Jameson (Face-Off 4)

She stares into my eyes and shakes her head. “You’re a bad boy, Jameson.” Regan leans closer, the noise drowning out her voice, so that only I can hear her. “My office is open if you want to sneak away for a while.”

“Now we’re talking,” I say, lifting her up from the floor, her heels smacking my legs in the process.

I set her back down, the warmth from her body heating mine, as I hold her close to my chest. When I first realized I would need a date for the wedding, I was only hoping to find someone to accompany me. I never thought I would bring the love of my life along for Charlie’s big day.

Scanning the faces of the crowd, I lock onto Charlie, who is dancing with Alex. She flashes a smile at me, looking so at peace and unlike the nervous woman I walked down the aisle only a few hours before. Alex hasn’t let Charlie go since he kissed her in front all our friends. If only they had more family.

But the one thing I’ve realized over the years is that family doesn’t have to be related by blood. They are

the people who are there to support you when you need them most. I’m standing around my family and holding onto the woman who made all my dreams come true.

Dancing as if they’re at a club, Sydney grinds her ass on Carter, practically fucking him on the dance floor. Getting to know Sydney over the past six months has been interesting, to say the least. But Kennedy was always there to keep her in line. She’s the more reserved one, but I have a feeling her pregnancy had something to do with it. With Kennedy in his arms, Tyler whispers into her ear, rubbing his hand over her huge baby bump.

“You’re part of this weird ass hockey family now,” I say to Regan, glancing at our friends. “Are you sure you’re ready for a life of dealing with this crowd?” I’m completely joking, and she knows it.

“Of course.” She presses her lips to mine and kisses me softly. “There’s no family I would rather be a part of than yours.”

“What the hell!” Regan screams into my ear, just as something wet splashes my shoes and the bottoms of my pants. “Someone dropped their drink on me.”

Annoyed for Regan, I look down at the floor, now covered in some kind of substance. The people around us are just as confused by whatever spilled on the floor, soaking our feet. Then, I notice Kennedy with her hand over her stomach.

She stares at Tyler, her eyes widening in shock. “The baby is coming,” she announces.

Tyler doesn’t speak. Instead, he cups her face in his hands and kisses her. We’re all standing in Kennedy’s water that has just broken.

Sydney stops grinding on Carter. “She’s coming! Our baby girl is almost here.” Her voice projects over the music, pulling Charlie and Alex out of their martial bliss.

We crowd around Kennedy and Tyler to congratulate them before Kennedy finally tells Tyler that they need to leave to go to the hospital. For someone so calm on the ice, Tyler looks terrified, as he should be. I can only image how scary it must be to become a father. Even though I want it all with Regan, we are not there yet.

As Alex’s best man, Tyler Kane had given one hell of a speech. Now, he’s speechless, turning into a bumbling idiot before my eyes. He literally cannot formulate a single word that makes any sense.

“Don’t just stand there,” Kennedy says to Tyler.

Tyler spins around and walks away from Kennedy, as if he’s about to go get help, when he realizes that is not the answer. He needs to get her to a hospital, not hope the team doctor can deliver their baby. Stopping dead in his tracks, he runs back to Kennedy, about to grab her hand when he slips on the fluid and falls back on his tailbone.

Carter steps out from the crowd and holds out his hand to Tyler. “It’s okay, man, just fucking breathe already. Kennedy and the baby will be fine.”

Tyler shakes his head and actually allows Carter to help him to his feet. “I’m a fucking mess,” he confesses.

Carter smirks at him. “No kidding.” He slaps his big hand on Tyler’s back, moving him closer to Kennedy. “C’mon, we’ll take you guys to the hospital.”

“We’re going, too,” Charlie interjects.

“No way! It’s your wedding day,” Kennedy says, sucking in deep breaths.

“She’s right,” Sydney says. “You guys have people who came here to see you.”

“We’re a team,” Alex adds, “and we’re coming with you.”

Regan leans into my body to whisper, “I guess that means we’re going, too.”

I nod in agreement.

She clings to my side, and I rub my hand down her back, taking in the scent of her sweet perfume, as I kiss her hair. Our family keeps growing more each day. Tyler and Kennedy are first with their new addition, and next it will be Charlie and Alex. Everything is falling into place. Someday, not too soon, it will be my turn with Regan.

“I want this with you,” I say to Regan, following behind the group, as the guards usher us out of the building. “I want all of it with you.”

She smiles up at me and gives my hand a squeeze, telling me everything I need to know without words.