12. Luc

LUC

Doing our best to look presentable after our tryst in the storage room as we exit, Natalie calls out to Louis to see if he's close by. When she goes into the dining area to look for him, I finish tucking in my shirt, feeling a little dazed, but in the best way.

Heading back over to where we left our wine glasses, I'm about to take a sip when I realize Louis has left the newspaper next to them, along with a short note.

Saw the two wine glasses and figured you didn't need the maintenance guy, just a little space to enjoy the rest of your night ;) Enjoy reading your review. It's good - Louis

I chuckle and call Natalie back into the kitchen. "Looks like we weren"t as stealthy as we thought."

Natalie laughs as she reads, a blush coloring her cheeks. "I guess not. But let"s see what this review says."

We huddle together, our eyes scanning the article. As we read, Natalie"s smile grows wider and wider. The restaurant critic is absolutely raving about her menu, praising the creativity, flavor combinations, and impeccable execution. They even go so far as to say that Natalie"s restaurant is a game-changer for the city"s culinary scene.

"Luc, this is incredible," Natalie breathes, her eyes shining with pride. "I can"t believe they love it this much."

I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her close. "I can. You"re amazing, Natalie. You"ve poured your heart and soul into this place, and it shows."

She leans into me, her head resting on my shoulder. "Thank you for being here tonight. For supporting me. It means everything."

I press a kiss to her temple. "I"ll always be here for you, Natalie. No matter what."

We stay like that for a moment, basking in the glow of her success. Then, an idea strikes me.

"Hey, why don"t you come back to my place tonight? You can sleep in while I"m at practice tomorrow, and I"ll bring you breakfast in bed after."

Natalie makes a show of thinking on it. "Breakfast in bed, huh? I like the sound of that."

I grin, taking her hand in mine. "Then let"s get out of here, chef."

The next morning, 7:00 AM comes too soon as my alarm blares through the room, but I can"t help but smile when I see Natalie still curled up next to me. Last night was... surreal. From the success of her restaurant opening to our activities in the storeroom and the glowing review in the newspaper, it felt like something straight out of a movie. And now, here she is, in my bed, looking more beautiful than ever. I want to wake up every morning and feel just like this.

It takes me a little longer than usual to force myself out of bed—a curvy goddess sleeping naked next to a man will do that—but once I'm moving, I head to practice with an extra spring in my step. As I enter the locker room, I"m greeted by the usual pre-practice buzz—guys taping sticks, stretching out, and chatting about the upcoming game.

"Hey, Cap!" Calvin calls out, waving me over. "Ready to take down the Rockets this weekend?"

I nod, feeling my guts surge with determination. The Rockets have always been a tough opponent for us, a team we"ve never managed to beat in all my years on this team. But something feels different this season. I think the team is better than it ever was, and it feels like this year is going to be all about the Nighthawks.

"Damn right, I am," I reply, starting to gear up. "We"ve got this, boys. I can feel it in my bones. We're going to have the best season of our lives and bring home the cup."

The guys respond with a chorus of cheers, and I know they"re just as pumped as I am. With the adrenaline coursing through my veins, we take to the ice for practice. Coach blows the whistle, calling us in for a huddle.

"Listen up, guys," he says, his voice gruff but filled with conviction. "I know the Rockets have had our number in the past. But that ends this week. We"re a different team now. Stronger, faster, more cohesive."

I look around at my teammates, seeing the determination in their eyes. Emile catches my gaze and gives me a nod. Natalie mentioned she told him about us last night, and I'm glad to see he"s fine with it, and my dating his sister isn't going to affect us on the ice.

"We"ve got the skill, we"ve got the heart, and we"ve got each other"s backs," Coach continues. "So let"s go out there, iron out any kinks so we can come back tomorrow night and show those Rockets what the Nighthawks are made of!"

A cheer erupts from the team, sticks tapping against the ice in a thunderous rhythm.

Practice flies by in a whirlwind of drills and scrimmages. We"re more in sync than ever before. We"ve got this down to a science now, and I can"t help but grin to myself. I don't know if I'm just high on love, or if I've just truly hit my peak. But I know without a doubt that this is it. This is the season that everything—my love life included—comes together and I consider myself in the happily ever after.