Page 113 of Slapshot Bride

“Sweetheart, this is the proper gift. Nobody has ever seen me like this and photographed it. And it’s a picture of our private, shared moment. Not me at a game or at a party. Thank you.”

I smile.

“Does that mean I’ve won your heart?” I tease.

A smile breaks out on his face too, and my heart does a little flip.

“Oh, you have no idea, baby.”

The doorbell rings. He stares at it with a frown.

“Oh, umm… I texted Kai. I hope that’s okay. I know you didn’t tell anyone, but I thought it’d be nice to have them here. I mean, everyone you love… I know your mom might not be able to make it today… but—”

“Shhh…” he silences me with another kiss. “I might as well have you tatted on my skin. Now come on, let’s party, huh?” He flashes his brows.

Warmth spreads through me, and I know I made the right decision.

The doorbell rings again. I get it and within a minute, half the team is in the kitchen inside with a case of cheap beer and a grocery-store cake that says Happy Birthday in green icing.

Wyatt slams into Easton with a hug.

“Look who’s turning into a family man? You do birthdays now?”

“If I did, you wouldn’t be invited.”

“Then who invited us?”

Easton wraps his arms around me and lightly pecks my cheek.

Wyatt faces me with his hand on his heart.

“Riley Brooks. Adopted!”

The team cheers. The rest of the evening flies by in a blur.

The guys eat everything I made and half the cake and drink through the case of beer Kai brought.

Wyatt gives a toast that goes on for four minutes and involves the phrase “hockey brother” seven times.

Kai retells the wild-night story he had with Easton, and how they eventually became friends.

Somewhere in the middle of all of it, Theo finds me at the counter.

He's holding a beer he has not drunk. He's in a soft flannel and jeans. Emma is at home with the sitter tonight.

“I have played with him for four years, and he’s managed to hide his birthdays in all of that. He’s just a big private guy, with a playboy reputation.” He laughs, and his gaze travels to where Easton is laughing at something Wyatt is doing with a spoon.

I don’t know what to say.

“You’re good for him, Riley. I don’t think you know how much. But I’ve seen him do a lot of stupid shit, and fumble a lot of things, but you’re one of the best things he’s done for himself.”

He clinks his untouched beer against the water glass I’ve been holding.

“Thank you for doing this for him.”

I return his smile.

Then he moves back toward the group, and I stand at the counter, still speechless, but with a palpitating heart.