Across from me is Boston’s Nicolai Orlov, a former teammate of Griff’s from Emery University. He’s a tall, burly fucker who happens to be one of the most physical enforcers to play in the NHL over the past decade.Lucky me.
The ref blows his whistle and Griff wins the draw back to Bennett who chips the puck just over Boston’s defenseman’s head. Carson wins the chase to the puck and possesses it through the neutral zone.
I skate like hell to try to keep pace with him so we have a two-on-one rush.
The moment the defenseman pivots toward Carson, I scream for the puck, hoping like hell he hears me over the roar of the crowd.
Carsey sauces the puck across the ice to me, and after two more strides, I shoot the puck low into the empty net.
The goal horn blasts as the arena erupts with cheers from our home crowd.
I look up at the clock.
Forty-one seconds.
We’ve fucking got this.
There she is.
My beautiful bride.
God, she’s everything.
Taevin’s waiting to get on the ice with Scarlett, Gemma, McKenna, Cadence, and Dakota. She’s got her back turned to me, and I smile when I see she’s wearing the custom playoff jacket Scarlett designed for all of the players’ significant others.
This year’s jackets are all black lettermans with lime green patches sewn onto the sleeves as well as the front. The back of the jackets display the players’ last names with the numbers on the sleeves. WILSON-GRAY has never looked better than it does when it’s splayed across her back. And you guessed it, numbertwelveis on her sleeve.
My wife is stunning no matter what, but when she’s proudly claiming me in front of a stadium of tens of thousands of fans, I can’t take my eyes off her. Tae’s raven hair has grown several inches in the last few months into what she’s deemed a pixie cut? Not sure what the hell that is, but it suits her nonetheless.
This is the first season I’ve played with her by my side, and I’ve made it known that she’s my lucky charm.
I’d say it’s undeniable at this point.
After what feels like an eternity, Taevin turns to face me. When her beautiful brown eyes finally connect with mine, I skate to the zamboni door where our families have gathered.
“There’s my Stanley Cup Champ!” Tae says, beaming with pride.
That’s right.
Stanley Cup Champ is the second best title I’ve ever held.
I don’t waste a second as I lift her into my arms, step back onto the ice, and spin her around until she’s squealing for me to stop. Halting my movements, I smile down at her and she cradles my face in her hands. “You did it, you guys really did it!”
Shooting her one of the cockiest smirks I can muster up, I taunt, “Did you ever have any doubts?”
She shakes her head and rolls her eyes. “Couldn’t go two seconds without turning into the cocky boy I met at eighteen.”
“Hey, you not only fell in love with that cocky son of a bitch, you married him. So I musta done something right.”
“Yeah, yeah. So, are you gonna kiss me or not?” she asks, and before a smile can even pull at her lips, my mouth is on hers.
With adrenaline still pumping through my veins, I remind myself to hold back. We’re still in public, after all.
We’re interrupted when a camera crew shuffles across the ice toward us with Alexa following closely behind.
“Mind if I get a quick interview, you two?” Alexa asks.
Setting Tae on her feet, I tuck her into my side so she won’t slip on the ice.
