Page 203 of Slap Shot
EPILOGUE
Madeline
18 months later
The energyin United Airlines Arena is electric. It’s a loud, palpable thing I feel in my bones and a noise that echoes to a ringing in my ear. The crowd’s enthusiasm is typical, he usual intensity they always show their hometown team, but there’s nothing exciting about the game today.
It’s not the Stanley Cup finals.
It’s not even the playoffs.
For all intents and purposes, this day in December isn’t anything special. It’s a date other people would overlook, but not me. It’s been circled in my calendar for weeks now, and excitement ripples through me when I think about getting home later tonight.
“Hey.” Hudson touches my hip. I tilt my chin to look at him in all his gear before he takes the ice. He’s exactly the same as he was two years ago when I met him for the first time. He has the same smile, the same dimple. The wrinkles around his eyesare a little deeper, but he still has the same ability to sweep me off my feet with a single glance. “What are you doing down here, Galloway?”
“Wanted to see you before you went out there and kicked ass.” I flash my VIP badge. “And to show this off.”
He grins and loops his arm around my waist. “The guy who manages the lounge keeps asking when you’re going to apply for the executive chef position. Is that something you’re interested in?”
“Nope. It’s nice to take a break from cooking professionally, and I’m not sure I’ll ever go back to doing anything other than a private or personal chef gig. I like the freedom it gives me, and with Lucy growing up and close to double digits, I don’t want to miss a second of the life the three of us have together.”
“Grant loved the enchiladas you made for team dinner, by the way.” Hudson kisses the top of my head and hugs me close to his chest. “And speaking of loving things, have I told you yet today how much I adore you? How much I fucking love you?”
I bury my face in his jersey. It smells like sweat and laundry detergent, but I don’t care. I like being in his arms. “I love you, too.”
The honeymoon phase with Hudson hasn’t faded. We’re just as happy, just as stupid about each other as we were when we first confessed our feelings.
I’ve stopped waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’m learning that when you’re with your soulmate, when you’re with your perfect other half, you don’t have to be afraid. You don’t have to worry if they’re going to leave when the going gets tough because they show up for you, day in and day out, and remind you how much they care.
“Let’s go, Hayes,” Coach Saunders says from the locker room, and he sounds extra pissy today. “Save the PDA for later.”
“You got it, Coach.” Hudson grabs my chin and kisses me. He ignores the cat calls from his teammates, and when he pulls away, I’m breathless. “Are you wearing my jersey under that jacket, Mads?”
“Don’t know.” I step away from him and slip my coat halfway down my arms so he can see the top of my white jersey. “Look for me in the stands to find out.”
“Tell our girl I love her too, will ya?”
“I will. We’ll see you after the game, Hayes.”
With one more smile flashed my way, he disappears into the locker room, and I make my way to our seats. Hudson bought us a suite at the start of the season, something wildly unnecessary but something Lucy loves, and I find my daughter sitting in a plush leather chair overlooking the ice. We still stand by the ice during warmups, and every now and then Piper will sneak her down to watch the end of the game from the tunnel so she doesn’t miss any of the action.
Hey, kid,I sign, and she waves.
Hi, Mom. Duke is here. He’s saying hi to someone, then he’ll be in,she tells me.
Hudson wanted me to let you know he loves you.
Lucy grins.Does he know about my present?
Nope. We need to get through the game, then you can give it to him.
I hope he likes it,she signs, and I squeeze her shoulder.
He’s going to love it.
Duke, Hudson’s dad, makes his way into the suite, and he gives us both a big hug. He falls right into conversation with Lucy about the skating lessons she’s taking, nodding along while she explains what she learned this week. He gives her a proud smile when she mentions the deke she pulled on one of the best boys on the team during a scrimmage, and he tells her anything boys can do, girls can do better.
I’m not surprised he’s been learning how to sign. The first time we met, he mentioned how important it was to Hudson for him to be able to communicate with Lucy, too, and the two FaceTime every other week and hold their entire conversation in sign language so they can practice with each other.
