By the time we pull into the driveway she's asleep, her head tipped against the window.
Natalie unbuckles her belt and turns halfway in her seat.
"She tried really hard to stay awake," she says quietly.
"Game nights are serious business," I say.
I step out and open the back door. Maddie barely stirs when I lift her into my arms. She curls automatically against my shoulder.
Natalie holds the door open while we walk inside.
The house feels unusually quiet after the arena.
We move through the dim hallway together, instinctively keeping our voices low.
In Maddie's room I lower her onto the bed and pull the blanket over her. She shifts slightly, her eyes fluttering open for half a second.
"Daddy scored," she murmurs sleepily.
"He did," Natalie whispers, brushing a piece of hair away from her face.
Maddie smiles sleepily and drifts right back out.
Natalie tucks the blanket around her with careful hands. I watch the two of them for a moment longer than I probably should.
There is something about the way Natalie stands there that feels… natural.
We step out of the room and quietly close the door.
Downstairs Natalie kicks off her shoes near the kitchen island and exhales like she's finally letting the energy of the night settle.
I grab two bottles of water from the fridge and slide one across the counter to her.
"So," she says after a moment, twisting the cap off. "Apparently we're publicly married now."
I huff a laugh.
"Yeah," I say. "That happened."
She leans her elbows on the counter.
"I thought I was going to hate that moment."
"The jumbotron?"
"The whole arena finding out." She shrugs lightly. "But I didn't."
I watch her for a second.
"Good," I say.
"Did you mind?" she asks.
"Not at all."
She studies me like she's deciding whether she believes that.
"You handled it well," I add.
