Page 167 of Secrets on Ice

“So true.” Issy smiles.

“Felix has already started with Bastien,” Harper says, rolling her eyes.

“Could you imagine, in what, twenty-odd years, these two boys could be in the same position as their dads are now.” Collette grins.

“That would be kind of cool,” Violetta adds. “And when the rest of you start knocking out some kids you could have a whole team.” She chuckles.

“Speak for yourself,” Evelina says. “I'm not pushing anything the size of a football out of me for a hockey team.”

“You say that now,” Issy says serenely. “Then you meet them and your brain melts.”

“I’m happy being the fun aunt.” Evelina smirks.

Issy looks so happy as she gazes down at him like nothing else in the world exists, tracing his fingers with hers.

“Can I ask something?” Collette says. “And nobody laugh at me. Did it hurt as much as everyone says?”

“Yes,” Issy and Harper answer.

“Right.” She nods, looking scared.

“But then they put him on my chest,” Issy says, “and I forgot about all of it in about four seconds.”

“She's right. Seeing little Alby is making me broody again,” Harper states. “You and Fish thinking about adding to the team?”

“Maybe, I don’t know. Fish wants a hockey team.” She cringes.

“They all do.” Harper laughs. “But you’re the one who has to push the watermelon out of you, so you decide.”

“You’d have cute kids,” Cassidy adds.

“And if you had a boy, it could be the start of a second-gen hockey team.” Issy smirks.

“The boys would love that, wouldn’t they?” She chuckles.

Jo looks at her phone and groans. “Right, Lettie, we have to go.”

She groans. “Urgh, damn work.”

“You’re the one who needs to be there hours before to get the best content.” Jo moans.

“She’s right. Okay, love you guys. Go boys. See you at the arena ladies,” Collette says as they say their goodbyes and leave.

The arena is deafening. I've been to a lot of games this season. I've clawed my way from watching alone on a couch with the sound down to standing in this building with twenty thousand people.

Game seven.

We're all here. Jo's on one side of me, they both finished early so that they could be in the family suite watching the game as players’ partners instead of employees. Cassidy's on my other side, and Claire, Felix and Pierre’s, mom is talking to my mom and Cassidy’s parents. Harper’s got Bastien on her hip with his little headphones. Issy said she’s watching from her hospital bed with her sisters so she’s not alone.

They're up by one.

Three minutes left.

I have never been so frightened in a good way in my entire life.

“Come on,” Collette breathes beside me. “Come on, come on, come on.”

Emmett is everywhere. My brother, who I have watched play hockey since he was six years old in a helmet too big for his head, is out there dragging an entire team up the ice by his teeth. Pierre and Felix are playing like their lives depend on it. Fish is throwing himself at everything that moves.