I glance at him, and he looks terrified. “Hey, it’s all good. You’ve got this,” I remind him, changing positions. “Didn’t your parents come to town?”
The fear is all over his face, and it’s killing me. “Yeah. They’re up in the owner’s box since Mom is friends with him.”
“Okay. Have you seen them?”
I watch as he looks up, and he tips his chin. “Yeah, my mom is waving her arms and has our jersey on. So does my dad.” He grins. “I can’t believe they’re wearing our jerseys.”
“Of course they are. They’re proud of you,” I insist. “Evan,” I say, and he looks at me. “Play only for them. Play as if they’re the only ones watching you. Have they ever been anything but supportive?”
He swallows hard, shaking his head. “No, not at all. I put the pressure on myself.”
“Okay, so then play for them, knowing they’re proud, no matter what.”
He takes in a deep breath, letting it out in a whoosh, and looks back at me. “Okay.”
I nod, smacking his arm with my hand. “Attaboy.”
I get up then, digging my skates into the ice and hopping twice.
Then I look out at the crowd. Everyone is so excited, all rocking their IceCats jerseys and holding encouraging and sometimes very inappropriate signs. Like “Puck me, Miklas!” Leave it to Dart, and he just might.
Of course, he’s eating it up, sending grins and winks to everyone. Lord, he is going to get himself in so much trouble. Though, I can’t help but want to let him go wild. I did. Before Celeste, I was rowdy, loud, and had my fun. Things are different now, way different.
I only want Celeste and Jaylin.
When I find them, I’m breathless.
Jaylin holds Celeste in her arms so she is able to look out on the ice, her back to Jaylin’s chest. Both of them are wearing IceCats jerseys and jeans with fluffy boots. I’m guessing this was Jaylin’s doing. She looks incredible, her makeup done so sensually, with bright-red lips to match the accents on the jersey. Her hair is up in a tight, sleek ponytail, while Celeste has a smaller pony with a huge red bow. I’m completely taken aback at the sight of them. I skate toward them, flipping a puck on the blade of my stick and tapping it up and down to show off.
I throw it up in the air, catching it before skating to where they’re standing behind the glass. Celeste is opening and closing her palms at me, and I think she’s babbling “dada” or maybe “mama.” Either way, she is excited to see me. Jaylin’s smile is unstoppable and so damn pretty. Her eyes are bright, her lashes long as she gazes down at me. I press into the glass, and Celeste leans in, so Jaylin brings her closer. Jaylin’s eyes shine with love as she yells for me. I tap the glass with the puck, grinning at her, and she returns the smile.
“Are you excited, CC?”
She squeals as Jaylin grins. “I am! It’s loud in here!” she yells, and I nod. “And cold! I’m freezing!”
I laugh and yell back. “You’ll get used to it!” She doesn’t seem convinced. “Are you guys having fun?” I look over at her parents and Jean, and they’re all nodding enthusiastically.
Jaylin nods as Celeste screams with joy. She then tries to get out of Jaylin’s arms, but she holds her close, turning her so she’s on her hip. Jaylin points to me, whispering something in Celeste’s ear, which makes her smile brightly. She then mocks Jaylin, waving at me, and I wave back.
“I love you two. I love you, CC!” She waves both arms, opening and closing her palms, and I blow her a kiss before I look at Jaylin. “I love you too!”
Jaylin beams, her face warming with color, and she mouths, “Same, Kirb.”
I send her a wink and then toss the puck up and over the glass. I have to say, I’m surprised when Jaylin catches it. I grin widely at her as she hands it to Celeste. But of course, she goes to put it in her mouth, so Jaylin stops her, laughing happily. In my chest, my heart is going crazy at the sight. It’s so normal. So perfectly fluid, like she is meant to mother Celeste. I swear, I have never experienced this kind of feeling, and I sure as hell have never felt so completely loved in all my life.
We could lose this game and I wouldn’t mind too much, for I’m winning every day at home.
After the game, I meet Jaylin at home, where she’s changing Celeste.
“I think I need a car seat for my car,” she tells me before setting Celeste on her feet and holding her under her arms for support.
I grin as I crouch down so Celeste can see me. “Come on, CC. Come to Daddy.”
CC giggles as she moves her feet, and Jaylin carries her to me. Celeste is nowhere near ready to walk, but it’s cute watching her think she can. Jaylin swings her up, kissing her cheek before handing her off to me. I take my baby, kissing her and breathing in the smell of her. She’s all freshly changed, lotioned up, and in her sleeper. “Taking that sucker out of Jean’s car was absolute hell, and we have to exchange tomorrow. I may need you to send me the link so I can buy one.”
“Or we can go in the morning. Celeste needs some new clothes. Her six-to-nine are way too tight. Need to go up to nine-to-twelve.”
She eyes me. “Or twelve-to-eighteen. That one outfit I bought is a twelve-month and fits her great.”
“Stop making my baby grow,” I accuse her, and she laughs as she cleans up the diaper mess and then hangs up Celeste’s jersey. “So, you really had a great time at the game?”
“Yeah, it was awesome. I had no clue what was happening,” she admits as she folds some blankets and throws them on the blanket stack.
“Did your parents enjoy themselves?”
She looks up at me, grinning. “Dad talked about getting season tickets, he loved it so much. My mom, like me, had no clue what was going on, but she thought it was cool. They’re talking about going to dinner after your golf date with Dad.”
That pleases me. “Sounds good to me.”
“I figured you’d say that, so I said yes,” she says, standing up. “By the way, it’s crazy that I am volunteering to hang with my parents. But I am finding that having a boyfriend takes a lot of the pressure and the attention off me. Plus, Celeste steals the show.”
I chuckle. “That’s good. I’m glad they like us.”
I rock Celeste back and forth, holding her bottle as she drinks soundly. She’s exhausted. Big night. Not only did she have the game, but she went to dinner with Jaylin’s parents and Jean afterward. It takes me so long to finish up after a game, I missed it. But when Jaylin said she’d meet me at the house, I wasn’t upset.
“Love you,” she corrects. “Pretty sure my mom is planning our wedding on the side.”
I eye her. “How’s that make you feel?”
She doesn’t meet my gaze. “Fine.”
“Fine?”
She sends me a smirk. “I mean, I’m not upset or scared.”
“That’s good.”
“I thought so. Also, I can’t wait to go to my next game. Though, I wish you guys had won.”
Yeah, that sucked. “Me too. Sorry about that.”
She looks up from where she is tossing toys in the toy box. “Um, you did your part. You scored.”