Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Chase puffs up his chest, his smile growing. “Yeah, he’s got this.” His eyes widen as the action on the ice picks up, a brief scuffle breaking out not too far from our seats before the men go zooming in the opposite direction. “Wow. I’m going to go fast when I’m big, too. So fast.”
I laugh and hug him closer, kissing his forehead. “Not too fast, okay?”
“Yep. Fast,” he says, his gaze locked on the players. “Gotta go fast.”
“You remind me of Uncle Matty and his race cars.” I help Chase stand on the seat so he can see the ice without me holding him up and blocking the view of the people behind us. “No race cars allowed for you, though. Just fast skates.”
“Yeah, just skates,” Chase agrees, his brows lifting as he adds in a wheedling voice, “And popcorn?”
I roll my eyes. “Dude, you just had a snack before we left the hotel.”
Chase puts his arm around my shoulders, patting my back. “Yeah, but I’m growing big, Mama. And big boys need popcorn.”
I sigh. “You’re a mess.”
Chase grins. “Just a little popcorn. For good luck for Awin.”
“Oh, is popcorn good luck?” I ask as I lift a hand to the popcorn vendor higher in the stands. “I didn’t know that. Then, we must have some.”
I’ve just finished paying for two cartons when Aaron scores the first goal of the game, sending everyone around us shooting out of their seats.
“That’s right, baby! Good job, Daddy Awin!” Chase shouts, making the couple behind us laugh.
I smile their way and the older woman leans down. “He’s the sweetest little boy. Is his daddy a player?”
“Yes,” Chase pipes up before I can answer, pointing at the ice. “My Daddy Awin is number twenty-six. I love him so much.”
Tears sting my eyes before I can stop them, but I sniff and blink them away.
Even after nearly a year, the miracle of this gift, this love, still knocks me off my feet sometimes. Long distance with Aaron hasn’t been nearly as hard as I expected it to be—he comes to Bad Dog as often as he can, and I’ve found I love jumping on a plane to meet him in exciting places I’ve never been.
I’m just so happy.
I know things will be harder with a baby and a toddler and the business still growing, but I’m not worried. Aaron and I excel at tackling challenging things together. Hell, we managed a week in France with Ben and Radcliffe, Nutty, and their new puppy last summer and didn’t have a single fight, even when Radcliffe insisted on dressing us all in matching white shirts and doing a family photo in the vineyard outside their rental home.
We’re rock solid, and I’m not the least bit worried about “the ring” my mother keeps harping on. We’ll get married when it feels right for us. In the meantime, we’ll just keep being a family and now…growing our family.
I can’t wait to tell him. I’m so excited that I don’t miss a beat when Chase, who’s busy making friends with the older woman behind us, practically shouts, “Yeah, I have three daddies and my mama loves them all.”
I laugh and cut in, “My ex-husband is remarried to a lovely man and yes, I do love them all.” I hug Chase closer. “But Daddy Aaron has a special place in my heart.”
“Well, isn’t that wonderful,” the woman says, her gaze softening. “The more love a child has in his life, the better. That’s what I say.”
“Me, too,” I agree, turning to watch Aaron zoom off the ice as they complete their line change. I feel terrible that I missed his goal while I was paying for popcorn, but I know he’ll forgive me.
And I’ll get to see him do it again. So far this season, he’s one of the Midges’ leading scorers. He’s having an incredible comeback and I’m so glad. I hope he gets four amazing years of dominating the NHL.
Then, I hope he wants to come home to me and our babies.
By halfway through the third period, the Midges are up by two goals, and Chase has to use the bathroom, so we say goodbye to the couple behind us and start up the stairs.
“But I don’t want to miss the end, Mama,” Chase says, already dancing a little as we ascend the bleachers.
“We won’t. We can watch it from the top of the stairs after you go potty,” I say, before adding in a whisper, “Then we’ll be closer to the stairs leading down to the locker room when it’s over. Daddy Aaron said you could come back and meet the team after everyone is dressed.”
Chase’s entire face lights up. “I do? I get to go inside?”
“You do,” I say. “As soon as the locker room monitors say it’s okay for family to come in.”