It’s Mother-Pucking Christmas!

Epilogue - Dakota

EPILOGUE - DAKOTA

I could barely give Ryder a kiss before he was swept up in a mob of Icebreakers players, Direwolves players, and my family in the after-game celebrations.

Ryder had been busy the last couple weeks before the season started. Dasher, because he got to go to practice with him, saw more of my boyfriend than I did. I was trying to not do anything to blow his big chance with the NHL, considering I’d already almost ruined it once—as my family would never ever let me forget.

“You need to help him network.” My mom liked to call the Richmond Electric office—no, not my cell phone, the actual office—and ask to be transferred to me so she could backseat drive my WAG career.

“You need to show that you’re a supportive girlfriend.”

“You know,” Aunt Stacy interjected —I could hear her and my mom scuffling—“I do Botox. A little around the mouth wouldn’t hurt.”

“No!” That was Uncle Bic’s wife. “She needs filler for those lines.”

“Did you see Number 43’s girlfriend? Face as smooth as a baby’s bottom.”

“They are part-time dancers and models. I have a real, very stressful job,” I complained.

“Dakota,” my mom warned.

“Fine.” I huffed.

I really had to dig deep to be social with the other hockey wives and girlfriends. Some of them were actually cool, to be fair. I’d always take more brunch partners, even if Gracie and I did usually go to second brunch after meeting with the WAGs because I needed more than mimosas and a slice of cantaloupe in the morning.

I did manage to take Dasher on a dog date with Gracie and the girlfriend of one of the wingers, which was fun. A part of me did wonder if Ryder was going to wake up one morning, look at me drooling next to him on the pillow, and wonder if he wouldn’t rather have a more impressive girlfriend like the other NHL ladies. We hadn’t really talked about marriage much. He’d just been absorbed into the pro-hockey world, and I wasn’t sure if I fit there.

I blinked.

I’d almost cost him said career. I could suck it up and be supportive. My mom was right.

Though Ryder had disappeared. So had the other players at the table.

I fiddled with my fork.

Gracie plopped down next to me.

“I can’t believe we haven’t eaten here yet,” she chattered. “You should host the next WAG brunch here. They have a really good brunch menu.”

“You seen Ryder?”

“I think he just had something important to do. I’m sure he’ll be back. Oh, there he is!” There was a mischievous look in my cousin’s eyes.

Ryder looked great—clean-cut, in a polo shirt—and he was laughing with one of the hockey girlfriends. She did photography on the side, and she looked like a model. She and Ryder looked like they were made to be together. Not to mention she was probably a nicer person than me.

“Maybe she wants to upgrade.”

“Don’t eat that.” Gracie slapped a cracker with olive tapenade out of my hand. “Sit up straight.”

“Can you fix her hair?”

“Oh my god.” Gracie shooed my aunts away.

Ryder stepped up onto a chair. Rick had to hold back Dasher, who wanted to climb up there with him.

“If I could have your attention before dinner starts,” Ryder announced.

“I thought we said we were doing this after dessert,” Rick hissed at him.

“I know, but I can’t wait.” Ryder gave a helpless shrug.

“Dakota,” Ryder said, facing all the tables, “could you come up here please?”

“What are you doing?” I asked, slowly approaching him.

“Ever since I was a kid, all I’ve wanted was a family, a real family , of my own. I’d almost thought it wasn’t going to happen, that it wasn’t in the cards. Then I met you. You were everything I’ve ever wanted. I’ve waited my entire life for you, Dakota. Also,” he added with a grin, “I know if anyone tries to come after me, you’ll always have my back.”

“Hell yeah!” My cousins whooped, several of them hoisting Stanley cups.

“I love you, Dakota. I’ve never truly loved anyone as much as I love you. Everyone says I fall too hard and too fast, but I’d like to think I’m just clinching the win.”

Tears burned in my eyes.

“If you would do me the honor and say you’ll be mine forever, you’d make me the happiest man alive.”

He stepped off the chair to stand in front of me. “Are you crying, Dakota?”

“No,” I said, wiping at my face.

Ryder looked heartbroken.

“I mean yes!” I kissed him.

He wrapped his arms around me and lifted me up. “Yes?”

“Yes! I’ll marry you! But I’m not crying.”

“Sure you’re not.” Grinning, he kissed the tears off my cheeks then my mouth, and he leaned back to gaze at me. Like we were the only two people on the rooftop, his eyes bright blue in the candlelight.

“I love you, Ryder. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I think I have ever since our first date. I’ve never cared about a man the way I do you. You’re my everything.”

“Not even your own brother?” Nico called.

“No, and you need to get the hell up out of my house.” I kissed Ryder again.

“Let’s see the ring!” Granny Murray, surrounded by her new fan club from the retirement community, yelled.

Ryder slid a sparkling diamond on my hand while Violet snapped photos, telling me I looked okay but Ryder looked gorgeous.

“I was going to do this on Christmas.” He nuzzled my neck. “But then I decided that maybe a baby announcement would be better for the holidays.”

“A baby?” my mom screamed.

“I am not pregnant,” I told my family loudly. “At least I don’t think I am.”

“But you’re working on it?” my mom begged.

“What do you say, Dakota? You want to work on it?” Ryder cupped my face, kissing me lovingly. “Hmm? A little baby who looks just like you?”

I looked my fiancé up and down—my very large, very massive fiancé.

“There is not going to be anything little about that baby.”