It's Our Time (Carolina Rebels 3)

Overtime, here we come.

I’m not on the ice when I watch the twins, Cal and Collin Kessy, and Rams rush into the Wild zone after gaining possession. I hold my breath. Partly because we need this win and this could be the moment we get it, I can just feel it, and partly because Thing One and Two are just amazing t

o watch.

Thing Two comes up along the boards with the puck. The goalie is staring at him hard and seems ready in case he gives it up to his brother who is coming down the middle, but he passes the puck clear across the ice. He doesn’t give it to his brother, but to Rams, who quickly rears his stick back and shoots over the goalie’s shoulder.

He lights the lamp and we win!

We fist-bump them as we skate over to acknowledge Savage’s hard work, which is usually done by giving his helmet a good rub and touching a stick to his pads. We did good tonight. Hopefully, we can keep this kind of play up. But as we leave the ice, my mind starts turning to Sydney and Savannah. I can’t wait to get home.

“Babe!” I shout as I walk into the room.

“Daddy!” Savannah comes running, and I crouch, just in time to catch her.

“Hey, little Miss.” I stand upright as she grabs my beard and kisses my cheek when I kiss hers. “Where’s your mommy?”

“Gone!”

That’s when I notice Logan sitting on the couch. “Where’s Sydney?” I walk over and sit on the chair with Savannah in my lap.

“Lizzy is making her cake and she wanted Syd to taste a sample or something. She should be here any minute.”

I nod. “Are you having fun with Lo-Lo?” I ask Savannah.

“Yep. He sleeped over.”

“He did? Hey, did you save me any cookies, birthday girl?” While I wait on Sydney, Savannah shows me that she did indeed save me not one, but three cookies. I share them with her. She also shows me her new room. Sydney did a great job, and Savannah is in love. “Can Daddy sleep over in here with you tonight? I think I like this room better than mine.”

“Nooo,” she giggles. “Sleepovers not in my room!” Right, because sleepovers mean camping out in the living room.

We return to the living room to sit in the chair. Damn, I missed her so much.

“I guess I should go since you’re here; I don’t think there was any reason Syd was wanting me to wait for her,” Logan says, standing up. “Come tell Lo-Lo goodbye, Savannah.”

She hops out of my lap long enough to hug him, say she loves him, and then she’s back to sitting with me.

“Thanks for sitting with her.”

“Anything for my favorite niece. See y’all tomorrow.”

Once he’s gone, I grab the remote and turn on Savannah’s favorite movie. She rests her head on my shoulder, one hand still absentmindedly playing with my beard, and I slouch down a little to get comfortable. It feels good to be home.

Savannah has dozed off and I’m nearly asleep myself when I hear the door open. My eyes crack open. A second later, Sydney appears in front of me. “Hey, babe,” I whisper.

She doesn’t answer. Instead, she leans down, cradles my face in her hands, and kisses me. Soft and slow, our mouths get reacquainted with one another as if it has been years and not ten days. She breaks into a smile, ending our kiss too soon.

“I missed you,” she whispers.

“I can tell.”

Sydney laughs as she sits on the arm of the chair. “I see someone else missed you as well. I told you.”

“Yeah. How does her cake taste? Why is Lizzy making it anyway?”

“Because she’s a master! Apparently, she’s really good at decorating. Not to mention, based on what she had me try, she can make some damn good cakes, too. I wish she made an entire cake for me to try instead of just a cupcake. She’s a cake genius. If it wasn’t for Meredith suggesting I ask, it probably wouldn’t have happened either.” It’s like she suddenly notices it’s just us. “Where’s Logan?”

“He went home since I was here.”