Epilogue
EPILOGUE
S helby
The crowd outside the arena is so jammed that it makes it hard to navigate. Thousands of fans are here for the final game of the season against Milton. I can’t imagine what the Frozen Four in Chicago will be like in a few weeks.
Nadia said she and Twyler would wait for me by the side door, but I’m squished between the opposing red and black jerseys and I’m pretty sure I’ll never make it.
“Shelby! Over here!”
I push up on my toes, looking over the bushy haired teenager more interested in his phone than anything else.
“Hey!” I shout, waving when I see Nadia jumping up and down trying to get my attention.
It’s a struggle, but I manage to squeeze my way through the swarm and reach them.
“Sorry I’m late.” Nadia gives me a hug. “The plane sat on the tarmac for thirty minutes and wouldn’t let us off.”
“I’m just glad you made it,” she says. “Are you excited about your first game?”
“I am, actually.” Since Mike had already prepared for me not to be at work tonight, I could actually come. I look over my shoulder at the massive crowd. “Seems like I picked a good one.”
“It’s going to be intense.” Twyler already looks like her head is in the game. “But as long as no one acts like a dumbass I think they can take it.”
“All I know is that Axel gave me an update of everything that went down in Texas,” Nadia says, eyes rolling, “but I need a first hand account. He’s not a reliable narrator when it comes to gossip.”
“Can we do it inside?” Twyler asks, edging toward the building.
“No complaints from me. I already miss the warmer weather in Texas.”
“Tell me about it,” Nadia agrees. She’s from Florida, where it’s even warmer all year round.
“Here’s your wristband.” Twyler pulls the strip of waxy paper out of her pocket.
Reid told me that he’d leave me a ticket to the game, and I just needed to meet up with the girls to get it. I stretch out my arm and push back my sleeve, so that she can secure it for me.
“He also sent this.”
Nadia hands me a shirt. A Wittmore jersey. I hold it up. It’s one of the new designs and when I turn it around I see his name on the back. My belly flutters knowing that he wants me to wear this. Like he told me when we first met, how if he was my man, he wouldn’t be shy about claiming me.
“They’re revealing the new line of spirit wear tonight as a boost for the finals,” Twyler says. “They’re still moving forward even if they lose tonight, but they’ll get to skip to the top six if they win and the athletic department wants to capitalize on it.”
Twyler takes us to a side entrance where she knows the security guard.
“Twyler, come to see our boy pull off a win?” the guard asks.
“He better.” She holds out her arm and he scans her in. Nadia and I follow.
“I have no doubt they’ll pull through.”
“Thanks, Stan,” she says, giving him a wave.
“Do you know everyone on campus?” I ask, following her down the hallway. She’s always taking us in and out of back doors and no-access tunnels.
“The security guards work all of the games. The basketball games, too. But I know Stan from my time here. He’s cool.”
“We’re inside,” Nadia elbows me, “spill. What happened in Texas? With you and Reid.”
“I was shocked he came,” I admit. “Like, totally surprised.”
“But a good surprise?” She grins.
“Yeah, a really good one.”
As we walk down the long hallway, I give them the update. How I’d gone back to end the relationship once and for all and to tell my parents I was moving back East. How no one was happy about it, but then Axel showed up, and unbeknownst to me, Reid was waiting up in my room.
“I told him I love him. And he told me he wanted me to come back and stay at the Manor.”
“I bet he did.” Nadia is beaming. “Did you fuck him? In your parents house? I bet they would lose their minds.”
“Jesus, Nad!” Twyer glares at her friend. “You can’t just ask people things like that!”
I give a shrug, but there’s no hiding the smile threatening to expose me. I’d snuck into the guest room after everyone was asleep and Reid and I definitely made up.
“Oh yeah,” Nadia grins and holds up her hand for a high five, “you totally fucked him.”
I roll my eyes but slap her hand, marveling at this new life where we go to hockey games to support our boyfriends, wear their jerseys, and laugh and talk about sex, like it’s no big deal.
That’s what all of my new friends have taught me, Reid too. Sex isn’t something to be ashamed of, or kept secret. But it is still a big deal, because of the way he makes me feel. I didn’t know that love and sex could be so intense until he showed me.
Uninterested in my love life and singularly focused on the game, Twyler surges forward leading us to an entrance to the lower level. The lights, the crowd, the energy is instantly overwhelming, and I take it all in as we climb a few rows to get to our seats.
Before I sit, I peel off my jacket and pull the oversized jersey over my head. The person behind me grins. “I love your jersey.”
“Thanks.”
That’s when I look around and take in the fans around me. Dotting through the crowd are pieces of the new, Reid created, swag.
“Holy crap, guys,” I poke Nadia in the shoulder, “look.”
Since we came in through Twyler’s side entrance, we didn’t see the merch being sold. But what I’m seeing goes far beyond a few T-shirts and jerseys. Reid’s design is on everything, hats, scarves, patches and bags. They’ve branded everything with his sassy retro badger, or the new font, including the little guy stitched onto a necktie, and the pattern of a button down shirt.
“This is amazing,” Twyler says. “I had no idea they were going to do this.”
Reid didn’t just design a T-shirt or something for a one time use, he’s created a new brand altogether.
A motion catches my eye, I look over and see Reid’s sister, Veronica waving at me. His parents are next to her, and two other young adults I recognize from photos Reid’s shown me. His family. Ronnie shouts my name, “Shelby!”
“Hi, Ronnie!”
She grins when I see her, and I also wave to his parents, which is a whole other can of worms I haven’t even processed. Do they know? What will they think?
That answer comes a little sooner than I expect. I’ve barely sat down, when I hear a shriek. We all turn around and see Ronnie with her eyes bugged, leaning over to one of her siblings and pointing. At me. It’s no secret that they’re discussing me and the jersey.
“Busted.” Nadia smirks. “Guess that’s one way to announce your relationship to his family.”
My cheeks burn red, but the pleased expressions on his parent’s faces tell me all I need to know. They approve.
Taking a deep breath I focus on the ice, where both teams are zipping back and forth. I’m a lot faster at finding the players now. My brother, covered head to toe in pads, hunched in the goal. Reese, with his captain's badge, commanding the players. Jefferson skating around the ice with unnatural grace, like his massive six-five frame and broad shoulders weigh nothing.
And then Reid. Number eight, seemingly focused on the ice, snaps his eyes up to the stands, directly at me. Adjusting his helmet, he lifts his chin and gives me a wink, before skating off to join his team.
And even though no one around me can tell, I swoon. Flat out swoon, because this man is the best thing that ever happened to me.
Wittmore doesn’t just win–they dominate.
I’ve watched the games on TV at the Badger Den and came to the family event a few weeks ago, but nothing matches the exhilaration of watching the sport in action. The guys are fast. Rough. Sweaty. I can’t keep my eyes off of Reid as he skillfully commands the ice.
“I think I lost my voice.”
Twyler looks exhausted, like she played the game herself. Her high pitch scream is still rattling in my ears, even after the final buzzer and I think my arm is bruised from where Nadia’s fingers squeezed me in a death grip every time the puck got near Axel.
“You picked a doozy for the first game,” Nadia tells me as we start up the stairs. “The guys are going to be wild tonight.”
“What do you mean ‘wild’?”
“All that adrenaline running through them…” The girls share a look. “Just prepare yourself.”
I have no idea what that means, but we dispatch to the Badger Den to wait for the guys. Apparently, after a game like this there will be extra press and time with the coach. The fans are already lined up behind the arena, waiting for the players to come out.
“Shouldn’t we wait?” I ask.
“Nah,” Twyler fluffs her hair, “we’ll save them a table, then order some food and beer.”
The Badger Den is wild when we get there, stuffed with fans from all over. Mike and Josie give me a quick wave as they manage the crowd near the bar.
“Saved you the long table in the back,” Josie says on her way to a table carrying a tray of drinks.
“Thank you.” I shrug off my jacket.
She notices the jersey, grins and says, “Nice.”
The compliment hits me in a weird way, and I mull it over as I walk to the table. There’s a sign marking it reserved. Once we sit, Nadia asks, “What’s that look about?”
“I’m just thinking how no one ever talked to me like that about my promise ring from David. I mean, I got congratulations from church ladies and stuff like that, but no one ever looked…” I search for the word, “impressed.”
“David is a dud,” she says with authority, although she’s never met him. “I’m sure there’s some girl out there for him, but Reid Wilder? He’s a catch. Darla was a fucking fool to let him go–”
“Thank god, tho, right?” Twyler adds, opening her menu.
“For real.” Nadia looks at me. “You bagged yourself a future NHL star who is also an amazing artist, and is also the biggest, sweetest, Teddy bear, who–”
“Gives amazing orgasms,” I blurt. A second later my face burns hot. “Oh my God, I can’t believe I said that.”
Both girls lean toward me. “How amazing?” Nadia asks, but Twyler definitely also looks interested in the answer.
I grin, thinking about how weird and wonderful and exciting my life is now that I’m not bound with the rules and expectations I grew up with. Still, some things are just between me and Reid, so I just reply, “Pretty fucking amazing.”
My truth bomb shocks them as much as it does me, but thankfully there’s a diversion. I don’t even have to look to see that the guys have arrived. The cheers and shouts are deafening. My heart hammers just knowing he’s here. I haven’t spoken to him since I got on the plane from Texas. By the time he, and the others, work their way to the table they have drinks in their hands and wide smiles on their mouths. Then it hits me. It’s the first time we’ve been out together as a couple, and I have no idea how to do that.
They converge on the table, my brother making a beeline to Nadia and Reese pressing a slow kiss on Twyler’s temple. I feel that panicky heat until Reid’s eyes land on me, and the sweetest, sexiest smile curves his mouth.
“Hey.” He skims a hand down my throat, resting it at the base. “Have a good time?”
“It was incredible. You were incredible. You guys killed it.”
“It helped having you there.” His thumb rubs the neckline of the jersey. “Just knowing you were back and sitting in those stands made me able to focus.”
Wow.
Josie and the other waiter start delivering the massive amount of food we’d ordered. Wings, fries, cheese sticks and beer, of course. Nadia had been right. The energy put off by these guys is amazing. They’re obviously tired. A few of them bruised, but they’re all running on endorphins and adrenaline, replaying the game and strategizing for the next.
The entire time, Reid has me as close as he can get me.
“Anything else?” Josie asks, while picking up empty bottles and baskets.
“Let me help,” I say, grabbing a few.
“You’re off the clock.”
“Yeah, well I can carry a few bottles on my way to the bathroom, right?” I look back at Reid. “I’ll be right back.”
I toss the bottles into the recycling bin and notice that the container behind the bar is almost out of napkins. I figure I can grab a new package from the storeroom.
I push past a couple making out in the back hallway and step into the supply closet. I’ve barely stepped inside when someone comes in behind me, shuts the door and wraps their arms around my body.
Reid.
“Thought you could get away, GG?”
“I was just being helpful.” I lean into him, feeling the hard line of his erection against my backside. Craning my neck I look up at him. “You need me to help you get a handle on that?”
He pushes the hair off my neck and sucks a kiss into my skin. “I wanted to fuck you so bad the last time we were in here.” He licks a hot trail up to my ear. “You weren’t ready then. Not the way you are now.”
He’s the one that taught me how to love and make love. How to be adventurous, chase what I want.
“It’s worse now. Ever since I saw you up in the stands.” His hand pushes up under my shirt, palm flattening over my belly as it skims upward, until he reaches my breast. My nipples harden instantly, and he squeezes. “I can’t wait until we get home, GG.”
That’s the thing. Neither can I.
Lifting my chin, his mouth meets mine, and he kisses me in that sweet but urgent way that sets my skin on fire. “Fuck me, Reid,” I demand, wanting him to know I need it as much as he does.
He groans, breath hot and hands moving, pushing down my pants. “You wet for me?”
Spearing his fingers between my legs, he grunts in approval at the slick heat already building. All those touches and looks back in the bar got me warmed up, and feeling his desire for me only made it more intense. Unbuttoning his pants, I reach for him, wrapping my hand around the smooth velvet of his erection, stroking upward until I feel the pearl of fluid at the tip, and spread it over the head. He rocks into me, thickening at my touch.
“I’m going to fuck you here, GG, then I’m going to take you home and do it again in my bed.” He lifts me with his strong arms, positioning me in the way he wants. I let him take charge, I like it that way, I like him bold and forceful. There’s no hesitation, he just thrusts into me, thick and hard. I gasp at the welcome invasion, clinging to him as he takes me. Even like this, his fingers dip to touch my clit, rubbing delicious circles with every rock of his hips.
It’s fast and dirty, something I never thought I’d enjoy–truthfully, something I’d never even thought about until this man entered my life. The build up, the short, quick, breaths drag me into a headiness that consumes me. One that only breaks as the orgasm shatters over me, I know the second before he comes, because Reid’s teeth bare down on my shoulder and he thrusts into me one last time, cock twitching as I tighten around him.
“I love you, Shelby,” he says, holding onto me.
I look at him, feeling him inside and out. “I love you, too.”
True to his word, as soon as we get home from the game, and the after party at the Badger Den, Reid moves me into his bedroom.
And as expected, my brother isn’t a fan of this arrangement.
At first we tried being discreet, keeping our PDA to a bare minimum, but everything, every touch, look, glance… it all sets him off.
“I can’t sleep knowing you’re in there… together,” he declares after we return home from the bar. Reid has already carried both of my suitcases upstairs. The boxes being shipped will have to get sorted later.
“Then stop thinking about it, dude,” Reid says, wrapping his arm around my waist. “You’re the one being weird.”
“It’s not weird,” my brother argues. To be fair. He’s a little drunk. Hell, we all are. “How would you feel if it was your little sister?”
“My little sister is fourteen, so we’d have bigger issues.” Reid pulls me close. I’ll admit, it is weird to be so out in the open with our affection. It wasn’t something I did with David and this is all new for me and Reid. Still, I like having my man's hands on me, even if it makes my brother crazy.
“Babe,” Nadia says, “Do you want Shelby to think about what we’re doing?”
“No!” His hand thrusts in his hair. “Why would you say that?”
“You’re an idiot, you know that?” She sighs and sits on the arm of the couch.
I open my mouth to tell him to chill out, that I’ll go back to the porch, but Reid must sense what I’m about to do and shakes his head. “This isn’t our problem, GG.”
Finally Axel looks at his girlfriend and says. “Fine. Get your stuff.”
Nadia rests her hands on her hips. “Where are we going?”
“To the Teal House where I can pretend none of this is happening.”
“Whatever.” Walking past me for her bag and coat, Nadia rolls her eyes at me, and pushes Axel out of the house.
“Thank god,” Reid says, pulling me against his body. “I thought he’d never leave.”
“I feel bad.”
“Don’t.” He takes my chin in his fingers and lifts my face to his. “I have no interest in being quiet.”
Reese clears his throat and I realize he and Twyler are still here. Jefferson, too.
“Yeah,” Twyler says, grabbing Reese’s hand, “we may head down to the other house too.”
“Have fun!” Reid calls, watching them scurry out of the house. He then sets his eyes on Jefferson, who is sprawled on the couch, staring at his phone. “What about you?”
“Oh, I don’t give a shit about your sex sounds.” Jefferson grins, the dimple appearing in his cheek. That little divot gives him a touch of innocence that is false advertising. “I’m here for it.”
“Why aren’t you at some sorority house or shacked up with a puck bunny?” I ask. After a big win like tonight, I’d think Jefferson would be ready to party.
“Didn’t you hear?” he looks up from his phone. “Ingrid Flockton tickets go on sale tonight. She added a surprise show here in two weeks. Right before we head to Chicago for the playoffs.”
“Ooooh!” I perk up. “Get me one too!”
“What’s your deal with this girl?” Reid asks. “You can’t tell me you’re really into her music.”
“Dude,” he says, tone a little hurt, “you know she’s my number one.”
“Number one?” I ask, looking between them.
“Jefferson has a list of people he wants to hook up with.” He cuts his friend an look. “An actual, physical list. Ingrid Flockton is number one.”
“She’s held that spot since I was thirteen,” he says proudly. “I didn’t lose my virginity to her, but I did lose it to one of her songs. This may be my chance.”
The look Reid gives him is nothing less than incredulous. “You think you’ll go to her concert and somehow end up hooking up with her?”
Jefferson’s shoulders rise, meeting the blond fringe on the back of his neck. “You gotta shoot your shot, bro, you know that.”
“Alright, we’re done,” Reid says, lifting me in his arms. “Have fun with all that.”
“No, you guys have fun.” He grins and then goes back to his phone. “And be as loud as you want. No judgment.”
Even more than holding hands and kissing in public, it’s strange going into Reid’s room knowing it’s no longer a secret. But it’s also nice not to sneak around. He must feel the same because the minute the door is closed he has me pressed against the back of it, hands pushing up my shirt.
“You’ve been driving me crazy wearing my shirt all night.”
“I liked wearing it at the game. People noticed.”
His lips are back on my neck. “Yeah?”
“ People like your family.”
“Ah.” He straightens up, but doesn’t move away, keeping our bodies close. “They told me after the game. Ronnie loves your hair and told my other siblings every detail she knew about you. My mom remembers you as Axel’s sister and the nice girl she talked to at family day, and was a little pissed I didn’t introduce you that day.”
“You in trouble?”
“Nope.” His thumb presses into my hip. “They want you to come to the house once the season is over, so that you can meet everyone.”
“Is that what you want?”
“They’re my family. Of course I want you to meet them. But,” his eyes sweep over me and his tongue darts out to lick his bottom lip, “right now I’m too distracted by you in that shirt.”
“You want me to keep it on?”
“Fuck no, it’ll look even better on the floor.”
He wastes no time, stripping both of us down to nothing in a heartbeat, and tossing me on the bed. To my surprise he doesn’t make a move, instead, winding our bodies together, more content to just be close than anything else. Poor Jefferson may not get the show he was hoping for.
“You know,” he says suddenly, “I never thanked you.”
I crane my neck to look at him. “For what?”
“For walking in that door on Valentine's Day and kissing me.”
I laugh at the memory because oh my god what had I been thinking? “Well, I want to thank you for giving me the courage to be more than a housewife in Texas.”
I run my finger over his tattoo, tracing over the number eight.
“I’m going to need to update that.”
“Yeah?”
He looks down at me, and if I ever thought I knew what love looked like before I met Reid, I was wrong. “I thought that when the Wilder’s adopted me, that was it. That was the definition of family. That they would be my final home,” his fingers skim over my chin, lifting my face to his, “but then you came along and I realized that it’s not about the location. It’s about the person.”
With everything coming our way; my new life. Reid’s career. The uncertainty and upheaval, of the two of us finding our path. He’s right. I feel it in my bones. It doesn’t matter where we live, or whatever we do, as long as we have one another we’ll both be home.