“Congratulations, Mom,” Astrid said, wrapping up the baby and handing her to Bryn. “And Dad.” Astrid smiled at me.
Dad.
Holy shit. I’m a dad.
I stared down at Morgan and her impossibly small features. I was dying to hold her, to touch her to confirm that she was real. She was ours, and she was beautiful. But I was drenched in sweat and covered in hockey gear, so I settled for offering her one of my fingers. She grabbed it, and I tried to soak it all in. Her tiny little fingernails. The dark lashes framing her eyes. Her sweet little mouth that stretched into the most adorable little yawn.
Someone banged on the door. “Holmes. Time’s up!” Coach called.
I couldn’t leave Bryn, not when she’d just had our baby. But my team—my brothers—needed me. I’d never felt as torn as I did in that moment.
I went to the door, wrenching it open. “Ten minutes. Please.” I pressed my palms together. “I’m begging for a game delay, and then I promise I’ll be back on the ice, completely focused.”
He nodded brusquely. “I’ll see what I can do, but I’ll be lucky if I get a five-minute delay.”
“Okay.” I let out a breath. “I’ll take anything.”
I went back to Bryn’s side, brushing her hair away from her face. She smiled up at me, our daughter in her arms. “It’s okay, Frasier,” Bryn said, clearly sensing my hesitation. “I’m okay. Morgan’s okay. You were here for us. Now you need to be there for your team.”
“She’s in good hands,” Allie said, perhaps sensing my need for reassurance. “I promise I’ll take good care of her.”
“Thank you,” I said to Allie, then again to Logan, Georgia, and especially Astrid. How could I ever possibly convey my gratitude for everything they’d done for Bryn?
I bent down to Bryn, who was still holding Morgan. Even though I knew they were in good hands, it felt impossible to wrench myself away from them.
“I love you.” I kissed Bryn, hard, the bridge of my nose stinging. “I’m so proud of you.”
“I love you,” Bryn said, smiling through her tears. “Now, go. Bring home the Cup.”
A tear slipped out, and I quickly wiped it away. I could’ve stayed there, with them, all day. But I knew that even if Coach had secured the game delay, I was out of time.
With one last kiss for Bryn and a quick glance at our baby girl, I headed back into the hallway, back to the locker room. My body might be with the team, but my heart was firmly back in that room, with Bryn and Morgan. When I entered the locker room, all conversation immediately quieted. Everyone was looking at me, full of apprehension.
“She’s here!” I shouted, and they all raised their towels in the air, spinning them in circles.
Carson nudged me. “Looks like Morgan arrived just in time for her daddy to win a Cup.”
I chuckled as my teammates started chanting, “Daddy Fizzy. Daddy Fizzy.”
My smile was huge, and I couldn’t help but laugh. And as I looked around the room at each of my teammates—at my family—I was filled with so much gratitude. Gabe came and hugged me, then Kovi, each of them tapping the number six over my heart, silently telling me that Derek would be proud.
As we headed back onto the ice, we were buzzing. Despite all my gear, I’d never felt more weightless. I double tapped the six on my chest, looking up to the rafters where a banner displayed Derek’s name and number in his honor. I hoped that Derek knew he was with me, always.
When I scraped up the ice in front of the net, it was with a focused determination. I had even more motivation to bring home the Cup. For Derek and my teammates. For Bryn and for Morgan. But regardless of what happened in the game, I knew I’d already won.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Two Months Later
Morgan whimpered, and I knew she was seconds away from building up to a full-blown cry. I jumped out of bed to get her before she could wake Bryn. I headed over to Morgan’s bassinette, scooping her up into my arms. Her wide blue eyes blinked up at me—sleepy and sweet—and I smiled down at her.
She opened her mouth, seeming to debate another protest. But then she yawned instead, making me melt all over again as she settled contentedly in my arms.
“Is someone hungry?” I whispered, carrying her down the hall to the kitchen. Past the pictures of Bryn and me on our wedding day, past the picture of me hoisting the Cup over my head, past Morgan’s newborn photos and a photo of Bryn, Derek, and me from college. Our home was filled with so many memories.
I opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle that Bryn had already pumped. I hummed to Morgan as I moved about the kitchen, warming her bottle. Bacon lifted her head from her bed in the corner, then went back to cuddling with Biscuit.
“Do you know what today is?” I asked Morgan, checking the temperature of the milk before holding the nipple up to her mouth. She sucked it right in. “Hm, hungry girl?”
