Twin Babies for my Pucking Defenders (Chicago Icebreakers #2)

5. Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Jade

Coach Nate’s office is a mess—papers everywhere, hockey gear piled in the corners and a faint smell of coffee lingering in the air. It should bother me, but all I can focus on is the man sitting behind the cluttered desk.

Coach Nate, tall and broad-shouldered, with silver hair that somehow makes him even more attractive. I’ve met him before, back when Millie was getting involved with both the captains, Finn and Declan. Even then, I thought he was hot—sort of a pain in the ass, but a sexy pain— but now…damn. Just hot!

He runs a hand through his hair and I nearly lose track of what he’s saying. Get a grip, Jade.

“You did well,” Nate says, his voice smooth and low. “I’m offering you the position. We’ll finalize the details once the lawyer has everything drafted up, but consider it yours.”

Holy shit. “Thank you, Coach,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. Inside, I’m doing cartwheels. This is it. My dream job.

He stands up, holding out his hand. I take it, and as soon as our hands touch, a thrill shoots through me. Jesus, Jade, keep it together. I remind myself to breathe as I shake his hand firmly.

“Welcome to the team,” he says with a smile that makes my knees a little weak.

“Thanks,” I manage, my heart racing as I turn to leave the office. Once I’m out of there, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Fuck, that was intense.

I walk through the arena, trying to wrap my head around what just happened. I’m going to be the official PT for the Chicago Icebreakers. My dream, the thing I’ve worked so hard for, is finally happening.

I pull out my phone as I push through the arena doors and hit send on Millie’s number. She picks up after the second ring.

“Hey, Jade! What’s up?”

“I got the job,” I blurt out, unable to hide the excitement in my voice.

“Are you serious? That’s amazing! Congratulations!”

“Thanks. I’m still trying to process it. Coach Nate is going to have the lawyer finalize everything, but it’s pretty much a done deal.”

“I’m so happy for you,” Millie says, her voice full of genuine joy. “We’re definitely celebrating tonight. I’ll come over to your place.”

“Sounds good,” I say, grinning like an idiot as I walk to my car. “And tell Declan thanks for putting in a good word for me.”

“I will. See you tonight!”

I hang up, still buzzing with excitement, and decide I need to blow off some steam. The boxing arena is close by, so I head there for a quick workout. Punching the bag helps me clear my head, though every now and then, I catch myself thinking about Coach Nate’s smile. Seriously, Jade? Focus.

After a good hour of boxing, I grab a matcha latte from the café next door to celebrate. It’s my little ritual—something to reward myself after a tough workout or, in this case, a huge fucking win. I sip the drink as I sit by the window, watching people pass by and feeling like I’m on top of the world.

I pull out my phone again and scroll through my contacts until I find Jared’s number. We haven’t talked in a while, but he needs to know about this.

He picks up after a couple of rings. “Hey, Jade! What’s up?”

“I got the job,” I say, unable to keep the excitement out of my voice.

“That’s awesome! I knew you’d get it. I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks, Jared. It still doesn’t feel real.”

“It’ll hit you soon enough. When do you start?”

“Not sure yet. They’re finalizing the details, but I’m just glad it’s happening.”

“I bet. You’ve worked so hard for this. We should celebrate when I’m back in town.”

“Definitely,” I say, smiling as I take another sip of my drink. “I’d love that.”

“Cool. I’ll let you know when I’m free. Congrats again, Jade. You deserve this.”

We say our goodbyes, and I’m about to head home when Millie calls again. I pick up, half expecting her to be screaming in excitement again.

“Hey, I’ve got a surprise for you tonight,” she says, her voice dripping with mischief.

“Oh yeah? What kind of surprise?”

“You’ll see. My husband is coming over too, so we’re making it a double celebration.”

“Which husband?” I ask, laughing. Millie’s life is never boring. She is not only married to both the co-captains of Chicago Icebreakers- Declan Hughes and Finn Bennet, she is also married to the elite veterinarian, Chase Anderson. She also shares three kids with all of her men. Okay, officially, she is married to just Chase, but the four of them live in a huge house they bought uptown. I never even thought harems existed outside books, but she seems to be having so much fun being loved on by her men.

I wonder how good that would feel.

As long as they make her happy, then I am happy too. After her very public break up from her ex, she has worked so hard to find herself again and she deserves all the happiness in the world.

“Ha ha. I’m bringing Chase,” she says, giggling. “He’s excited to see you.”

“Can you bring your adorable puppy too? I have missed hanging out with him.”

“Peanut has been out with Finn all afternoon so he is completely exhausted, but I can bring him by next weekend.”

“Good. I’ll make us some tagliatelle. What about you? Bringing anything?”

“I’ll bring wine,” Millie says. “See you soon!”

I hang up and start driving home, my mind racing with thoughts about the day. Everything’s falling into place, and for the first time in a long while, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

As I pull into my driveway, I can’t help but think about how lucky I am. I get to work with one of the best teams in the league and I’ve got my best friend and her husbands ready to celebrate with me. Life doesn’t get much better than this.

I head inside, immediately starting to prep the ingredients for the pasta. Cooking helps me unwind and I lose myself in the rhythm of chopping and stirring, letting the day’s events sink in.

By the time Millie and Chase arrive, the house smells amazing, and I’m ready to relax and enjoy the evening. They walk in, and Millie immediately throws her arms around me, laughing and congratulating me again. Chase follows, giving me a warm smile and a hug.

“Congrats, Jade,” he says. “We’re so proud of you.”

“Thanks, Chase. It means a lot.”

Millie hands me a bottle of wine and we settle into the kitchen, chatting and laughing as I finish up the pasta. It’s exactly the kind of night I needed—a chance to celebrate with the people who matter most to me.

As we sit down to eat, I catch myself thinking about Coach Nate again. There’s something about him that I just can’t shake, something that makes me wonder what it would be like to get to know him better. But that’s a dangerous path, one I’m not sure I should even consider.

I push the thought aside and focus on the moment, on the warmth and laughter filling my home. For now, I’m going to enjoy this night, enjoy this victory. Whatever happens next, I’ll figure it out when the time comes.

After dinner, we’re all lounging in the living room, sipping on wine and I’m feeling that perfect post-pasta buzz. Millie’s got that look on her face, the one that screams she’s up to something. She sets her glass down and nudges Chase with her elbow.

“Ready for your surprise?” Millie asks, her voice dripping with mischief.

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. “You know I love surprises. What is it?”

“Be right back!” She practically skips out the front door, leaving me and Chase behind. I glance at him, but he just shrugs, a secretive smile playing over his lips.

“Should I be worried?” I ask, narrowing my eyes at him.

“Nah, you’ll love it,” he says, leaning back into the couch like he’s perfectly content keeping me in suspense. “It’s something you’ve been begging for.”

Millie returns a moment later, holding a small cage, and I immediately lean forward, curiosity piqued. She sets it down gently on the coffee table in front of me. Inside, a tiny black dog blinks up at me with the biggest, most curious eyes I’ve ever seen.

Millie kneels beside the table, grinning like a kid who’s just handed over the best present ever. “So, here’s the story,” she starts, her voice softer now. “Chase and I were walking back to our car after dinner last week and we heard this little woofing noise coming from under a dumpster. It was dark, raining and honestly, we almost missed it, but Chase, being the hero he is, dove right under there and pulled out this little guy.”

She strokes the top of the puppy’s head through the cage, the dog pushes into her hand and is wagging its tail. My heart squeezes in my chest and I can’t stop staring at those bright, innocent eyes.

“Chase checked him out at the clinic,” Millie continues. “He’s healthy, vaccinated, dewormed and all set. We couldn’t keep him, but we knew someone who might need a little good luck charm with all the new changes in her life.” She looks up at me and I realize my mouth is hanging open.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I whisper, not trusting my voice to stay steady if I speak any louder. “Ever since I was kid, I wanted a pet, but my dad always said it was too much work but…he’s perfect.” I carefully open the cage, and the dog, so small and delicate, walks right into my hands like he’s always belonged there. As soon as I touch him, it’s like a switch flips. I’m in love. Completely, absolutely in love.

Chase stands up and heads to the front door, returning with a large bag. “Got you all the essentials,” he says, setting it down next to me. “Leash, food, carrier—everything. You can bring him to Elite Paws whenever you need and we’ll take care of him.”

“I…” I start, but the words get stuck in my throat. I look up at them, my vision blurring with tears that I refuse to let fall. “You guys…thank you. This is… I don’t even know what to say.”

“It’s a congratulations gift for the new job,” Millie says, leaning over to hug me tightly. “We knew you’d be perfect for him and now you’ve got a little friend to keep you company.”

I squeeze her back, the puppy nestled between us, panting softly. When I pull away, the puppy is staring up at me like I’m his whole world. “I think I’m going to name him Shadow,” I say, and it just feels right.

Chase grins, nodding in approval. “Perfect name for him.”

We spend the next hour playing with Shadow, who is all over the place, chasing after anything that moves. He’s full of energy, darting across the floor, pouncing on our feet and he curls up in our laps when he gets tired. I can’t stop smiling, and for once, everything feels…right.

Eventually, Millie and Chase say their goodbyes, leaving me alone with my new little roommate. I walk them to the door, hugging them both one last time.

“Seriously, thank you. I can’t even express how much this means to me,” I say as I watch them head to their car.

“Any time, Jade,” Millie says, waving before they drive off.

Back inside, I turn on a murder podcast, the kind that usually freaks me out just enough to keep me on edge and I stretch out on the couch. Shadow hops up into my lap, curling into a little ball, and I stroke his little body as I listen to the podcast host detail some grisly crime. I laugh softly, wondering how I got so damn lucky.

Before long, Shadow’s eyes start drooping, and soon enough, he’s out cold. I carefully move him to his little bed, which Chase thoughtfully included in the bag, and watch him sleep for a moment, marvelling at how quickly this tiny creature has stolen my heart.

I head to the bathroom, stripping down and stepping into the shower.

The water is hot, almost too hot, but it’s exactly what I need. As I wash off the day, the excitement, the nerves, I let myself finally process everything that’s happened.

When I’m done, I wrap myself in a towel and check my phone. There’s an email notification waiting for me. My heart skips a beat as I see it’s from the team’s lawyer. I open it, scanning the document. It’s the contract—my contract. I’m officially the PT for the Chicago Icebreakers. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the office to sign it and this dream will become a reality.

I quickly go through my skincare routine, not even caring that my hands are still a little shaky. After everything, I should be exhausted, ready to crash, but I’m wired. Every nerve in my body is buzzing with leftover adrenaline. I need…something.

I glance over at my nightstand, where I keep my vibrator. It’s nothing fancy, just a simple bullet, but it gets the job done. I grab it, my mind already starting to wander.

At first, I think of Carter, that cocky grin of his, the way his hands would feel on my body. But then, without warning, my thoughts drift to Coach Nate. His deep voice, those intense eyes that seem to see right through me. Before I know it, I’m imagining both of them—Carter’s roughness and Nate’s control, a fantasy that has me squirming, biting my lip to keep quiet.

I don’t just come—I explode, my whole body shaking with the intensity of it. I have to press my hand over my mouth to stop the scream that’s threatening to escape. When it finally subsides, I’m left panting, spent, but utterly satisfied. I lay there, feeling the aftershocks, my mind blank except for the warmth spreading through me.

Shadow stirs in his bed, and I freeze, hoping I didn’t wake him. But he just sighs, a little dog grunt, and curls back into his ball of fur.

I turn off the vibrator, tuck it back into the drawer, and collapse against my pillow, feeling the tension drain out of me. I’m exhausted now, my limbs heavy and warm. As I drift off, I can’t help but smile, thinking about how crazy, how absolutely wild this day has been.

Tomorrow, I’ll sign that contract, make this new chapter of my life official. But tonight, I’m going to sleep with the biggest fucking smile on my face, and I’m going to dream about the possibilities in front of me. Because, for once, it feels like everything is falling into place.