Page 207 of Risking the Pucking Defense

“Caldwell, you’re up front with the kids,” Linc states.

“Hey,” she argues.

“He’s got a point,” Sutton states. “I’m not that much shorter than you now.”

Hailee’s lips part, but she’s unable to argue with Sutton’s observation. Instead, she jumps into the water and swims forward.

“If I had a choice, I’d want to be on your team anyway,” Hailee tells Sutton.

“Yes, girl power,” Sutton says, holding her little fist out for Hailee to bump.

I watch them with happiness oozing from my every pore.

“You’re seeing your future play out before your very eyes, aren’t you?” Rett asks.

“Uh…I’m not…yeah,” I concede. “I think I might be.”

“It’s not as scary as you thought it would be, is it?”

“I was never scared about this. I’ve always known that I’ve wanted a future with the right woman. The house, the wedding, the kids. I’ve already lived through my worst nightmare; nothing else can be as bad as that.”

“Fuck. I wish I was as level-headed as you.”

“Ah, you’re doing better, big man,” I tease.

“Thanks,” he mutters. “I can see it, you know. Hailee wearing your ring, pregnant with your kid.”

I let his words create an image in my head.

“Yeah, I can too.”

“Dude, you can’t put a ring on it before I have.”

“You already have,” I point out.

“Oh, yeah. I did that. I meant get married. Bea wants to wait until the baby is born and she’s lost her extra weight. Which, I already told her, isn’t necessary. She’ll be the most beautiful woman in the room, no matter what.”

I want to agree, because I have no doubt she’ll be glowing the day she finally manages to nail down Everett Donnelly. But in my eyes, Hailee will always be the most beautiful woman in any room that I’m in.

“It’s only been a few weeks. We don’t have any plans,” I say, despite the fact I’ve thought about it more times than I probably should have already.

“We’ve got a game in Vegas in a few weeks. You never know what’ll happen there.”

“Oh, no. I don’t care how desperate I am to officially make her mine. I want to give her the wedding of her dreams, in whatever form that takes.”

“Maybe Vegas is her dream.”

My eyes drift to Hailee as she laughs with Sutton.

“Maybe,” I mumble. But I don’t think it is.

I think she’ll want something small and intimate. Something that only includes those closest to us.

“Are you ready?” Kodie bellows, holding the ball above his head, ready to serve.

“Ready to watch you lose,” Rett taunts.

“You wish, loser,” Sutton counters.