Maverick laughs. “Don’t blame you. I’ll text when we’re ready.” He looks at everyone. Takes us all in. “I learned a long time ago that family isn’t something you’re born into. It’s the people you find along the way, and I’m really glad I found you all.”
Three hours later,just as the sun is coming up, we get the okay to head to Emmy’s room. Grant is crying. Ethan is falling asleep on Liam’s shoulder, but the goalie doesn’t shove him away. On the fourth floor, down a long hall, Maverick waves. He gestures for us all to come inside a large room, everyone rearranging where they’re standing until we fill the space to the brim.
“Hi, guys,” Emmy says, holding a baby wrapped in a blanket like she’s the most precious, delicate being in the world. Maverick sits next to his wife on the hospital bed, an arm around her shoulders. “Thanks for sticking around.”
“Is that our newest member?” Grant whispers. “She’s so tiny.”
“Meet Murphy Miller Hartwell.” Maverick kisses Murphy’s head. “It means sea warrior, and if she’s anything like her mom, she’s going to live up to the name and then some.”
“We wanted to stick with the gender-neutral theme,” Emmy explains. “That way, when a hockey coach signs her to his team in twenty-eight years, the arrogant captain will think he’s meeting a guy.”
“But instead, it’ll be a kick-ass woman who’s going to sweep him off his feet.” Maverick brushes his nose against Emmy’s. His attention turns to me, eyes wet with tears. “This is all because of you, Coach.”
“I don’t think I can take any credit for your spawn, Miller,” I say, walking over to them. “This was all you two.”
“Yes, you can.” Emmy smiles at me then tucks her chin to her chest. “Do you want to hold her?”
“I haven’t held a baby in years. Grant’s right. She’s too tiny. I don’t—” My argument snuffs out when Emmy puts Murphy in my arms. “God dammit.” I stare at the ceiling. “I don’t like getting emotional in front of people, Hartwell.”
“The only reason this is possible”—Emmy gestures between her and Maverick—“Is because you took a chance on me. You didn’t sign me because it would check a box or be a good headline in the media. You didn’t treat me any different because I’m a woman. You saw a player with a dream, and because of that, I got so much more than I could have ever imagined.”
“I don’t have many years left in the league,” Maverick adds, looking only at me. “Three, maybe? Two tops if it means Em can come back and have another season before she retires, because I want her to have a chance to win the Cup. I know we have a player-coach relationship, and I want to be respectful of that boundary for the time that I have left on your team.” He turns to the rest of the group. “All of you are going to be aunts and uncles,obviously. Huddy Boy, I hope you’re okay with being godfather number one and sharing the honors with Reid and Dallas.”
“Jesus, Mav. Of course I am,” Hudson says with a laugh. “I’d be honored.”
“Good. And I hope after I retire, you’ll consider being godfather number two, Coach,” he says, and I freeze. “Signing Emmy to the team…” He trails off and bites his fist. A tear rolls down his cheek. “You gave me everything I’ve ever wanted in life. A partner. A family. A home. I’m not worthy of any of it, but I’m going to spend every second of every day doing my best to prove that I am.”
“We’ll talk,” I rasp, hating how my voice cracks. “But only if I get first dibs on Murphy’s playing rights after she’s done a year in college.”
Maverick knows what my answer is, and I’m glad I don’t have to say it outright. If I did, I’d be a fucking mess, because how the hell did this group of kids who pissed me off to no end grow into a group of good, hardworking men starting their own families they want me to be part of?
“Fuck you, Saunders,” Liam says, breaking the heaviness in the room. “All I got them was a onesie.”
That makes everyone laugh. Murphy gets passed around, already so loved by so many people. Maverick and Emmy can’t stop looking at each other, and I have to take a deep breath.
I’ve had a lot of highs as a hockey player. I’ve won championships. Broken league records. Been the best player in the world, but I think at the end of my career, when I walk away from the sport for good, this moment right here is going to be the one I’m proudest of.
TWENTY
HANNAH
“How was Japan?”I ask Tierney, pressing my phone to my ear. “Your program was incredible, T. You deserved a higher score.”
“Thanks, Han.” She pauses to close a door, letting out a deep sigh. “I did the best I could, and other people’s best was better than mine. It happens.”
“Humble even in defeat. I’m so proud of you.”
“How are things going with you? That video you posted to social media yesterday of your Axel was literally stunning.”
“Stop. My foot placement was all messed up.” I tap speakerphone so I can put in an earring. “Coaching is going well. I have no clue if what I’m doing is having an impact or not, but Olivia—that’s the girl I’m working with—is improving. That has to mean something.Oh. She’s a big fan of yours, so if you ever feel like stopping by the Stars’ practice rink during one of our lessons, it would probably earn me a lot of cool points.”
“We’ll make it happen. World Championships aren’t until March, so I’m giving myself a week after the holidays to fucking relax before I amp up my training for Boston. I’ll come by then.” Tierney decides to FaceTime me, and I smile when her face fillsmy screen. “Speaking of Boston. Any thought about showing up to the World Championships?”
“Honestly? No. This break has been good for me, and I don’t want to rush myself. There is a small competition in Virginia happening in March I’ve been looking at. It’s the weekend before Worlds. If January and February go well, I might give it a shot.” I grab my lipstick and put a light shade of red on my lips. “But if it doesn’t happen, I’m perfectly content with what I’m doing right now.”
The two scheduled sessions that Brody and I talked about have turned into seeing each other three or four times a week. He’ll text me in the morning and let me know he has an hour between practice and a meeting, an open invitation to head to the rink if I’m free.
Some days we’ll run drills, but lately, most of our time is just spent skating. Side by side, with easy conversation. He tells me about the gifts he got Liv for Christmas. I talk about my idea to create a social media page dedicated to teaching beginner moves to people new to figure skating. We alternate who brings coffee, and by the time I leave the arena, I’m always in a better mood.
