Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 138

KATY’S POV

SEVEN YEARS LATER

I adjust Veronica on my hip, taking a key holder from her tiny hand. She’s two, wearing a jersey that’s clearly meant for someone twice her size and every time she moves, the fabric swallows her whole.

Mason, on the other hand, is all energy and sticky fingers. He presses his wet palms against the glass, grinning and running around. I’ve reminded him a dozen times not to get his hands wet, not to smear fingerprints all over, but in all five years of his life, he’s only listened… maybe five times.

He’s a mini version of his dad, with that crooked smirk that shows up whenever he gets away with mischief.

“Is Daddy coming?” he pants, like he’s been skating around.

“Any second now,” Hudson says, smiling brightly. “Wipe your hands, Mason or you’ll get sick because of germs.”

Hudson. My sweet firstborn, and apparently the only one who can manage Mason. If anyone wants to judge my parenting skills, they can just look at him. He’s the perfect reflection of how hard his father and I try to do our best.

I glance at the ice. Some of Braydon’s teammates are stretching and warming up for the game, but he’s still talking with his coach in the locker room. It’s the Stanley Cup Final, and believe it or not, we’re playing the Bruins. Justin is already on the ice with his team. Yes, my brother and my husband are both captains, both competing for the cup.

My eyes scan the stands, searching for Allie through the plexiglass. Sure enough, she’s there on the opposite side, waving a jersey frantically with her two munchkins in tow. She bet me Justin would win tonight, so this is shaping up to be… a hot night.

“She’s tangling your hair,” someone says. I look beside me to see Maya trying to pry my hair from Veronica’s tiny grip as she giggles, utterly delighted with herself.

“Thank you,” I say, gently unfolding Veronica’s fingers from my hair.

Maya smiles at me before settling behind us. She’s one of the newer girlfriends on the team, and still a little shy. Most of the WAGS treat each other like sisters just because of our husbands, and as the captain’s wife, I know my fair share of paparazzi attention. Most of them swear they can’t juggle being a hockey wife and managing a business or academics, so it’s always a hot topic when I mention Pendant and how I’ve been running it for years, plus a side investment business of my own.

Suddenly, Braydon bursts out of the tunnel, skating onto the ice with that confident grin.

“Here he comes!” Mason squeals, bouncing up and down. He presses his face against the glass, streaked with smudges from his sticky palms, and I groan, closing my eyes for a second.

“Daddy!”

Over the PA system, the commentator chuckles. “And there it goes…Cooper’s favorite pre-game ritual. He might be the toughest power forward in the league, but we all know who really runs the show at home. Or maybe it’s just that his games always go better when his family’s watching.”

“Daddy’s here!” Mason screams, teetering on the railing and almost sending Hudson tumbling. God, help me with that one.

Braydon skates hard, breaking toward us, and leans over the padded railing where there’s no glass.

“Hey, rookies,” he rumbles.

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