Adrian’s eyes widened. “Clover, are you…”
“Pregnant?” For the first time since the damned little stick revealed the truth, I bumbled with pure excitement. “Yes.”
Good thing we were sitting down, though I should’ve buckled him in for this conversation. Adrian gripped the armrests, and I hoped he wouldn’t need the oxygen mask before he could celebrate.
I took his hand. “I’d planned to surprise you tonight. I wanted to land in Ironfield, drive straight to your house, and pound on your door until you let me inside.”
The shock overwhelmed him. He blinked, but the words didn’t come.
That was fine. I had enough for both of us.
“You asked me a long time ago why I never had any boyfriends, any interest in romance, any flings or secret liaisons. It’s because there was no one else out there for me. I knew, deep down, even when I refused to admit it to myself—you were the man for me. I only wish I realized it sooner.”
Adrian stared at me, his words the softest part of him. “I’ve always loved you.”
The confession delighted me even though I’d known it all along.
“And now we’re having a baby.” I leaned in for a kiss but denied him just as his lips pressed against mine. “Right when you abandoned your team.”
Adrian winced and pulled away. “I didn’t abandon them.”
“Then why are you in San Francisco instead of Ironfield?”
“Wanted to find you.”
“I have a phone.”
“Couldn’t miss our last opportunity to meet in the air.”
I rolled my eyes. “You hate meeting in the air.”
“Some things can’t wait.”
And while it was all terribly romantic, it spelled serious trouble for him when he returned.
“What about the Forge?” I asked.
“Let’s just say, I have a different set of priorities now.” He kissed me again, relieving my fears with a dashing smile. “You were right. I focused too much on the team. And you know why?”
“Because you’re an obsessive, meat-headed athlete?”
“Because I was too afraid to admit that I had two loves in my life. The game…and you. But things will change now.” His excitement, his enthusiasm, it was something new. I hadn’t seen it since before he joined the Forge—since before the accident. “I’m gonna have it all.”
“Have what?”
“Everything. The career. The family. You.” His words rumbled deep in my tummy. “You’ve given me a new life, Clover…and I’m going to spend every second rewarding you and our baby with all the happiness in the world.”
“There’s only one thing I need, Adrian Alaric.”
“What’s that?”
I sealed our confessions with a tender kiss.
“You.”
Epilogue
Adrian
Exhibition games in the preseason usually meant nothing.
They were a glorified practice—an opportunity for the few questionable men on the roster to prove themselves before the coaches made their decisions and cuts.
But, for the Ironfield Forge, the expansion game was the first time we suited up, took to the stage, and introduced ourselves to the league.
And we lost miserably.
But at least we were all on the same ice, wearing the same uniform, skating in the same direction.
It wasn’t much, but it was a start. And even the loss meant a hell of a lot more to my team than the win did to our opponent.
We’d lost together.
We’d worked together.
And the only way to survive the franchise’s deliberate sabotage was to overcome it together.
The arena sounded the siren marking the end of the game. A rousing groan echoed from the few hundred people in the stands—mostly friends and family. Didn’t expect much from Ironfield just yet. Most of the city was still unaware they even had a hockey team. The rest would learn soon enough. An 8-1 loss wouldn’t instill confidence in the fans, but we could turn it around.
We only needed the chance.
The ice had a good chill. A game well played meant a uniform soaked with sweat and water. It was a familiar weight. Same for the heavy equipment strapped to my body. I never felt whole without the skates, pads, and helmet.
And cup.
Probably my most prized possession.
I circled the rink twice, allowing the rest of the team to funnel toward the locker room. The ice was beaten up, slushy, and splattered with blood and spit. The lights came up throughout the arena. Bright. It let me see the damage of the night, though it was only a bruise on my wrist.
Almost disappointing. Blood was sexier. Grittier. Then again, blood upset Clover’s morning sickness. It was better that I’d go home whole and unwounded. Meant she tucked even closer to me on the couch…
And under the covers.
A renewed strength flooded through me. The hard work, sacrifice, and hours in the weight room had paid off.
I was stronger than I’d been before the injury.
More focused. More complete.
And it wasn’t just the new team, second chance, or thrill of the game.
It was her.
I’d never understood balance before. All this time, I thought it meant the spin of the puck against my stick or standing tall after a tough hit. But it was a physical feeling. Something raw, powerful, and thoroughly new.
I had the game. The ice. The team. But after the whistles blew and the jersey came off, I now possessed something else.
A home. A life. The future.
And a baby on the way.
That was worth losing my first exhibition game with the Forge.
We had a lot of work to do, but I was finally the right man to lead the team to our inevitable success.
The music pulsed and echoed around the arena. My team had left the ice, trudging down the tunnels into the locker room. I hopped the barrier and stomped my skates against the rough carpet. The last bit of slush kicked from the blade, and the equipment manager offered to take my stick.
Not tonight. This one was going home with me. A present for my unborn baby.
This didn’t amuse Clover.
She waited for me in the tunnel with the few other cheering family members, greeting their returning athletes. The crowd pressed in tight, corralled by coaches, trainers, security, and the media.
Magnolia Mallory did her best interviewing the one player who had scored a goal. Unfortunately, Vasha spoke little English, and his Russian was often layered in so many foreign curse words I wasn’t sure what he said could be aired.
Mags shot me a wink and declared that the lighting wasn’t right so near the locker room. She shuffled the cameras inside, granting us as much privacy as the chaos after a game could offer.
“You are not taking that stick home…” Clover sighed over the word. Home. Must’ve sounded as good to her as it did to me. “You haven’t unpacked the rest of your stuff yet.”
“This is for the baby.”
“So were the two cribs you bought. The three mobiles. The changing tables. The dresser completely stuffed with Ironfield Forge onesies.”
“Got a lot of room to fill in that nursery.” I grinned. “Hell, we’ve got a half dozen other rooms in the house. I should start stocking up now.”