“Happy birthday, dear Stella, happy birthday to you!”

To say that God and everyone was in the Brookses’ backyard would be an understatement.

All of Lucas and Fallon’s friends were there with their abundance of kids. Stella stood on a chair, her little face full of excitement as the big 8 on the top of her cake burned brightly before she blew with all her might. Looking past her sweet daughter to her husband, Fallon swore she fell in love with Lucas Brooks all over again. His face was full of glee, and nothing could ever touch how much he loved his babies.

Gathering Stella in his arms, he kissed her hard on the cheek before Fallon did the same, the applause and Stella’s laughter rattling Fallon’s soul. Her little girl was getting so big, and as Fallon looked out, seeing Asher and Aiden, with Emery on his shoulders, her heart ached. All her babies were getting bigger. Older. Soon they’d be gone. Hell, Aiden had one foot out the damn door. But she’d always have Lucas.

Always.

“Cake for everyone!” Stella declared, but then she glared at her sister. “Except you.”

“Stella,” Fallon warned through a grin, and the birthday girl started to pout, but only for a moment before Lucas picked her up, kissing her cheeks to distract her. Thankfully.

“Need some help?”

Fallon looked up to see her close friend Elli Adler holding out plates. “Please let me help. My kids are crazy.”

Fallon laughed as she looked out to where the Adler boys were jumping all over the younger Assassins players. “Yes, please.”

“That was a mighty big bow on Stella’s head.”

They shared a knowing look, both holding in their laughter. “Had to cover the bald spot on the side of her head. I swear, Emery is out to kill me.”

Laughing, Elli asked, “Why in the world…?”

“She said she didn’t like Stella’s hair, and she needed good hair for today.”

“That girl…”

“…is going to kill me!”

Laughing, they cut up the cake, leaving the plates on the table for everyone to come and get when they wanted. The backyard was so packed and full, Fallon wasn’t even sure who was there and if this party was really for Stella or just a kegger for the guys to celebrate winning round one. Hockey talk was the main focus. But with most of the team there, what did she expect?

“Aiden’s getting looked at by Bellevue,” Fallon said, handing a plate to Elli.

She nodded. “I know.”

Fallon’s brows drew in. “How do you know?”

“Shea called the coach over there and talked to him.”

Fallon grinned. “He did?”

“Yeah, Aiden had said something about it a couple months back, and Shea said he owed him for all the babysitting through the years.”

“Wow, thanks.”

“Hopefully it works out.”

“Yeah,” Fallon agreed, though secretly, she held out a selfish hope he would just stay home and never leave.

“You don’t want him to leave? Hey, look at it this way. At least he’s only a few minutes away, instead of states over.”

Fallon nodded. “This is very true.”

“Yup, could be like my child who wants to move to New York the moment she turns eighteen to follow her dreams of singing,” Elli said, rolling her eyes. “We live in Nashville, Tennessee. She can’t follow her dreams here?”

Fallon laughed. “Hey, big dreams for a ten-year-old.”

“She’s gonna give me a damn ulcer.”

As they laughed together, someone tugged on Fallon’s shirt. Turning and expecting one of her minions, she found herself looking down into the face of the very child they were just speaking of. “Hey, Shelli.”

“Mrs. Fallon, can I go inside and practice my guitar?”

Fallon glanced back at Elli, who set her daughter with a stern look. “Shel, we’re at a party. You don’t want to hang with the kids?”

“No, ma’am. I want to get this song right before Mrs. Avery calls tonight.”

Rolling her eyes, Elli shrugged. “It’s up to Mrs. Fallon.”

Shelli looked up to Fallon, hopeful, and she nodded. “Of course. You can go into my room if you need quiet, or just stay on the couch.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she said as Shelli headed off, skipping toward the house. “Is the party boring?” Fallon found herself asking, but even she knew the answer was no. She had hired Grace to throw the biggest and most obnoxious Ariel party ever. There were decorations to look like the ocean, a bounce house, and games galore. The party was banging for most of the kids. How could Shelli want to go inside?

“Where is Aiden?” Elli asked.

Fallon’s brow quirked. “I think he’s hiding inside. He’s mad I made him dress up.”

Elli snorted. “But he’s so cute.”

“I thought so.”

“I think that’s why she went inside.”

“Why?”

“Oh, she’s in love with Aiden.”

“What? No!” Fallon laughed, and Elli nodded, a grin pulling at her lips.

“Yes, I found her little journal. And it says all over it ‘Shelli and Aiden’ and ‘Shelli Brooks.’”

Fallon laughed harder. “Oh my goodness!”

“Right? It’s cute, I guess. But I had to hide the damn thing before Shea saw it.”

“Oh, I’m sure. God help y’all when that girl starts to date.”

“Exactly. Please start praying for us now.”

“Why are we praying?”

Glancing over, they saw Vaughn Johansson standing with the team’s reporter, and his new fiancée, Brie Soledad. Elli beamed. “For the day Shelli starts dating.”

Vaughn widened his eyes. “God help the dude. She’ll have a whole team coming for him.”

“See? She’s screwed,” Elli said, and they all laughed.

“How you feeling, Brie?” Fallon asked, and Brie beamed, her hands coming to her stomach.

“Good. I’m not sick at all.”

“It’s a boy,” Fallon said definitively.

Vaughn beamed at her, but then Elli shook her head. “No, I was god-awful sick with all five of mine. That doesn’t mean anything.”

Brie grinned. “I just want a healthy baby.”

“Yup, and he’ll be a legend.”

When Brie rolled her eyes, Fallon snorted. “Or she will.”

“He’s convinced it’s a boy,” Brie said, shaking her head. “But I wanted to stop over and thank you for letting us bring Rodney.”

Fallon waved Brie off, holding her wrist. “Of course! I love his sweet face! I hope he’s had fun.”

“Oh, he did. I had to holler at him for getting in the bounce house, but then Vaughn got in there with him. But now he’s tired, so we’re gonna head out. Can you thank Aiden for us? He was so kind and sweet.”

“I will, thank you. I’m glad y’all could come.”

“Thanks for having us. And the cake was wonderful! Vaughn grabbed me a piece right away since he knows how much I love it.”

Vaughn smiled indulgently at his fiancée. “Next time, we’ll have a baby to join the fun.”

“I can’t wait. Y’all have a good night.”

They kissed Fallon good-bye and then Elli before heading out the back. “They’re sweet.”

Elli nodded. “They are. I love them together. And I’m excited for the new baby.”

“Yeah, everyone is busting them out, it seems.”

“We usually have spurts of kids at once.”

“True,” Fallon agreed, laying the cake knife down. “Heard you were crying the other night. You aren’t pregnant, are you?”

“Don’t you dare put that kind of hell on me, Fallon Brooks,” Elli gasped, her eyes going wide. “No, I’m not, nor will I be!”

Fallon snorted with laughter as her gaze fell on Tate, who was sitting by himself with Philippe playing next to him. “Ugh, I hate seeing him like that.”

Elli glanced to where Fallon was looking and groaned loudly. “I don’t know what will happen.”

“That’s what Audrey said.”

“I’m so worried. So many things are going to change.”

Fallon glanced back to her. “They are?”

Elli looked sad. “Yeah, excuse me.”

She walked away, heading straight for Tate and picking up Philippe before sitting down and dropping him in his father’s lap. Fallon watched as Elli reached out, taking Tate’s hand in hers. But she couldn’t shake her friend’s words.

What was changing?

And why did she have a feeling in her gut that Lucas might be part of that change?

* * *

Standing with his best friends, Lucas laughed as Shea shook his head. “You guys better fucking win, for Elli’s sake. Please. She’s going to kill me with this series.”

“Yes, Cap,” Lucas said as Erik and Phillip agreed.

“I find it funny they still call you Cap,” Jayden Sinclair said, and they all smiled.

“He’ll always be the Cap,” Erik said, slapping Jayden’s back. “But you’re doing a great job.”

“Thanks,” Jayden laughed, and they all tapped their drinks to each other’s. “I feel good, though. Real good.”

“I do too,” Erik agreed, sucking in a deep breath. “It feels right.”

“It does. But, man, Chicago is going to suck.”

Lucas nodded, already feeling his body wanting to cry. “Yeah, it’s going to be a tough series.”

“You guys got this,” Shea said confidently. “Just listen to Coach.”

They all nodded in agreement as the party went on around them. Lucas decided it looked like Disney had crapped Ariel all over his backyard, but Stella was pleased as punch. And after getting her hair chopped off, he was glad. Poor girl.

“Daddy!” They all looked to find it was his scissor-happy daughter running toward them. “Daddy!”

Picking her up in a swoop, he kissed her cheek. “Yes, scalper?”

Everyone chuckled while she glared. “I’m a hairdresser.”

“Oh, of course, but don’t you cut your sister’s hair again.”

She tapped her finger to his chin. “What about Asher’s?”

“Not Asher either.”

“Aiden?”

He almost said yes. “No, ma’am.”

She scrunched up her face. “Fine. Can I have cake if I don’t cut anyone’s hair?”

“What did Momma say?”

Her little lips poked out. “She said no.”

“Then, no.”

“But you’re my favorite.”

Shea nodded. “That’s how Posey gets me.”

“Katarina does the same thing,” Erik added.

“My boys just throw crap at me,” Phillip announced, and they all chuckled at that.

“Dawson is just now crawling, but he’s got an evil scream.”

“You haven’t met evil,” Lucas said before looking back at Emery. “Baby, go play.”

“But, Daddy, I want cake.”

“Momma said no.”

“She doesn’t have to know.”

Stunned, he looked back at his boys as they all laughed. “Go on now. Go play. I see you by that cake, your butt is mine.”

After he set her on her feet, she ran off, pouting as Lucas looked back to the guys. “I’m fucked.”

“Completely,” Shea agreed. “But, hey, three out of four is good odds.”

“Yeah, and Aiden is amazing,” Erik added.

“Except the hair,” Phillip added, and Lucas agreed.

“I almost said yes to her cutting his hair.” They all laughed. “Speaking of Aiden, he’s getting looked at by Bellevue.”

Everyone lit up. “No shit? That’s awesome!” Erik said, tapping Lucas’s arm. “Following in his daddy’s footsteps.”

“A father’s dream,” Phillip said, and Jayden beamed.

“You know my father-in-law slash stepdad is the coach over there.”

Lucas nodded. “I did know that. I guess he’s coming in to talk to Aiden.”

“That’s awesome. I’ll put a good word in. Aiden’s a great kid. Smart, great head on his shoulders.”

“Is he old enough?” Shea asked. “I mean, I called River, told him to keep an eye out, but I thought it wouldn’t be for another year.”

Lucas’s eyebrows shot up. “Did ya?”

“I did. I believe in the kid.”

Reaching out, Lucas shook hands with his old captain. “Thanks, man.”

“Of course.”

“Apparently, he might be able to graduate at the end of the summer.”

“Holy shit.”

“Right?”

“Wow.”

“Yeah, I’ll for sure call River. They’re looking for an assistant coach right now. Baylor considered it, but they won’t let her bring Dawson to practice,” Jayden laughed, and they all joined in as Lucas’s heart ached a bit in his chest. He hadn’t expected his captain to make a call, or for his new captain to put in a word for his kid. It meant a lot, but it also meant that this was really happening. Aiden was going places.

Wow.

“Hey, boys.”

Turning, Lucas found his boss standing beside him, a grin on her face as she placed her hand on the back of his bicep. “Great party.”

“Expensive.”

She chuckled. “I’m sure. Don’t forget we have a meeting coming up.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be there.”

“Good,” she said, rubbing his bicep before walking away.

“You in trouble?” Phillip teased, and Lucas laughed.

“No, my contract is up. Time to re-sign.”

“Cool,” he said, but Lucas didn’t miss the way Shea looked away, chewing on his lip. He wasn’t sure what that was about, but before he could ask, Stella was pulling on him to come open presents.

And who was he to say no to the birthday girl?

* * *

When the party ended, the mess was overwhelming. But Fallon was inside with Audrey and the kids, ignoring it, while Tate and Lucas shared a cold drink on the porch. They were supposed to be cleaning, but yeah, that wasn’t happening. He hadn’t seen his best friend a lot lately. With his injury, Tate had been hiding out, which was something he'd always done, like a dog licking his wounds. Especially now that the new guy was killing it in his place. Though, that was why Elli had brought in Jensen Monroe—to play to the standard Tate had established.

And Monroe was doing that and then some, with ease.

Which was not good for Tate.

As they sat in comfortable silence, Lucas kicked his legs up on the table. “Shea was the one who called Bellevue about Aiden.”

Tate nodded. “Sounds like something he’d do.”

“Yeah.” Chewing on his lip, Lucas couldn’t shake the look that Shea’d had on his face when he brought up re-signing. When Tate looked over to him, Lucas shrugged. “It’s good, though.”

“Real good. He’ll do great.”

“Yeah, and then we’ll get Philippe in there.”

Tate nodded. “Philippe has some years.”

“He does.” He took a drink of his soda, hating the silence that continued to fall between them. “Dude, you’re killing me.”

Tate laughed ruefully. “I know, I’m sorry. I suck lately. I’m driving Audrey insane.”

“Yeah, that’s what Fallon said.”

“I’m waiting for her to leave me.”

Lucas reached over, punching him in the shoulder. “Never. Audrey is loyal to a fault. She also loves the fuck out of you.”

Tate nodded, but Lucas could see the sadness in his eyes. “My head, it’s fucked.”

Lucas exhaled hard. “Is Wren not helping?”

He shrugged. “Yeah, but I hurt. All the time, and it scares me.”

“Fuck, man, that sucks.”

“I know, and I don’t know what to do. Audrey says she’ll go with whatever. She loves me. And Elli, she says she will support whatever I want—but I don’t know what I want. I feel like a failure. And I look at my children and don’t know how, one day, I can tell them I had to give up.”

Lucas’s heart stopped dead in his chest. “You won’t give up.”

“I can’t play in this pain.”

“Then you’ll retire with fucking grace, Tate. You aren’t a quitter.”

Pulling in a breath through his nose, he nodded. “You’re right.”

“I am, but that’s not an option yet. You’re still healing.”

“They say I shouldn’t still be in this much pain. What if I’m done?”

“Then we’ll cross that bridge when we get there, damn it. But right now, you’re going to get better. Okay?”

A small smile covered Tate's face. “Okay.”

“And don’t be such a Debbie downer.”

He laughed. “I hear you.”

“Things are going to be fine. We’ll bring the Cup home for you, and then we’ll start new next year.”

“Or we could retire.”

Lucas whipped his head to him.

“What?”

“Yeah, go off on a trip, me and you. Be home for the kids. With Aiden making the moves he's making, we can be there for him. Coach him, y’know? Take some of the load off Audrey and Fallon.”

Lucas scoffed, though Tate’s logic was sound. Lucas was getting old, and he had been playing for a long while, but he wasn’t ready to retire. He had some playing to do. Some more Cups to bring home. “We aren’t retiring.”

“You’re old.”

“And you’re a brat, shut up.” Tate laughed as Lucas shook his head. “I’m here lifting you up and giving you a great inspirational speech, and you tell me I’m old. Fucker.”

Tate laughed. “You are.”

“Fuck you,” he said, laughing, and Tate shook his head.

“Just saying, your boy is going to be in the NHL before you know it, taking your place.”

Lucas took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Again, that’s another bridge we’ll cross when we get to it.”

Tate nodded sagely. “Okay, be in denial.”

“What? My contract is up. They’re re-signing me this week.”

“Then I’m wrong,” Tate said, holding his fist to Lucas’s. “You go kick ass, and I’ll cheer you on.”

“You’re not done, Tate.”

He shrugged, and Lucas could tell he felt defeated. “I’m getting there.”

“No, you’re not. You’ll come back from this.”

Tate met Lucas’s gaze. “I hope.”

Tapping his fist to Tate’s, Lucas smiled. “Wish you were out there with me.”

“Me too.”

As they both took sips of their sodas, Lucas held his to his lips a little longer. He was getting older. Way older than Tate, and his body was hurting. But he wanted to re-sign. He had another year in him, maybe two. His time wasn’t up yet.

At least, he hoped it wasn’t.