Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
I hear the president of the NHL, Paul, speak, and then the boos start. “Looks like it’s about that time,” I say, looking over at Xavier, who just smiles.
“It’s about that time for us to raise the Cup,” he says, and we skate over to the rest of the team.
“Congratulations to Dallas on yet another Stanley Cup win,” Paul starts, and the crowd goes wild. “The award for the most valuable player of the playoffs. This person has shown perseverance on and off the ice. He is one of the top leading scorers in the playoffs, and he sure scored the big one tonight. Your award winner, Xavier Montgomery.”
The minute I hear Xavier’s name, I look over at him, putting my fist in the air and screaming, “Go get it!”
He skates over, grabbing the trophy as Cooper puts his arm around me and leans in. “Got to say, you’re a good wing partner.”
I shake my head. “I think I’m the one who should be saying this since I was the one who was actually playing where I was supposed to be playing.”
He just laughs at me as I take in the scene before me. Xavier is giving an interview as I
look around and see the crowd on their feet, their phones in their hands as they capture this moment. Looking over, I see Penelope is now with my father, who holds her in his arms. My mother stands beside my younger sister, wiping away the tears from her face. She looks at Penelope, who just puts her head back on my father’s shoulder.
I look over at Nico, who catches me looking and smiles at me with a nod. When he pulled me into his office some six years ago, I thought he was going to tell me he was thinking about trading me. I thought my injury was taking too long to heal, even though I was on the ice when he pulled me off. I thought for sure he wasn’t interested in waiting. What I wasn’t expecting was to be ushered over to a lawyer’s office.
The last thing in the world I thought I would hear was that I was a father and I had a baby girl who was two. I sat there speechless as I listened to them tell me the mother of my child had died. I held my breath as I was asked if I recognized her, and I was ashamed that I didn’t. I was a young kid on top of the world, I was with women, and I didn’t even know their names, and to be honest, they probably didn’t know mine. But they did know I played hockey, which is the only thing they actually cared about.
Even when they showed me a picture of her, nothing rang a bell. But when they showed me a picture of Penelope, it was like I was looking into my sisters’ eyes as well as my own. I knew right then and there that she was mine. I did the DNA test right away, but I also made them bring me to her. Chase was right there beside me, telling me it was going to be okay.
They had told me she was hurt, but she would be fine. But nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when I walked into the room. It will be forever engraved in my memories, looking at her sitting in the middle of the bed—right next to Abigail—who was making her laugh. I knew the minute she looked over at me that I would love and protect this little girl with everything I had. I knew right then and there she was mine. I knew right then and there what they said about the love for a child. A love you can’t explain because there are no words that can do it justice. A love that is unconditional and pure. She looked at me and held out her little hand to offer me one of her Goldfish crackers, and I am not ashamed to say I sobbed like a baby.
Everything after was in warp speed. I called my parents, who came right down. My bachelor pad was now a single dad home. The PlayStation 5 was tucked away and in its place was a pink plastic play kitchen. I also had to live with the guilt I wasn’t there for her. A guilt that was really hard to look past, so I did what I could to make sure every single day she knew how loved she was.
The two of us grew up together, and she is honestly the best thing I’ve ever done in my whole life. Even more than this right here.
I hear Wilson from beside me. “You know what he’s doing tonight?” he says while he looks at Cooper. “He’s going to be sleeping with your sister.” He beams with a smile. “Just like me.” Cooper just glares at him.