The smile on my face is painfully big as I watch my two best friends together. Logan’s green eyes are rimmed in red with happy tears as she tries to hide in Maddison’s neck, but it’s then that it hits me.
Stevie.
The whole family box is guided onto the ice, but Stevie’s not with them. She didn’t sit with them, but I need her here. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for. I need to tell her how much I love her, and I need the whole world to know too. She felt rejected when people found out about her, so it’s only right she feels chosen with that same attention.
“Scott!” I yell to one of our team managers as he’s celebrating on the ice. I pull him away from someone else mid-hug. “That ticket you got for me. You know Stevie, from the plane? My girlfriend, she’s sitting there. Can you bring her down?” My volume is loud enough to hear over the crowd, my tone pleading.
He quickly nods, noting the urgency on my face as he takes off into the crowd.
Turning around, Lindsey attacks me in a hug.
“Congrats, Ev!” she shouts into my ear. I lift her up, swinging her around. Setting her back on her feet, she holds me out at arm’s length with an overwhelmingly proud smile on her lips.
My dad’s hand slides around the back of my neck, pulling me into him. He’s almost as tall as I am, but I have quite a few inches over him in my skates. Regardless, I bend down, hiding away in his hug.
“Proud of you, son.” He pats me hard on the shoulder while continuing to hold me.
“Love you, Dad.”
Reaching out, I grab my sister, the three of us hanging on in a hug. All the tension in my body releases, having my family with me, having them here to celebrate after everything we’ve been through.
“I love you both.”
I look up, past them, searching for any sign of Stevie, but there’s nothing yet.
My knees get knocked from behind, almost causing me to lose my balance. Peeking down, I find a pile of wild brunette hair and little hands holding on for dear life around my legs.
I pick my niece up with ease, hoisting her onto my hip. Her tiny hands squish my sweaty cheeks together. “You win, Uncle Zee!”
I can’t help but laugh.
My eyes find Maddison again as he shares a long moment with his dad, brother, and stepmom before his eight-month-old son, MJ, is passed to him. He peppers kisses on MJ’s golden cheeks, all the while keeping Logan tucked under his arm.
Looking around, there’s still no sign of Stevie.
Maddison’s gaze darts to his daughter and me. “EJ, I think your dad wants to celebrate with you.” I skate over to him before handing her off.
He covers her in kisses before he skates off with his two kids, taking a victory lap around the rink.
“I’m so proud of you two,” Logan reminds me. She throws her arms around my neck.
“Love you, Lo.” Pulling back, we hold eye contact. “Is she here?”
Logan offers me an apologetic smile. “I’m not sure. She didn’t tell me one way or another.”
My brows crease as reality starts to set in. I was so confident Stevie was going to be here. There was no doubt in my mind that she would be. We were going to win. I would tell her how much I love her, how much meaning she brings into my life, beg her to love me back. Remind her that none of this is worth it without her, but she’s not here.
Everything I did over the last couple of weeks, I did because I needed to be the man she deserves. I needed to face some old demons, repair a relationship, and overall be ready for her. I am ready, but she’s not here.
“Zee.” Logan brings my attention back to her. “Take the moment in. Live it up and worry about everything else tomorrow. You’re still here, in Chicago. You have us. Your freaking dad is here!” She pushes my chest with pride. “Stevie loves you. I know she does, but be selfish in this moment and celebrate with your teammates.”
I nod in agreement when finally, my eyes land on Scott, standing behind the plexiglass. Urgently, I skate over to him.
“She wasn’t in that seat!” he yells over the crowd. “I’m sorry, man.”
My heart drops. I’m not sure it’s healthy to experience every emotion I have in the last five minutes—the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. I thought she’d be here. I convinced myself she would be.
Maddison makes it back from his skate with his kids, and he somehow manages to hold MJ in one hand with Ella on his back as he wraps Logan up in his other. He buries his head in her neck, and like the emotional man he is, his body begins to vibrate, and I’m almost certain he’s shedding a few tears. That guy has been through it when it comes to his career and family, fighting to make it while taking some major losses along the way. But he’s here. He did it, and he has his people right alongside him.