Epilogue
Jessica
The annual “Meet the Community” event in Nashville is buzzing with energy, filling the arena with fans, families, and familiar faces. The air is thick with excitement, laughter echoing off the walls as people wait in line for autographs and photos with the Nashville team’s hockey players. And while I’ve been to a few of these back in Denver over the past two years with Eric, today feels different—warmer, more personal, like coming home after a long journey.
Eric and I stand arm in arm as we take it all in, looking out over the crowd. He’s back in Nashville, back with his old team. It still feels surreal, especially when I think of everything that’s happened in the last couple of years.
“Hey, Jess! Eric!” a voice calls from across the room, and I look up to see Jake and Allie, both grinning like kids on Christmas morning. Jake’s holding a small Nashville hockey fan foam finger, while Allie clutches a cup of something that looks suspiciously like coffee with whipped cream, even though it’s not exactly arena-approved.
“Hey, you two!” I say, beaming as they come over to hug us.
Jake gives Eric a playful slap on the back. “Look who’s come crawling back to Nashville, huh?”
Eric chuckles, rolling his eyes in mock exasperation. “You know I can’t stay away. Nashville is home.”
It’s true. Even after all he accomplished in Denver—leading the Avalanche to the playoffs in his first season and the finals in his second—Nashville has always held a special place in his heart. The two-year contract with the Avalanche gave him the time to rebuild his reputation, to prove to the world and himself that he was more than the headlines of the past. And now, he’s back where it all began.
“Welcome home, man,” Jake says, his voice more serious as he claps Eric’s shoulder again. There’s a warmth in his eyes that says he’s not just glad to see Eric in a Nashville jersey again, but that he’s proud of him.
As we chat, Linda comes into view, and I feel my heart swell with pride. She’s glowing, surrounded by a group of young people who hang onto her every word, their faces lit with hope. Watching her here, now the director of a new nonprofit that helps at-risk youth overcome addiction, fills me with awe. It’s impossible to ignore how much she’s grown in her own way over the last couple of years.
When we get a quiet moment, I catch her eye and wave her over. She excuses herself and heads toward us; her smile wide.
“Jessica, Eric!” she says, her voice filled with warmth as she wraps us both in a hug. “It’s so good to see you both here.”
“We wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I say, hugging her back tightly.
Eric looks down at her, his eyes soft. “I was just telling Jessica how proud I am of you. What you’re doing here, it’s—” he trails off, shaking his head as if the words are too big for him. “It’s incredible, Mom.”
Linda squeezes his arm, her eyes glistening with pride. “Well, I couldn’t have done it without both of you. And Jessica, please tell your dad thank you for all he’s done. He helped me find the right people to make this happen.”
“Oh, I will,” I say with a grin, thinking of my dad. After spending so long chasing ambitions in LA, he decided to open an entertainment law firm for musicians. The best part? He asked me to be his lead attorney and run the place for him, and I said yes. It feels like the perfect balance, being able to help guide careers in the industry while keeping my work and family close.
And my dad’s doing more than just legal work—he’s also found happiness again. I glance around and spot him across the room, laughing with a woman named Claire. She’s warm, genuine, and—most importantly—she adores my dad for who he is. Watching them together fills me with a comfort I didn’t know I needed. It’s as if he’s found his way back to the person he used to be, the man who loved and respected my mom’s memory, who values real connections over fleeting flings.
When Eric catches me watching my dad, he gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “It’s good to see him like this, isn’t it?” he asks, his voice soft.
I nod, feeling a swell of gratitude. “It really is.”
We stay close, letting the energy of the event surround us as we make our way around, greeting old friends and teammates. The entire night feels like a celebration—not just of Eric’s return, but of everything we’ve overcome to be here.
After a while, Eric and I find a quiet corner to steal away into. I lean against him, my heart racing with excitement. I’ve been carrying a secret for the last week, one that I can barely contain anymore. Tonight feels like the perfect time to share it.
“Eric,” I say, my voice a little shaky. “There’s… something I want to tell you.”
He looks down at me, his eyes warm and full of curiosity. “What’s up?”
I take a deep breath, my heart pounding. “Well, you’re a… you’re going to be a father. I found out I’m pregnant.”
His eyes widen in surprise, and for a second, he just stares at me, his mouth open. Then, slowly, a grin spreads across his face, and he laughs, pulling me into his arms.
“Are you serious?” he asks, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and joy.
I nod, my own laughter bubbling up. “Yes, I’m serious.”
He kisses me, his happiness radiating through every touch, every look. “Jess, this is incredible. I can’t believe it.”
We stand there, wrapped in each other, letting the enormity of the news sink in. This moment, with the man I love and a future that’s brighter than I could have ever imagined, is everything I’ve ever dreamed of.
The evening is a whirlwind of joy and celebration, and as we prepare to leave, I find myself thinking back over the last two years. I think about the challenges we faced, the way we held on to each other, even when things felt uncertain. And I think about how far we’ve come, not just as a couple, but as individuals who’ve learned to trust, love, and support each other unconditionally.
As we step outside into the cool Nashville night, Eric pulls me close, his arm wrapped around my shoulders. “Thank you,” he says quietly, looking down at me with a warmth that makes my heart swell.
“For what?” I ask, smiling up at him.
“For everything,” he says, his voice filled with gratitude. “For believing in me, for sticking by me… and for giving me this family.” He places a gentle hand on my stomach, his smile filled with wonder.
I lean into him, feeling the strength of his love, the stability that comes from knowing that we’re in this together, no matter what. “We’re a team,” I say softly. “And we’re only getting started.”
THE END
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If you loved Snowed In With the PUCK , then you'll love ICE COLD Truth.
The brooding hockey captain is hot enough to melt ice—and he’s my new roommate…
I’m living with my hockey player brother and his best friend, Jack Ford, the grumpy but insanely hot NHL star.
When I meet him for the first time, he’s wearing nothing but a towel, and my knees nearly buckle.
My usual down-to-earth mind immediately sprints to the gutter. Oh, the pucking we could do!
Jack and I start to fake date to boost his image and stir some media buzz. But there’s nothing fake about our spark Or what we do on the kitchen counter… and table… and bed…
I quickly turn from giddy fangirl to falling hard. His quiet strength pulls me in and I melt with the way his rare, soft smile feels like it’s just for me.
When I get a work assignment to spy on him and the team, I’m caught between my career and the guy I never saw coming. If I break his trust, it’ll break us for good.
ICE-COLD Truth is a spicy, fake dating, brother's best friend sports romance.
Read chapter one on the next page!