“So,” she started. “How’s the preparation for Thanksgiving going? Are you sure you don’t need me to make something?”
“I’m totally on top of things. Desserts are made and in the freezer, ready to be baked. I’ll pull the turkey out tomorrow morning, and Linc was picking up the rest of the vegetables we need. I’m all over it.”
“What about on the day, then? Can I come over earlier and help?”
“Of course.” I rolled my eyes. “You don’t even need to ask.”
Cara sat down on our bed. “I’m really glad we’re here, Mum.” She looked over her shoulder and eyed the massive mattress. “This bed is so freaking big.”
“It sleeps four of us,” I admitted and sat down next to her, waiting for her to speak. When she didn’t, I looked at her.
“Thanks for confiding in me,” she said with a smile, and I squeezed her tight. “Do you think I get being poly from you?”
I snorted out a laugh and gasped when Peanut kicked. “Technically, I think I get it from you,” I retorted and pressed her hand to my belly. “Peanut, this is your big sister. Say hi.”
Another kick, and Cara’s eyes widened. She looked at me with utter awe in her eyes. “Oh golly gosh, I felt bubs.”
“Pretty special, hey?” I smiled, then gestured to the walk-in closet, my smile turning into a frown. “My jersey doesn’t fit me anymore,” I complained.
“Borrow one of Travis’s.”
I did exactly that, raiding his drawers until I found his spare. It would have swum on me a few months ago, but now it’d be tight around my belly.
I pulled out my leggings and the Seals coat Jacques had brought home for me after their first game when I’d shivered my way through the whole thing. I had a pair of fur-lined knee-high boots too—my sub-tropical-acclimatized body could not do cold. I had Trav and Linc to keep me warm, but in as public a place as the stadium, we couldn’t hug or hold hands like we normally would. It didn’t matter, though. We didn’t need to show PDA to know what we meant to each other. These men, Peanut, and Cara were everything to me—and by extension Alec and Monroe too. Maybe I could pull off a Thanksgiving miracle and get Sophie, Pierre, and Jacques talking again. That would complete me.
Jacques came in and kissed me, his shirt already in his hand, on the way to the en-suite bathroom. “Hux and I are leaving in about fifteen minutes.”
“Okay.” I kissed him again and then gestured to Cara for us to leave so he could shower and get ready in peace. He had a routine that he stuck to. I wasn’t sure whether it was to get into game mode or a superstition, but it was something I never messed with. We always had a game to win.
thirty-four
Jacques
Wewerescorelessinthe first period, and Coach was screaming at us to remember the drills we’d practiced a million times. He was right. We were all over the place, and the other team was taking advantage, scoring three times on us already. It would have been a whole lot worse had Cohen, Agosta, and Rune not been having the game of their lives.
“Get out there and sink the damn puck in that net,” Coach ordered us forwards, then dismissed us.
The others got up and filed out the chute, but I lingered. I was distracted. I needed to sort this out before I hit the ice again. I pulled my cell phone out and typed a message to Mom. I wanted them at Thanksgiving. Carina’s words resonated with me. I wanted to repair my relationship with them. Maybe if they saw us together, they’d understand.
I hurried to catch up to the others and skated out onto the ice. I looked around the stadium, knowing Carina, Travis, and Rusty were in the crowd. I wanted a win for them.
The puck dropped, and I reacted on instinct, slapping it straight to Hewitt. He shot out, flying down the ice and passing to Hux. Hux doubled back, setting up the play we’d practiced. I circled around, using my speed to my advantage, dodging their defense by the skin of my teeth.
I drew their goalie out.
Hux fired.
I caught the puck mid-flight on my tape.
The Canucks’ defense tightened around me like a band.
I opened my stance, elbow up, and slapped the puck straight back to Hux. It was the perfect wrister.
The puck sailed through the gap in their defense.
It landed right at Hux’s feet.
Step one complete. We’d opened up their defense, luring their goalie to the side of the net where I would have taken the shot.
