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The thought makes my heart flutter as the buzzer sounds.Chase and I cheer Aaron’s name as he takes the ice with the rest of the starting members of the team.The positive pregnancy test encased in a Ziploc in my purse is the perfect thing to keep my nerves in check as Aaron faces the dickhead who hurt him for the first time this season.(The last time the Midges played Wisconsin, Kreicheque was benched for another illegal hit.)
No matter what happens tonight, I have some amazing news guaranteed to cheer Aaron up in the face of a loss or make a win even sweeter.
As long as he doesn’t get hurt…
If that fucker comes after Aaron again, he’s going to havemeto deal with.
I narrow my eyes, glaring at Enemy Number One as he skates by, his scraggly red beard hanging from his chin like a mangled pelt.
“Oh no!Bad Red!”Chase shouts, jabbing a finger his way.He knows Kreicheque by sight and has lumped him in with other much-despised villains like the sharks from Finding Nemo and the woman at daycare who refuses to let him do cartwheels on the playground.He looks up at me, adding seriously, “We don’t like Bad Red.He’s a mean guy.”
I nod.“He is.And a cheater.”
Chase’s nose wrinkles.“Cheaters are the worst.”
“The very worst,” I agree, forcing a smile.“But we won’t worry about him.Daddy Aaron is in great shape, his shoulder is all better, and he’s having a way better season than Bad Red.He’s got this.”
Chase puffs up his chest, his smile growing.“Yeah, he’s got this.”His eyes widen as the action on the ice picks up, a brief scuffle breaking out not too far from our seats before the men go zooming in the opposite direction.“Wow.I’m going to go fast when I’m big, too.So fast.”
I laugh and hug him closer, kissing his forehead.“Not too fast, okay?”
“Yep.Fast,” he says, his gaze locked on the players.“Gotta go fast.”
“You remind me of Uncle Matty and his race cars.”I help Chase stand on the seat so he can see the ice without me holding him up and blocking the view of the people behind us.“No race cars allowed for you, though.Just fast skates.”
“Yeah, just skates,” Chase agrees, his brows lifting as he adds in a wheedling voice, “And popcorn?”
I roll my eyes.“Dude, you just had a snack before we left the hotel.”
Chase puts his arm around my shoulders, patting my back.“Yeah, but I’m growing big, Mama.And big boys need popcorn.”
I sigh.“You’re a mess.”
Chase grins.“Just a little popcorn.For good luck for Awin.”
“Oh, is popcorn good luck?”I ask as I lift a hand to the popcorn vendor higher in the stands.“I didn’t know that.Then, wemusthave some.”
I’ve just finished paying for two cartons when Aaron scores the first goal of the game, sending everyone around us shooting out of their seats.
“That’s right, baby!Good job, Daddy Awin!”Chase shouts, making the couple behind us laugh.
I smile their way and the older woman leans down.“He’s the sweetest little boy.Is his daddy a player?”
“Yes,” Chase pipes up before I can answer, pointing at the ice.“My Daddy Awin is number twenty-six.I love him so much.”
Tears sting my eyes before I can stop them, but I sniff and blink them away.
Even after nearly a year, the miracle of this gift, this love, still knocks me off my feet sometimes.Long distance with Aaron hasn’t been nearly as hard as I expected it to be—he comes to Bad Dog as often as he can, and I’ve found I love jumping on a plane to meet him in exciting places I’ve never been.
I’m just sohappy.
I know things will be harder with a baby and a toddler and the business still growing, but I’m not worried.Aaron and I excel at tackling challenging things together.Hell, we managed a week in France with Ben and Radcliffe, Nutty, and their new puppy last summer and didn’t have a single fight, even when Radcliffe insisted on dressing us all in matching white shirts and doing a family photo in the vineyard outside their rental home.
We’re rock solid, and I’m not the least bit worried about “the ring” my mother keeps harping on.We’ll get married when it feels right for us.In the meantime, we’ll just keep being a family and now…growing our family.
I can’t wait to tell him.I’m so excited that I don’t miss a beat when Chase, who’s busy making friends with the older woman behind us, practically shouts, “Yeah, I have three daddies and my mama loves them all.”
I laugh and cut in, “My ex-husband is remarried to a lovely man and yes, I do love them all.”I hug Chase closer.“But Daddy Aaron has a special place in my heart.”
