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His voice startled them.
“Everything all right?” Hailey asked.
“Yeah. Forgot my book.”
“I’ll get it.” Paisley popped up. She knew right where he kept it because sometimes, after he did her hair, they’d lie in bed, reading together until she got sleepy. “Here.”
He hated to lose his nightly routine with her. “Thanks, sweetie.”
“Can we come with you?” she asked.
“I wish you could.” Actually, they’d planned on spending the upcoming three-day weekend in a cabin. “Why don’t you?”
“Go to Boston?” Hailey asked.
“Can we?” Paisley looked at her. “I want to go.”
“Go wif Cole.” Evvie rolled onto her belly and dropped to her feet. She padded over to him and reached for his hand. “Go wif you.”
Their reaction—fuck, it was everything. They wanted to be with him. The gap hadn’t sealed. He still had his place in this little foursome.
“But Paisley has school.” Hailey got up, too.
“It’s kindergarten.” He shrugged. “But it’s no different from our plans to stay in a cabin. We’ll just have the celebration in Boston. We’ll rent a suite at the Four Seasons.” No, she wouldn’t like that. She wanted someplace cozy. He’d figure it out.
“I want to go.” Paisley bounced in place. “Please, LaLee?”
This was the perfect plan. They’d get to sign the adoption papers as a family. They’d get to have their birthday party. “You guys can come to my hockey game.”
“Yay.” The girls jumped up and down, even though they’d never been to an arena in their lives.
He could see Hailey was still on the fence. “You have to move out of your apartment anyhow. So, after the game, we’ll fly to New York. Dad’s screening is Friday night.” He hadn’t planned on going, but excitement flared in his chest. The girls would love that. The red carpet, the glitter, the attention. He’d buy them special dresses and shoes. “What do you think? I want to sign those papers sooner than later.”
“I know. I do, too.”
“What if we did it over afternoon tea?”
“Ooh, a fancy tea.” She smiled. “They’d love that.”
“So, you’ll come? I’ve got a game Friday night, so I can get you home by Sunday.”
“Yes, we’ll come. It sounds fun.”
Relief swept through him.
This would be perfect.
ChapterTwenty-Two
As he didbefore every puck drop, Cole scanned the crowd. This was his arena, and the fans were on their feet. Tonight, they’d played the toughest opponent in their conference, and now, in overtime, only one would get the win.
It’s gonna be me.It’s gotta be.
That’s what I’m here for.
His gaze landed on his girls. Evvie waved wildly in Hailey’s arms, and Paisley had her hand pressed against the glass. Before the game started, right when he’d skated out onto the ice, he’d kissed two fingers and pressed them to the Plexiglass. Paisley had mimicked him. It had become their thing. His lucky charm.
My girls. The love he felt for those three felt too big for his heart to hold.
