Page 41 of The Puck Daddy

My heart begins to race. “Thank you, sir. I’d love to. Please, email me the contracts to look over.”

“Done and done. I’m not supposed to say this, but don’t worry, Adrian’s contract is being drawn up as we speak. Once you graduate, I can’t wait to welcome you and your boy home.”

“Thank you, sir.”

I make my way back over to Felix, right as Adrian walks out of the locker room. To my shock, he isn’t wearing his usual suit. Instead, he’s wearing a thin long-sleeved shirt with the colors of his jersey and a nice pair of jeans. So filled with joy, I swoop him up into a huge hug and kiss him right there for everyone to see.

He chuckles and whispers in my ear. “Daddy, what was that for?” He glances down and sees I’m holding Icy, his plush dragon. Adrian reaches for it and hugs Icy to his side. “Thanks for bringing my good luck charm.”

“Felix, we’ll be right back. Give me a few minutes.”

Felix winks and nods. I tug Adrian into a private alcove away from prying ears.

“Sweet boy, I have some good news. I just got off the phone with Casey Blake.”

“The Mayor of Olivia Cove and owner of the Wyverns?”

I nod eagerly. “I don’t think he was supposed to tell me, but they’re drawing up your contract as we speak. And not only that, but he’s offering me a permanent position in Olivia Cove with the Wyverns.”

Adrian’s smile is wide. “Oh my god! This is wonderful. Does that mean we can find our own place together? For real?” he asks happily.

My heart races, and I slide my hand into my pocket. I touch my lucky coin. “That’s actually what I was hoping to say. I want to find a place with you after we graduate. I want to move in together. I love you, sweet boy. Nothing about this has been fake for me. I think you’ve been in my heart since the beginning.”

Adrian pulls me into a sweet, passionate kiss. “I love you, too, Daddy. You’re a dream come true. Nothing has really been fake for me either. Ever since I gave you my dad’s lucky coin when I was a kid, I’ve harbored this celebrity crush on you. But ever since meeting you and getting to know you, you’re even better than my daydreams. You’re real and loyal. You’re so sweet and sexy as hell. You say you’re flawed, but you’re perfect for me.”

I tug him back to me, capturing his lips with mine. That’s when his words register. “Wait, did you say your dad’s lucky coin?”

Adrian nods. “When you came to Brynn U nine years ago, I overheard you talking to your agent. You were down on your luck and worried about your injury. So, I gave you my dad’s lucky coin. It’s an arcade token. A place my dad and I used to go to. It brought him luck. When he gave it to me, it brought me a lot of luck too. I thought maybe you could use it…” he trails off, blushing. “You probably don’t remember, but—”

“No, no. I do. I remember. I’m just shocked it was you.” I place my hand in my pocket and pull out my lucky coin. “It brought me four more years in the NHL.”

Tears brim in Adrian’s eyes, and he gasps. “You still have my dad’s coin?”

“I had no idea it was yours. But it seems fitting that all this time, I’ve been carrying a little piece of you with me for good luck.”

Suddenly, a sniffle can be heard to our left. Felix is standing there with tears in his eyes. “Oh my god, if that isn’t fate, then I don’t know what is! Kiss already!”

Bursting into laughter, Adrian and I pepper kisses all over each other’s lips and cheeks. “I think your brother is right, sweet boy. I think we were always meant to find each other again.”