She rolls her eyes. “You could go dead last and I’ll still love you.”
“But I have to go?”
She gives me a playful look. “Duh, I can’t support all of us.”
I give her an exaggerated wink, and she laughs as the whole room quiets down. The GM heads to the podium, tapping the mic. Holding my breath, I close my eyes, praying I go first. Not because I want it more than I want my next breath, but also because I don’t want to hear Jayden’s and Jude’s mouths if I don’t go first. Their skates are huge to fill, but damn it, I know I’m good enough. “The Florida Panthers would like to choose with their first pick, from the Bellevue Bullies, Jace Sinclair.”
As my face breaks into a grin and my mom cries out, I can’t move.
I did it.
I made my dreams come true.
But when I open my eyes, Avery is watching me, her eyes full of tears as they start running down her face. While one of my dreams did come true, the look of pure excitement and love swirling in her eyes is what makes me choke with emotion.
I have it all.
“Sunny Florida. Ready?”
“More than ready,” she gushes, holding my face in her hands. “I’m so proud of you.”
Grinning, I lean my head into hers, kissing her nose. “Good. That’s what I’ve been working for.”
And I’ll continue to work for it for the rest of my life.
She has Avery’s eyes.
My nose and chin.
And a head full of dark hair.
Ashlyn Joy is here.
As my arms hold her tight, with Avery’s chin on my shoulder, I’m pretty sure I’m going to drown in the love I have for this child. For nine months, I watched her grow in my wife, I felt her kick, I prayed for her to be healthy. But nothing prepared me for this overwhelming feeling of love.
“I love her.”
Avery nods, her eyes watery as she looks down at Ashlyn’s beautiful little red face. “She’s perfect.”
I look at my wife, and I can’t believe what she endured. Hours of labor that ended in a C-section, and still, she’s smiling. I’ve never been so scared in my life, and I threw up way more than I’d like to admit. I also almost passed out but Avery, man, she was ready. To this day, she still blows me away. The tables were turned during the birth of this angel, and I was the one freaking out while she held me together. That’s how we work, though. We take turns holding up the other.
My love.
My girls.
Leaning toward Avery, I kiss her nose before leaning my head to hers. “I don’t think you realize how happy I am,” I whisper and she grins.
“Sure, I do.”
“Yeah?”
With a nod, she moves her finger along Ashlyn’s face and smiles. “I’ve felt that way every day since I met you. It’s just a million times better now.”
“That we are complete?” I supply, and a tear rolls down her face.
“Exactly.”
Sucking in a breath, I whisper, “I love you, Avery.”