#wc50

The Birthday Suprise - W. Cuylle

Summary : A cute story in which Will Cuylle surprises his girlfriend with her dream puppy for her birthday. With the help of his teammates, they help make it her best birthday yet.

Y/N never asked for much. That was something Will Cuylle admired about her most.

In three years of dating—from late-night drives during high school to navigating life in the heart of New York City—she remained grounded, grateful, and full of joy over the smallest things.

She lit up over snowfalls, made playlists for every mood, and cried watching dog videos on Instagram without shame. And while she never said the words outright, Will had caught onto a quiet wish she carried with her like a whisper.

Something with four legs. Something that snorted when it got excited.

He noticed the way she always paused on the street when a French Bulldog waddled by, her eyes wide and adoring. She’d smile and say things like, “She looks like royalty,” or “He’s got attitude,” and then move on like it hadn’t cracked her heart open just a little.

Will remembered every single one of those moments.

So for her 22nd birthday, he decided it was time to give her a surprise she never saw coming.

It started as an idea during a post-practice hangout.

Will sat in the Rangers locker room, scrolling through his phone, when Matt Rempe leaned over his shoulder.

“Planning something romantic for your girl?”

Will smirked. “Actually, yeah. Her birthday’s coming up, and I want to do something… different.”

Matt raised a brow. “Different how?”

Will hesitated before saying it. “You know how she’s always going soft over Frenchies?”

“No way.” Matt grinned. “You’re getting her a dog?”

“Maybe.” Will shrugged. “But I don’t want her to know anything until it happens.”

Matt slapped his shoulder. “We’re doing this. Team effort. Let’s make it special.”

Soon, the rest of the guys were in on it. Braden volunteered to find the “gift box.” Mika took charge of decorations. Even Fox offered to call his favorite dog bakery for a tiny cake—just in case.

“We’ll be subtle,” Braden promised. “She won’t suspect a thing.”

Will made sure the entire lead-up to Y/N’s birthday felt low-key.

A week out, he told her, “I’m planning something small. Just dinner. Maybe a movie night.”

Y/N, curled up in his hoodie with messy hair and mascara-free eyes, looked up and said, “Honestly? That sounds perfect.” She said with a soft smile.

She didn’t need grand gestures. But Will wanted to give her one anyway.

He booked brunch for her and her two best friends at a local cafe the morning of her birthday. Said he had a “training thing” and told her to wear something cute because they’d go out later. In truth, he and Matt were driving out to New Jersey to pick something—or rather, someone—up.

A six-pound, steel-gray French Bulldog with big blue eyes and a heart-shaped nose. She came with a pink collar and a tiny bow behind one ear.

“She’s a quiet one,” the breeder said, handing her over to Will. “But she’s all love.”

Will looked down at the pup. “Your name is going to be Lady. And you’re going to make your new mom cry the happy kind of tears.”

Back in their Manhattan apartment, chaos turned into controlled chaos.

Mika and Braden arrived with streamers, balloons, and a “Happy Birthday” sign in soft pastel colors. In the center of the living room sat a plush dog bed surrounded by tissue-paper-wrapped toys, a sparkly pink food bowl, and a gift tag that read:

For the lady of the house.

“Too much?” Braden asked, holding up a sequin bandana that read Sassy But Sweet.

Will grinned. “It’s perfect.”

By 3:30 p.m., the place looked magical. Fairy lights twinkled. Jazz played low on the speaker. And Lady, freshly bathed and looking like a regal queen, sat inside a gift box with the lid cracked just enough for her snout to peek out.

Y/N returned just after four, cheeks pink from the chilly wind, cheeks glowing from mimosas and waffles.

She opened the door and paused. The lights were dim. The apartment smelled faintly of vanilla. And there was no Will in sight.

“Hello?” she called, stepping inside. “Will?”

She walked into the living room—and froze.

Soft music played. A flickering candle glowed on the coffee table beside a single pink rose. And in the center of the room, nestled in a huge box wrapped in gold ribbon, something moved.

Something wiggled.

She stared.

Then the lid slowly lifted itself, pushed up by a tiny nose.

And then—

Out popped two huge ears.

A tiny bark echoed through the room.

Y/N gasped so hard she almost stumbled.

“NO. NO FUCKING WAY.”

The puppy blinked at her. Then, as if on cue, climbed out of the box with clumsy little steps and bounded straight into Y/N’s arms.

Will appeared in the doorway, holding his phone up to capture the moment.

Y/N burst into laughter and tears all at once. “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!”

Will chuckled. “Happy birthday, baby.”

“She’s—she’s real?” Y/N clutched the puppy to her chest, voice shaking. “You got me a dog?!”

“I got you Lady,” he said. “She’s yours. All yours.”

Y/N sat on the couch, still stunned, as Lady curled into her lap like she belonged there all along.

Her eyes were still glassy with disbelief. “You really did this? All this time I thought you were just gonna make pancakes and light a candle.”

“I did light a candle,” Will teased.

“I cannot believe this.” She held Lady up, nose-to-nose. “You’re the most perfect thing I’ve ever seen.”

Will walked over and kissed the top of her head. “Second most perfect.”

Lady gave a tiny yawn.

“She’s so small,” Y/N whispered. “I don’t deserve this.”

“You deserve everything,” Will said.

Later that night, some of Will’s teammates showed up, one by one.

Matt walked in first with a pink dog blanket in hand. “Is she here?! I need to see the baby.”

“She’s sleeping,” Y/N whispered.

Matt crouched down, dramatically pretending to tiptoe. “Okay, but like… she’s already cooler than most of us.”

Braden brought a “starter pack” of toys. “No pressure, but I expect to be her favorite.”

Lady woke up halfway through, letting out a sneeze that sent the room into laughter and awes.

Y/N couldn’t stop smiling.

Will stood back, watching her glow—laughing with his teammates, showing off Lady’s little tricks (aka sitting and snoring), her cheeks flushed and eyes filled with love.

He couldn’t stop staring.

When the party calmed down and everyone had gone home, Will handed Y/N a small pink envelope.

Inside was a handwritten note.

Y/N,

I’ve watched you love so fiercely over the past three years—your friends, your family, and me. But the way you’ve always looked at every passing pup on the street made me realize you had a different kind of love you were saving.

You deserve that kind of soft joy every single day.

So I found her. The one with the ears. The one who’ll nap next to you while you read. The one who’ll lick your face when you cry. The one who will wait at the door every time you leave for work.

She’s here now. She’s Lady.

But the real lady of the house will always be you.

I love you. More than you know.

— Will

Y/N held the note against her heart, tears slipped down her cheeks.

She leaned in, kissed him slow and deep, her heart full.

“I love you,” she whispered.

“More than Frenchies?” he teased.

She laughed, eyes wet. “Even more than Frenchies.”

They curled up in bed later that night, Lady tucked between them in a little pink sweater.

The city buzzed outside, but their world was warm and quiet.

Y/N lay on her side, watching Lady sleep, her hand in Will’s.

“This is all I ever wanted,” she whispered. “Not just the dog. You. This life. Everything.”

Will squeezed her hand. “Happy birthday, baby.”

She turned to him, smiling. “She’s our little family now.”

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