Epilogue
ASHER
Four years later
“Ash.”
Alone in the Hammerheads’ arena after hours, my favorite voice in the world alerted me to Cade’s presence at the other side of the rink.
It never got old, reuniting with Cade every night in the home we’d bought two years ago.
Just outside of Lakeside, we were far enough away from any prying eyes that might get curious about a former NHL player, but close enough that I could be at the arena for Zane’s absurdly early practice schedule within twenty minutes.
By the end of Cade’s rookie season with the Hammerheads, he’d been busy making plans for his post-hockey life, applying to several southern Ontario universities as a mature student.
Meanwhile, his mom had separated from his father and was currently living in my Toronto condo that I’d gifted to her.
Even though my second favorite Kelly protested—as loudly as I’d ever heard her speak—I claimed that it was a good investment to hang onto it, and Lynn was a single subway stop from some of the best hospitals in the province.
Not to mention it was much easier to arrange the daily assistance of a personal support worker in an urban center.
In the end, I’d won, and Cade liked having his mom less than two hours away.
Even though he was so excited about the new beginnings in his life, he’d held my hand throughout months of uncertainty about whether I would have to say goodbye to the Titans and the NHL that off-season.
When I realized that rehabbing my shoulder hadn’t been enough to get me back on the ice, Cade was the one who’d held me together during my orthopedic surgical consults to see if surgery would fix things.
Both the surgeon the Titans had fought for me to be referred to and the surgeon I’d sought out privately had offered me no certainties about how well my shoulder would perform post-surgery.
But both cautioned me about the likelihood of nerve damage I would sustain if I threw myself back into playing at the professional level.
It came down to the simple fact that it wasn’t worth it to me to live with lifelong damage to my body, not when I had so much to look forward to outside of hockey in the life that Cade and I were building brick by brick.
In the end, Cade had let his contract with the Hammerheads elapse, and my temporary offensive coach role had become a permanent one. It was a decision I’d never regretted since I now had a shorter season, more flexibility to be with my family, and more time in our new home with Cade.
Heart light, but full, as I headed toward the person I looked for first in every room and whose sweet face was the last thing I saw at night, I increased my pace. Tonight, I was especially keen to get my arms around him after a long day.
Normally, if the Hammerheads were home, Cade and I would be at home having dinner, accompanied by Poe’s endless claims that he hadn’t been fed in all his life.
Once he was near enough, I reached out to pull him into me, erasing the last step between us.
“Hi.”
His smile was tired; the final exams of his fourth-year computer science degree were kicking his butt right now.
“Hi, sweetheart.” I wrapped my arms around him, soaking in his warm scent after a long day studying on campus.
Despite the fall jackets and hoodies we wore, it didn’t stop me from gathering him as close to me as possible.
I immediately stole a kiss, loving how he leaned in. The little hitch in his breathing had me taking it deeper than intended. My tongue swept across his lips, seeking entry.
“Mmm, god, Cade baby,” I groaned against his mouth, before bringing our lips back together.
I suddenly wished we were home and not in a public place where I worked.
The nickname was like a spell for my boyfriend. He sagged in my arms, practically dissolving in bliss and arousal. Cade’s kisses increased in intensity, and the needy way he wanted me echoed my desire to give it to him.
Cade leaned back enough to meet my gaze. His eyes narrowed playfully.
“Not fair, babe. You know what that does to me. We’re at the rink for god’s sake.”
“I know. Why do you think I say it so often? I adore how sweet and pliant you get when I remind you how much I want you.” I pecked his lips.
I needed to get my plan underway. The anticipation hummed through my veins. I was looking forward to the next part of the evening as much as the next few moments.
Sliding my right hand down the side of his body and linking our fingers, I gently guided him to the nearest door leading onto the ice.
Since giving up hockey to pursue his dreams, it was rare for Cade to set foot—or skate—on the ice.
He said that his enjoyment of hockey now came from my passion for the players and the team. Being a supportive partner and spectator allowed him to put some of the ghosts of his childhood and teenage years to rest.
“Ash? What’s going on? Did you forget something?”
“I just want to show you something quickly, and then we can get home to Poe and Tate.”
A rush of gratitude hit me at being able to stand here in this moment with Cade, thinking of our menace Potato and his little brother, Tater Tot, another black rescue kitten that we’d brought home earlier this year.
But our boys would have to wait. I had important business with their daddy first.
We stepped carefully to center ice. It was the exact same position we stood in just over four years ago when Zane had introduced me as his assistant coach.
I moved to stand in front of him, reaching into the sleeve of my jacket for what I’d hidden there just before he arrived. The puffiness of the inner lining worked in my favor as a disguise.
I gripped the brand-new jersey tightly in my left hand, still keeping hold of one of his hands with my right.
“I’ve got something for you, sweetheart.”
Cade’s cheeks were dusted with pink from the cool air, but nothing could hide those precious freckles on his cheeks.
The gorgeous flush reached the tips of his ears with the understanding that I had a gift for him.
“Aw, Ash, you know you don’t have to. I have everything I could ever want,” he lightly admonished me, offering a squeeze to my hand, telling me I was his “everything.”
I did know. Cade was the least selfish person I knew. Despite the considerable wealth I’d managed to save in my eight years in the league, he continued to be careful with managing money.
“All the more reason to spoil you when it’s warranted.” I winked, letting the mischief in my smile transform into a genuine, hopeful expression.
I held his gaze as I continued. “I know you hung up your jersey with no regrets four years ago. Watching you pursue your dreams with energy and determination has made me the proudest boyfriend on the planet. I want you to live every day being true to yourself. The day we met, you captivated my attention and still have every moment since.” The emotion caused my voice to become thick.
“Ash,” Cade whispered. His eyes widened as he understood what was happening.
“I know you’re not one for gifts. And the last thing you need in your life is another hockey jersey. But a little over four years ago, I stood here and gave you your Hammerheads jersey with our shared number. So, I hope you’ll accept this new one with a slight change.”
I let go of his hand to hold the jersey up so that he could read the “Landry” across the back.
“I hoped that you might want to share more than a number with me, so I had this specially made for you. It’s one of a kind, just like you are.
I want us to be a family officially. I want to share all the big moments and the little moments of my life with you.
I love you, Cade baby. Will you marry me? ”
Cade’s eyes were wet with emotion. His hand shook slightly when he reached up to take the jersey from me.
“Yes, Ash. I love you so much.” His voice rough with all the feeling whirling between us. “Yes, I want nothing more than to marry you and be a family together.”
“Just one more thing.” I pulled out the plain silver band I’d bought for him.
It shone under the bright fluorescent lights of the arena. I turned it until the small engraved number seventeen was visible.
“When you wear this ring and your skin brushes up against this number, it can be a reminder that I love you more than I thought was possible to love another person.” I angled the ring to the side to show him the inside where I’d put “Cade baby” for his eyes only.
“And this, to remind you how much I want you in every way.”
I slipped the ring onto Cade’s left ring finger, watching as he turned the ring until the seventeen was visible. He ran his thumb back and forth over it a couple times with the most adorable, pleased smile on his face.
We erased the distance between us, wrapping our arms around each other. We came together in a deep kiss that said with our bodies everything we had just said with our hearts.
Minutes or hours could have gone by in the chilly, silent arena, but I was oblivious to everything except the man in front of me. Every sense was consumed with Cade.
Feeling the heat on my skin from our stubble rubbing together, the last thing I wanted to do was stop kissing him, but I could definitely think of a more comfortable place to do it.
Pulling back, I took his hand.
“Ready to go home?”
“I’m ready for anything when we’re together,” Cade answered.
I felt the metal of his ring rub against my fingers for the first time. The knowledge that I’d get to love this man forever overwhelmed me.
It turned out that injuring my shoulder was the best thing that could have happened to me. It set me on the path to this moment.
“Plus.” Cade’s eyes sparkled with happiness as we walked toward the exit. “You know Poe is going to be furious that his dinner is over an hour late. And he’s teaching Tate all his bad habits as we speak,” he laughed.
“Eh, let him,” I shrugged, a matching grin on my face. “Anything to have this moment right here is worth it.”
Cade’s eyes softened. We’d gone through a lot more than a grumpy cat to get to this place.
“Aw, babe, are you going to be this sappy all the time now?” he teased, leaning over to kiss my cheek.
“Plan on it, sweetheart.”