Four Months Later-October
“Zee, we have to go. You’re going to be late for your game, and we still need to stop by SDOC.”
I wrap my arm around Stevie, pulling her in, so her head is lying on my chest and not just my bicep.
“A few more minutes.” I delicately twirl a single curl between my forefinger and thumb. “I’m not ready to leave. This will be my first time without you since June.”
Rosie’s sweet amber eyes look up at me, resting her head on my stomach as I hold my two girls in bed for a little longer.
“It’s only for three days.”
“Don’t remind me,” I whine. “I can’t believe I used to like road games.”
Stevie laughs, turning my chin towards her. “I don’t know when you became this giant needy man.” She presses her soft lips to mine. “But it’s adorable.”
“That was about a year ago when I met you, sweetheart.”
She toys with the rings on my fingers, lingering a little longer on the one I stole from her. “It’ll go by quickly.”
“What are you going to do while I’m gone?”
“I don’t know. Probably have a girls’ night with Logan, Ella, and Rosie.”
My head jerks back. “Without me?”
“We’ll try not to make you too jealous.” She pats my chest. “I’m going to Ryan’s game tomorrow. I’ll be at the shelter on Friday. Then I have our family therapy session on Saturday.”
I slightly turn as I tuck her hair behind her ear. “How are you doing with that?”
“I’m good. It’s going well. It’s not like I never wanted to have a relationship with my mom again, but it couldn’t keep going as it was.”
I offer her a proud smile. I thought I would have to create some boundaries for her, but Stevie has been able to do it all on her own.
Her mother continued to reach out all summer, but Stevie kept her distance. It wasn’t until late August that she started mentioning opening that line of communication again. My biggest worry was that her mom would have easy access to say whatever she’d like. But Stevie surprised us all when she suggested they could start speaking again only if it was during family therapy sessions that always included either her brother or dad.
This will be week four of their sessions over video chat, and she seems good with it—happy even. The therapist was a referral from Eddie, and every Saturday afternoon, after Stevie gets off the computer, she looks lighter, as if more and more of that toxic relationship is disappearing with each passing week.
I wasn’t stoked about it, that’s for sure, but Stevie’s dad, Neal, came to visit a few times this summer and eased me into the idea. He might be one of the best guys I know and just wants his family to be whole again, so I can’t blame him for trying.
“Okay, Zee. We have to get up. We’re late.” Stevie is off our bed before I can stop her.
I give one more deep scratch to Rosie’s head before I usher her off so I can stand. I trade my T-shirt for a button-down, tuck it into my suit pants, and throw on my blazer. Heading into the living room, I gather anything I forgot to pack—headphones, phone charger, sunglasses. After staying in Chicago all summer, I almost forgot how to travel. Either that or I just don’t want to.
“Don’t forget your dad is driving in on Sunday morning with his girlfriend, and we have MJ’s birthday party that afternoon,” Stevie calls out from our bedroom.
“I know. I got MJ’s gift from us already.”
Stevie pops her head out of the bedroom, brows pinched in confusion. “No. I got MJ’s gift from us already. What did you get him?”
“I found this cool little Prada tracksuit in his size.”
Stevie bursts into laughter.
“What?”
“Zee, he’s turning one.”
“Sweetheart, I’ve got to start them young. What did you get him?”
“A few books and some toys. Things he can play with.” She says it slowly as if the words need to sink in.
“Well, you put your name on that gift, and I’ll put my name on mine. We’ll see which one MJ likes better.”
She playfully rolls her eyes, heading back into our bedroom, but before she’s too far, I hear her say, “You don’t need to label yours. They’ll have no problem figuring out who bought Prada for a one-year-old.”
If shit-talking is a love language, then it’s ours, and I thoroughly plan on bantering with my wild girl for the rest of my life.
My once dark and masculine penthouse now pops with color. When Stevie moved in four months ago, she not only brought her bright energy, she brought her favorite thrift store finds too. They don’t exactly match my décor, but they’re hers, so I’m happy they’re here. They brighten up the place the same way she does.
Rosie leisurely walks into the kitchen to find me, so I bend down, giving her all the love I won’t be able to provide over the next three days. As much as I hate that Stevie isn’t on the road with me this season, I’m stoked Rosie can stay home and not have to schlep back and forth to her dog-sitter.
“Ready to go?” Stevie casually asks, walking into the living room.
I stand from the ground, spotting her across the room, and my mouth falls open, eyes going wide. “Damn, Vee. Look at you.”
She gives me a little twirl, showing off her skin-tight black jeans and cropped Raptors tee with my name and number on it. She looks incredible. However, she’s still wearing her dirty Nikes, regardless of the new ones I bought her, which are still sitting in the back of her closet.
“You like?”
I hold her hand above her head, spinning her again. “I love. You’re stunning.” My hands find her ass, pulling her into me. “I’m going to miss you so fucking much.”
She slings her arms around my shoulders, placing a kiss on my lips. “I’m going to miss you. Call me as much as you’d like.”
“Oh, I’m going to blow your phone up for three days straight, Stevie girl.” I tap her ass a couple of times. “All right, let’s do this.”
I park my Benz right in front of SDOC, though the outside is barely recognizable from the business it was a few months ago. The paint is fresh, the sign is new and eye-catching, and the roof has been fully repaired.
When I decided to re-sign with Chicago, it was under one non-negotiable term—that the Raptors organization would fully financially support Senior Dogs of Chicago.
It was a bigger win than I could’ve imagined for all parties included. The money funneled into the shelter is a write-off for the team, so it was no skin off their back, but once they learned about Cheryl and the dogs, they eagerly jumped at the chance to help. The donated funds have completely renovated the once run-down building and provided brand new blankets, toys, and beds for the dogs. All medication and food is paid for, and for the first time since Cheryl’s husband passed, she doesn’t have to worry about the next months’ rent. Everything is covered.
But selfishly, my favorite part is that Cheryl was able to hire Stevie full-time. After our moment on national television, the shelter’s popularity rose at an insane rate. Chicago locals flocked to SDOC to adopt, not knowing a place like this had existed, and Cheryl needed all the help she could get.
Now, dogs average less than a month in the shelter, just long enough to get caught up on their medical needs, before they’re swooped up and adopted to new loving homes.
The team has thoroughly enjoyed getting involved. A couple of the guys even adopted their own dogs this summer, and because the boys have really connected to the cause, the organization agreed to bring our partnership to home games too.
Starting with tonight’s home opener, Stevie will be coming to all our local games with one of the shelter pups. Between intermissions, they’ll have a cameo on the jumbotron with SDOC’s information plastered right along with them, and I can’t imagine they’ll be living at the shelter much longer after 23,000 Raptor fans see their sweet face on the big screen.
I might not have Stevie on the road this year, but I’ll have her at every home game, and even more, I’ll know she’ll be in Chicago doing something she loves.
“Who are we bringing today?” I open the front door so she can enter first.
She bounds in excitedly. “Teddy. The little terrier mix who was dropped off in early September.”
“Oh, hell yeah. I love Teddy.”
Stevie quickly turns on her heel, her eyes wide and eager. “Or we could adopt him?” Which is her suggestion any time a new dog gets abandoned.
I have a hard time saying no to her, especially when it comes to this. We fostered all summer, anytime a dog was having a difficult time at the shelter, but she eventually found homes for them all. One day, though, I wouldn’t mind another, or even an apartment full of them.
“But I think we’re going to have a line out the door to adopt him after tonight,” she adds before I can respond.
Cheryl brings Teddy out, his hair perfectly groomed, wearing a little Raptors bandana, ready for the game. She passes him to Stevie as Teddy covers my girl in excited kisses.
“Have you shown him yet?” Cheryl asks.
“Shown me what?”
Stevie wears a knowing smile, shifting Teddy in one arm before sliding one of their adoption forms across the front desk.
“What is this?” My eyes wander the page.
“Remember how I was telling you that some of the dogs would make great therapy animals? Well, with the funding from the team, Cheryl was able to hire a specialty dog trainer, and we’re going to do it.” Stevie points to the last paragraph on the page. “This says if you happen to adopt a dog in the therapy program that they must attend a certain number of Active Minds events throughout the year. We thought it would be awesome for both the kids and the pups.”
“What? Vee.” I stare at the page as words evade me. “Are you kidding me?”
She shakes her head to tell me no, her smile bright and her blue-green eyes shining.
“I don’t know what to say. This is unbelievable. Thank you. Thank you, both.”
Quickly blinking, my eyes stay glued on the words, unable to look at either of them.
Rosie has had a significant impact on my life, including my mental health, which is one of the reasons I was so adamant about the Raptors supporting this place. I can’t imagine how beneficial it would’ve been to have an animal to help calm me down when I was younger. This is going to be incredible for the kids at Active Minds.
Stevie runs a soothing hand down my bicep before leaning her head on my arm. “I love you.”
I stare at the form, dumbfounded as Stevie showcases her sweet heart once more. “I love you, too.”
“Okay,” Cheryl cuts in. “You two are going to be late. Send me pictures of Teddy on the big screen!”
The United Center has become my second home as I go into my eighth year in the league, but I think I’ll be spending more time here this season than I ever have before. Between my games and Ryan’s games, I may as well move in.
Leaving directly for the airport after tonight’s home opener has been looming over me for weeks. I’m not all that excited to face the reality of Stevie not being on the plane, but there are too many good things happening for her in Chicago for me to wallow in self-pity. One being that for the first time in her twin brother’s professional career, she can attend every one of his home games because she’s not traveling during the same season.
Stevie is pumped about it, and I know he is too.
“Zee, you ready?” Maddison slips his suit jacket back on after our first win of the season.
I grab my wallet, phone, and keys to follow him out of the locker room.
Fans line the barriers outside, wanting a picture, an autograph, or even just a glimpse of the latest Stanley Cup champs. And I appease them. It’s all part of my new image where I’m completely and utterly myself.
Shockingly enough, fans like me more now than when I was putting on an act.
Maddison’s and my new agent is a family guy who understands the kind of people we are. He doesn’t pressure us into keeping up appearances and only brings us opportunities that we’d be comfortable with. Both he and the Raptors organization have prioritized showcasing Active Minds, and the charity has gotten a ton of recognition over the past few months once people learned I was an equal founder.
It’s nice to have not only a new agent who is in my corner but an entire hockey franchise. I finally feel like I can be myself without being punished for it.
Rich’s client list is teetering dangerously close to zero. He, of all people, knows the paparazzi loves a good scandal, and word travels fast. Once other athletes got wind of the shit he pulled with me, not telling me I had a contract offer on the table, they started firing him one by one.
But Rich missed out because the duo Maddison and I have now is endlessly more popular than the one we played into for years. Who would’ve thought Chicago fans would love the dog-dad, stay-in-on-the-weekends-with-my-girl, happy, and authentic version of myself?
But don’t get it twisted. I’ll still throw hands on the ice if you come at my guys. One thing that will never change is how endlessly protective I am of my people.
“Uncle Zee!” Ella runs at me once I finally make it to the players’ parking lot, past the fans. “What you get me this year?”
I pick her up, carrying her to where her mom and Stevie wait. “Hmm. I don’t know. You’re four now. I think we should upgrade. What do you want from each city we visit?”
“Maybe like a new outfit or a doll.”
From magnets to dolls. Quite the upgrade.
“You want a doll from every single city we visit? That’s a lot of dolls.”
“Yeah,” she plainly states, popping her shoulder as if thirty-one dolls is an entirely reasonable ask. Her emerald eyes go wide as she looks over my shoulder. “Hi, Daddy!” She squirms out of my grasp, running over to him instead.
I pop a kiss on Logan’s cheek and give MJ a little tickle on his belly to hear his new laugh before finding Stevie waiting by my Benz parked next to Maddison’s truck.
I swing both my arms around her shoulders, swaying.
“Good game.” She runs a hand down the length of my back. “That fight was pretty sexy. Did things to me.”
“I know, right?” I show off my face, turning it from side to side. “Look at this money-maker. Untouched and still as flawless as ever.”
She playfully rolls her eyes, but she’s used to my mouth by this point.
“How’d it go with Teddy?” We both look down at the overly excited terrier on the ground, wagging his tail so fast you can barely see it.
“Great. Cheryl said her inbox is full of people wanting to set up a time to come by and meet him.”
“Rio said he’s interested.”
“He should call SDOC after your flight. He and Teddy would actually be a good match. They remind me of each other.”
Teddy stares at us, eagerly wanting some attention. “I can see it.”
I melt into Stevie, hiding my face in her neck. “I don’t wanna go,” I mumble against her skin.
“You’ll be fine,” she laughs. “Tell Indy I said hi.”
“I cannot believe you convinced her to move in with your brother. That’s a disaster waiting to happen.”
“I think it’ll be great.”
My girl is as terrible of a liar as I am. “I’ll tell her you said hi.”
“We’re going to have to celebrate her promotion when you guys get back.”
“No more Tara, huh?”
“Nope. Fired for fraternization. Would you imagine that?” Stevie tries to hide her satisfied smile, but I hear it in her tone. “Indy is in charge now.”
“You know, Stevie girl.” I pull back, eyeing her. “You’re not a flight attendant anymore. You can’t get fired, and I remember a little something about a mile-high club I’ve been dying to join.”
“Miles,” she corrects. “But I’m not having sex on a public airplane.” She pats my chest condescendingly. “Sorry about it.”
I lift a single brow. “If you don’t think I’d charter a private jet to make this happen, you clearly don’t know me very well, sweetheart.”
“You’re ridiculous.” Her blue-green eyes shine with humor.
“You love me.”
“Hell yeah, I do.”
“All right, man,” Maddison cuts in. “We gotta get to the airport.”
“It’s just a few days,” Stevie reminds me. “I love you. Have fun with your teammates.”
Hooking my hand behind her neck, my thumb skims her jaw. I pepper kisses up the column of her throat, dotting her freckled cheeks before I urgently press my lips to hers. We both smile into the kiss, acknowledging I’m acting overly needy right now, but fuck it. I am.
“I love you, Vee.” I seal it with one more kiss before heading off with Maddison, my suitcase in tow.
“When are you going to make it official?” he teases once we’re out of earshot of the girls.
I playfully roll my eyes while climbing into the passenger seat of his truck. “Not everyone gets married the second they meet their person.”
“Yeah, but you’re not everyone. So, what’s the deal? You popping the question or what?”
“Lewis is working on her ring.” My sly smile lifts on one side of my mouth. “Getting her fingers sized all those months ago was the perfect cover. It should be ready soon.”
“It’s extravagant as fuck, isn’t it?”
“Have you met me?”
Maddison pulls out of the parking lot as I keep my focus out the passenger window, watching my girl.
“Welcome to the club,” he says. “Leaving home absolutely sucks.”
Stevie waves goodbye, her smile as soft and sweet as she is, and I can’t believe how lucky I am that I get to come home to her.
I never thought I’d say this, but, “I hate road games.”
