As soon as Eden appeared rinkside, the fans applauded, and she wondered if they knew what was going to happen even when Eden didn’t. Though she couldn’t imagine how.
She and Lily stood at a door leading into the rink from the center of the longest side while more cheerleaders rolled out a thin red carpet, ending at center ice.
“Just walk to the end of the carpet, Ms. Kennedy,” one of the cheerleaders said, all bounce and smiles.
Eden set her eyes on that spot in the carpet, told herself Beckett was going to become her sexual slave for a month to pay her back for this stunt, and took a deep breath. Lily’s hand tightened in Eden’s and her other arm circled Eden’s thigh. “Eden?”
When she looked down, Eden saw Lily’s nerves had risen too. “Come here, baby.”
Eden picked her up and carefully remained on the red carpet as she walked out onto the ice.
When she reached the end, Lily said, “I can get down now.”
Eden set Lily on her feet but held tight to her hand as the announcer welcomed Eden and Lily as Beckett’s girlfriend and daughter. The fans cheered—for what, Eden had no idea.
“Now, please welcome back to the ice,” the announ
cer said with drama and flair, “our own Beckett Croft.”
Beckett skated onto the ice from the opposite side of the rink—sans gloves, stick, and helmet—and the crowd went wild. He made a graceful loop around the arena, waving to fans, his grin wide and carefree. He easily jumped the carpet and completed the loop as the announcer quoted Beckett’s stats and claimed this as the best year of Beckett’s career with league record-breaking possibilities well within reach.
“This is Croft’s seventh year with the Rough Riders,” the announcer said, “and seven is definitely his lucky number. Just days ago, he received news he was chosen for the men’s US Olympic team.”
The audience cheered, and this time, Eden released Lily’s hand to applaud as well. She still felt so blessed to have been with him the day he’d gotten that thrilling news.
“And tonight,” the announcer continued, “Croft has chosen to complete his trifecta of awesomeness with those he loves most, Eden and Lily.”
The lights dimmed, and spotlights focused on Eden, Lily, and Beckett.
Eden’s nerves rose to the surface of her skin and jittered. Her stomach knotted. From twenty feet away, Beckett took another smooth curve and headed back toward them. At ten feet away, he dropped to one knee and slid the remaining distance, coming to a stop at their feet.
Lily covered her mouth, giggling. “Hi, Daddy.”
Her voice came over the speakers, and light laughter rippled through the audience.
“Hi, princess. Ready to do this?”
She nodded.
He opened his arms, and she climbed into his lap.
Now Eden had nothing to do with her hands. She was burning up, which had to be impossible when she was standing on a huge slab of ice. And her stomach was jumping like she’d swallowed a gaggle of frogs. But knowing anything she said would be heard over the speakers, she didn’t utter a word.
Beckett reached out and took her hands in his, then Lily added hers on top, and the sight of her small hands with theirs pulled hard at Eden’s heart. She’d come to love Lily madly within weeks of committing to Beckett.
He smiled up at her, his eyes soft and brimming with emotion. The quiet spreading through the stadium felt deafening.
“Eden,” Beckett finally said, “you make me happier than I’ve ever been.”
Lily nodded. “Me too.”
Another ring of laughter came from the seats, and tears swelled in Eden’s eyes. She bit her lower lip to hold herself together.
“I love you with all my heart,” Beckett said.
“Me too,” Lily added.
Eden couldn’t hold back a laugh, which pushed the tears over her lashes.