“Lizzie and I are having twins. But everything looks good.”
Whoas and fucks and holy shit and gasps from women and hollers from men broke out in a round robin cacophony of noise in the waiting room until men were slapping my shoulders. Joey was hugging me, slapping my back. Gabby was yanked into the women’s arms telling her she was going to be an aunt to twins and everyone was so damn happy, I could have dropped to my knees and thanked God for looking out for us, for giving us this family who would be there every step of the way.
“That’s amazing,” Alix said, pulling me in for a quick handshake and hug.
“Thanks. And thanks for being there for me earlier.”
He threw out an arm. “It’s what we do. She is okay?”
“Yeah. She’s good. Sleeping, but the doctor said everything should be fine. And the babies look good.”
“That is great news.”
It was. It was the best news.
Sunlight peeked through the curtains the next time I opened my eyes. Not that it was much different than the last time I had them open. I barely slept. I switched from the chair to the couch and back to the chair to trying to sleep on the couch with my feet on the chair. Nothing was comfortable and every bone in my body screamed in painful agony, like it was my body that’d been slammed into the boards a half-dozen times the night before. Instead, I kept watching Lizzie. She slept peacefully, barely waking when nurses came in to check vitals and the babies’ heart rates. Strong. Fast. Well over 150 beats per minute, which the nurse told me was perfect.
My babies were perfect.
I scrubbed a hand over my mouth and yawned and as I did, Lizzie’s eyes fluttered opened as she faced me. “Hey,” she said, and I blurted out the first word I’d been thinking all night while I couldn’t sleep, while I imagined her leaving me even for a few weeks.
“Stay.”
She blinked, and shit, I was an idiot. She’d just woken up, for Christ’s sake. “What?”
I pulled the chair toward her bed and sat on it, bracing my elbows at the edge of her bed while I took one of her hands in both of mine.
“Stay. Don’t leave. Not now. I couldn’t handle it if something happened and I wasn’t there for you.”
Three quick blinks. A tightening of her hand in mine. A small, quiet laugh that cleared the sleep from her eyes and her other hand pressed to my cheek.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“No.” She didn’t understand. I didn’t mean I didn’t want her to leave me. “That’s not what I meant. I mean, don’t go back to Chicago.”
Her sleep grin stretched wide. “I know what you meant. And I was going to tell you this when you came home, or today, which, I guess it is today, but what I’m trying to say is, I’ve already decided, Garrett. I’m not going back to Chicago. Not any time soon.”
“You’re not?”
“No. I have it all planned and plan on giving my boss notice on Monday.”
Holy shit. She did understand. “You’re staying here. With me.”
“Yeah.” She grinned again and I barked out a laugh. “Holy crap. I’ve been thinking all night long of how to convince you and you beat me to it.”
“I’m here. With you. I love you. There’s no need to go back just to return and I don’t like the idea of traveling now anyway and yesterday I talked to my parents. They said they’d help with moving and packing and all that stuff.”
Holy shit. She was doing it. She was truly leaving the life she’d always known behind for me. For us.
I barked out a laugh and then crouched over her. I kissed her senseless until her fingers dug into my hands and she pulled back. “I can’t remember the last time I brushed my teeth.”
Like I cared. I kissed her cheek. Lizzie turned her face away before I could reach her mouth again and chuckled, pressing her hand to my face and pushing me back.
But no way was I leaving her. Not ever. After seven years of friendship and sometimes extra benefits and a handful of miscommunications and fights along the way—I finally had her... all of her.
“Marry me,” I said, and it wasn’t exactly a question. Her eyes widened and I repeated it. “Marry me, Lizzie. I’ll get you a ring later but say yes now anyway. I want you having my name and us being a family before our babies get here. Please... marry me.”
She laughed. She might have called me a dumb oaf, but I was waiting for her answer, so I said nothing.
“Lizzie…”
“Oh I didn’t realize that required a response.”
“Marry me.” We’d fumbled along the way, missed a few shots at the goal, but there was no hesitation. No point in waiting another minute to start my forever. Marrying Lizzie and having babies with her would be the greatest win of my career.
“Name the day, Dubiak, and I’m yours.”
Today worked for me.
Epilogue
Lizzie
“Ready?”
I took one last look at my dress. Off-the-shoulder cap sleeves, with a sweetheart bodice and an empire waistband that barely hid my growing belly beneath. It wasn’t the wedding dress of my dreams, but my marriage would be, so the dress was perfect anyway.
I smiled at my mom, holding my bouquet of white roses sprinkled with purple forget-me-nots, the closest I could find to something blue… both for good luck and to symbolize the boys I was carrying.
Yes. Boys. Two of them.
Fortunately, I had months to get used to the idea of raising twin boys—moments to prepare to become Garrett’s wife.
Not that I needed the time.
“I’m ready.”
“You’re stunning,” she said, walking into the simple back room at the Botanical Garden. I’d been fortunate to snag an opening on a Tuesday night for our wedding ceremony. Sure, not the ideal day of the week to get married, but I’d wanted it this day.
Tomorrow, Vegas would head to the Stanley Cup Finals last round of playoffs against Boston and I wanted to join Garrett at the games with his name on my back, our new name on our marriage certificate, and his wedding band on my finger.
Plus, all our family was in town for the playoffs. Jude, Katie, their daughter along with the rest of the Taylor clan made the trip. Jude wanted to watch Boston get their asses beat by Garrett’s team, Katie wanted to be with me when the team headed to Boston for games three and four and after if necessary.
So, everyone I loved was here. Had planned it. I didn’t see the point in scheduling our wedding in the off-season.
We’d take a honeymoon then at some point, although that depended on my ability to travel and if I could still fit into an airplane seat.
Based on the size of my stomach these days, I was leaning toward a short road trip to San Diego.
“Thank you. Kelsey did an incredible job on my hair and makeup.” She was the daughter of Garrett’s goaltending coach and had insisted on doing my look. My hair was elegantly knotted at the top of my neck, a veil tucked into it with matching forget-me-not flowers and miniature roses. My makeup was dewy. Hopefully semi-permanent because my emotions were a roller coaster lately.
“That dress is gorgeous on you too,” I told her.