with a smile. “Imagine how much less exciting your life wo...

“Hello, Lucy,” I speak and sign.

Guys! I CANT I AM CRYING SO HARD RIGHT NOW

“My name is Hudson. I have two dogs, Gus and Millie. My favorite food is a cheeseburger, and I play hockey.”

“I’ve been practicing my signing. I’ve loved having you and your mom here. And I hope you’ll stick around for a while. 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?”

This is too precious I cant like this is too much

Hi, Hudson, she answers, and it’s not lost on me that she’s signing slower than she does when she talks with her mom. My name is Lucy. I’m so glad we’re friends. I love your doggies. And you. You make me happy. You make Mommy happy too. How old are you? I’m six.

MY DADY ISSUES CANNOT CONTAIN WITH THIS CUTENESS OMG MY HEART

“Thirty-one,”

how I really am falling in love with her and her daughter. How I might not be her father, but I’d walk to the ends of the earth for Lucy.

“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.”

“I still don’t know why,”

“You know why. Don’t you?” I love you, I think. I love you, I l...

I can’t believe you’re real. That you would do this for her. For me. I want to say thank you, but that doesn’t come close to how… how much you’ve changed our lives.”

“She wants to give you a name sign,”

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.

“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.

“You look like a goddamn dream, Mads.”

“Can I have you when you get home? Multiple times?” “Do you want me multiple times?” “I want you all day, every day, Mads.”

“You’re so good at treating me right, Hudson.” “Never thought I had a praise kink.” He kisses my throat then my jaw. “Until you started calling me good.”

“Are you going to think about me while you’re out with your friends?” “Mhm. I’ll probably talk about you, too.” “Make sure you tell them no one takes care of you like I do.”

“That I’m the best you’ve ever had.”

“Obviously you’re falling in love with him,” Emmy says with a smile. “You two have been getting close for months now, and I see the way he looks at you when you come into a room.”

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.”

“Hudson loves you, too,” Piper says. “And he’s going to be willing to wait for you until you’re absolutely sure.” “Yeah.” I smile. “I know he would.”

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.

“You sure look fancy in your suit,” I tell Hudson from the couch, and he tosses a grin my way. “You flirting with me, Galloway?” “Maybe. Blue is definitely your color. It matches your eyes.” “You’re going to make me blush.”

“I hope you have a great game.” “I’ve got you to look at in the stands. Of course it’s going to be a good night.”

“We will. And don’t be mad at Lucy if she’s not wearing your jersey tonight,” I add when he heads for the door. “She has a new obsession with Grant.” “As long as you show up wearing my name, I’m happy. See you soon, sweetheart.”

“Dude. The fuck is going on? You’re playing like ass tonight.” “Madeline’s ex is here,” I manage to get out. “Like, here here?” he asks. “Like found her in the stands and talked to her here.” “Shit. Is she okay? Are you okay?” “I’m seconds away from committing a homicide.”

“Obviously,” I practically yell. “How can I not fucking love her? She’s perfect.”

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.”

“She has a way of nestling into your heart, doesn’t she?” Madeline tells me. “She can break down even the grumpiest motherfuckers.”

“I wanted to apologize,” Clark says. “You don’t get to talk to her.”

“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.”

Love you. Spend the rest of my life with you. Be with you until my dying days.

“It’s you, me, and Lucy. For as long as you’ll have me.”

“I definitely have a knife kink.”

“I close my eyes and see you, Madeline. And when I open them, there you are. Even more gorgeous than when I saw you ten seconds ago.”

“There you go baby. That’s what I like to hear.”

I wonder what it would be like to fuck her with the handle of one. I wonder what it would look like with her cum all over it, how it would taste when I licked it clean,