I can see our future taking shape and I’m in love with all of it.
CHAPTER 63
TALLY
“Ican’t come into the locker room with you.”
“I mean, there is no real rule.” Phillip keeps our fingers laced.
The media snaps photos as I walk down the hall with him toward the locker room in question. It’s game five and Toronto is up 3-1 in the series.
“Do you really want me to see your teammates’ junk? I could find out if Quinn really does have freckles everywhere.”
Phillip narrows his eyes while I grin up at him.
The media goes wild, flash after flash going off.
“You know that’ll be some kind of headline later tonight.”
“We can do better.” He wraps his arm around my waist and dips me backwards as he kisses me senseless.
“I see you’re taking a page from my book these days,” Connor says dryly as he passes. “Your coach is watching, by the way.”
I glance over to see my dad standing with Lexi and the other coaches.
“You’re going to be amazing tonight.” I smooth my hand over his lapels.
“Bringing home the cup for you,” he promises.
He kisses my nose, my chin, and then my lips before he disappears into the locker room.
“Everything okay with Madden?” Dad asks.
The only downside of living with my dad is that he knows when and where I spend my nights, so I slept in my own bed last night. Not that we didn’t have post-dinner, pre-me-going-home sex, but at least he had a solid eight hours of sleep. “He’s in a good headspace.”
“This is his best season, by far,” Dad says.
“He had a lot of motivation to play well,” I agree.
I see what Phillip means now when he says he’s not just playing for his team and himself anymore. It was the same for Connor when he married Dred and they adopted the twins, who are starting university next year at Tilton. He suddenly had a reason to play better. He wanted to make the people he loves proud, and Phillip is the same.
I kiss my dad on the cheek and leave him to strategize, while I join the Babes, my Tilton friends, and my mom and siblings in the family box. The little ones are here, too. Callie is attached to Victor at the hip, and Everly is wearing a Grace jersey, but she has a Ryker cuff on her wrist.
“Everything okay?” Mom squeezes my arm.
“Everything is great. I’m glad you all could make it tonight.”
“It’s a big deal for your father, and for you,” she says. “We all wanted to be here to support you.”
“I want this for them.” I’m nervous but excited. Winning the Cup this season would feel particularly gratifying, especially with how much focus there was on my relationship with Phillip. We’re still a highlight, but the negativity has finally shifted. Pictures of us with our Terror friends and their families keep popping up, and now the question is who’s getting married next and when will there be more babies.
Mom surveys the group. Ties and Victor are chatting, Fennahas been pulled in with Callie and Everly, and the littles are gathered around Brody, who doesn’t seem the least bit bothered by all the attention. He’s been coaching special needs hockey since he was in his early teens, so it tracks.
“They’re like a family, aren’t they?” Mom muses.
“Yeah, they really are,” I agree. “They’re like a bunch of older siblings.”
“It makes sense. You were always taking care of everyone, and you found friends who take care of each other.”
