The family section is crowded with wives, girlfriends, and kids, everyone waiting for their player to emerge. I scan the crowd and find Nora immediately, standing near the wall with Harper in her arms.
Harper's asleep, her head on Nora's shoulder, still wearing my jersey. Nora's smiling when she sees me, and the bottom drops out of my stomach in the best possible way.
"Hey," I say, slightly breathless from rushing. "Did you see Daddy play, baby girl?"
I gently take Harper from Nora, careful not to wake her. She makes a small noise but settles against my chest immediately, her tiny hand curling into my hoodie.
"You were incredible," Nora says quietly. "That goal was beautiful."
"You know hockey?"
"I'm learning." Her smile is soft. "Emma's been texting me play-by-play explanations all night."
"That tracks." I adjust Harper, making sure her head is supported. "What'd you think? First game experience?"
"Harper slept through most of it. But I..." She pauses, something shifting in her expression. "I couldn't look away. You're really talented, Ty. The way you move out there, the way you read the play... It's impressive."
There's something in her voice that makes my heart race, something warm and honest that feels like more than just professional observation.
"Thank you," I say, the words carrying more weight than just the compliment.Thank you for being here, for bringing Harper, for watching me play, for existing in my life in a way that makes everything better.
Michelle appears beside Nora, beer in hand. “He was incredible tonight, right?” She gives me a wink. “Hi, West. Your girl here knows her hockey, by the way. She saw the breakaway coming before you did.”
“Did she now?”
Nora’s cheeks go pink. “I did not.”
“You absolutely did. I’m telling everyone.”
Liam appears, freshly showered and grinning. "West, you fucking killed it tonight. That backhand was disgusting."
"Thanks, man."
"You guys coming to the bar? Team's doing drinks at Riley's."
It's the first time anyone on this team has pointed that question at me directly like this, and for a second, I don't know what to do with it. Two months of eating lunch alone in my car, thenDanny knocking on my window and sitting with me like it was nothing, and now drinks at Riley's.
Part of me wants to say yes just to prove I can. Part of me wants to say yes out of sheer spite, to show Reaper I'm not going anywhere.
But I look down at Harper, asleep in my arms, and the answer's easy.
"I should get Harper home. It's late."
"Next time," Liam says easily. "Good game, buddy."
He and Michelle head off, and it's just us in the slowly emptying family area. Other players are finding their families, everyone heading out into the cool September night.
"Let's go home," I say.
Home.With Nora and Harper. The three of us together.
And for tonight, after that goal and that assist and proving to everyone, including myself, that I belong on this team, that's all I want.
16
TYLER
The road trip is three games of pure hell.