But the only person he saw was Kacey, holding their sweet baby girl, Ella Mae, in her arms, tears rushing down her cheeks as she beamed up at him. She had just given birth to her three days before, and he knew that she should be home, but she wouldn’t miss this for the world.

Clearing his throat, he looked down as he sucked in a breath. “I was at the lowest of lows. Broken in black and white, wanting to scream in color, but I couldn’t find my voice. I was nothing, a waste of space. I broke the heart of the woman I loved, I hurt my friends and my family, but then someone took a chance on me. Someone looked me in the eye and told me I needed help. And I took it, even though I didn’t want it at the time,” he said, his eyes meeting Elli’s, and hers filled with tears. “The last year has been not only hell, but also the best year of my life. I’m healthy. I’m strong. I’m happy. I’m loved. I’m a best friend, a friend, a son, and a fiancé. And now a father.”

Swallowing hard, he looked up, meeting Kacey’s tearful gaze, and said, “I couldn’t have reached this day, my three hundred and sixty-fifth day sober, without those people who define me, my therapist, and this group. You all love me, push me, and know that I can get through this addiction, and I can beat it.”

Everyone smiled up at him, his therapist Julie grinned, Portia from rehab was there too, along with all his group members. The support was unbelievable and heartwarming, but the look of pure admiration and pride that shone in Kacey’s eyes was what left him breathless.

He wanted to say that the last nine months had been easy—the happiest of times—but they had been a whirlwind. The Assassins lost the finals for the Stanley Cup and it sucked, but they had gotten far and were setting their sights on the following year. His mom hadn’t contacted him, neither had Natasha, and he was okay with that. He had two ladies in his life that took over everything, and he really didn’t have time to deal with anyone else.

Kacey opened her gym down the road from Audrey Jane’s and was doing well, and she was itching to get back to training the way she had. But due to complications with her pregnancy, she was unable to just yet. During her seventh month, she was put on bed rest because she had gone into premature labor. Thankfully, the doctor got her taken care of and she went full-term, Ella coming out healthy and perfect. But the fear it caused was real, and it had rocked Jordie to the core. Though, like he knew they would, they got through it. Together. And Jordie had decided that they would continue to do that as long as they had each other.

No matter what, even if their backs were against the wall with the only option to score and win, they’d succeed. Even if it took extra minutes. Jordie and Kacey would always win in overtime.

Sucking in a deep breath, his mouth turned up as he moved his hand along his forearm, flinching at the pain of the brand-new tattoo he had gotten the night before. Looking down, he grinned at the script that spelled out his daughter’s name before looking back up as he went on. “I told someone once that they couldn’t fix me, that I had to do it, and I am. Through this process, I’ve learned to not only love myself, but to love God, to trust in Him that I can do this. That I will beat this because I am strong and I have His light in my soul.” He paused, his heart so full of love as he watched Kacey wipe her face, before Karl wrapped his arms around her, kissing her temple. “My fiancée told me to never be ashamed of my story, my addiction, because telling it and owning up to it will inspire someone else. So here I stand, an alcoholic, a fiancé, a father, and I’m winning. Because each day I wake up farther away from the addiction and closer to the life I want. The life I am proud of. The life I love.” He paused again, choking on the emotion. “Here is to the next three hundred and sixty-five days. May they be full of happiness, but also hard times, because I want to grow; I don’t want this to be easy. I want to earn my win, and I will as long as I have that woman beside me through it all,” he said, pointing to Kacey. She hiccupped a sob as she leaned into her daddy and everyone clapped and aww’d for him. His chest was bursting with love for her, his forever, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her as she dissolved into tears next to her father. He wanted to rush to her, hug her, but he had to accept his chip. Then he’d love on her and make her feel exactly what he did. When Julie and Portia stood, coming toward him, they both hugged him tightly and he whispered thanks to both of them. They had both been such a big part of his recovery, and he was lucky to have them. When he’d asked what he could do to repay them, both of them said that his being healthy was their payment.

They were good women.

“Usually, we present you with your year chip, but I think Julie will agree with me when I say that Kacey should give it to you.”

Jordie grinned as he looked back at her, to urge her to come up, but she was already walking around the group, eager to give him his chip. Grinning, she took it from Portia and thanked both of them before looking up at him. Her heart was in her eyes, and it had been since the moment he had asked her to marry him. Had it been easy? No. Would it ever be? Hell no. But they would get through it together.

“Jordie Scott Thomas, you are the most amazing man, inside and out. I know you’ve quoted me a few times, but I want to quote you,” she said, her voice breaking as she gazed up at him. Their sweet baby girl was cuddled in her arms, small and perfect all wrapped in a purple Assassins blanket. “You said that the most amazing thing in life is finding someone who would love you for every flaw, every mistake, and every weakness. And while I do love you for all those things, I also love you for your strength, your tenacity, but most of all, your ability to love. You say I’ve changed your life, Jordie, but really, you’ve changed mine. And I couldn’t be prouder of you than I am at this very moment,” she said, big, wet tears rolling down her face as she slowly reached out, handing him his chip. “You deserve this.”