Epilogue
“One minute left!” someone yells down the bench.
One minute left and the Colorado Black Diamonds are Stanley Cup Champions. We’re up 4-2 against Detroit, and our guys are out there skating hard.
The home crowd is cheering loud, knowing the win is within our grasp. It’s been a hard-fought playoff run to get here. No game is a given. We had to play the full seven games in a few series, but now? Now it’s game five and we’re getting ready to take this thing home.
In front of our home crowd.
Detroit’s goalie is pulled, giving them an extra man, but it doesn’t help. The seconds are ticking away. Long seconds that seem like they are stretching on for hours.
Troy shoots the puck down the ice, just missing the empty goal. Detroit is flying down the ice and grabs the puck, but it’s useless.
“Three, two, one!”
The fans explode as all of us leap over the bench.
“Your Colorado Black Diamonds are Stanley Cup Champions!” The announcer’s voice booms over the loud speaker.
“Holy shit!”
Gloves are flying as the guys all pile down on top of Nick at the other end of the ice. I have no idea who I’m hugging as we all clamor together. Fans are banging on the glass in front of us.
It’s the best feeling in the world as we line up to shake hands with the players from Detroit. Their heads hang as we make our way down the line.
That’s a feeling I never want to experience. Losing the biggest game of your life while having to shake hands with the winning team. They skate off the ice, not wanting to hang around a minute longer than they have to.
“That was a pretty good goal you had there, Noah tells me, slinging his arm around my shoulders. “Don’t think we would’ve pulled ahead without it.”
“Nah,” I brush him off. “We would’ve gotten it.”
There’s no way we would’ve lost this game at home. The energy tonight was something I’ve never felt before. Even during our first Stanley Cup run.
That one was about as easy as it gets.
This season, we had to fight. Fight for every goal and every win. Nothing about it came easy.
It makes it that much sweeter that we’ll get to lift the cup over our heads.
Carpets are being rolled out for reporters and members of the Black Diamonds’ staff to come out onto the ice.
Bexley Hart, the team owner’s daughter, is congratulating everyone around her. With her taking over more of team operations this season, I have no doubt it’s just as sweet for her.
On-ice reporters are already making their way to us. There’s hardly a moment to breathe as a Stanley Cup Championship hat is placed on my head.
“Think you have some time for a reporter?” Cassie asks, sauntering up to me.
“Come to gloat?”
“Who, me? Never.” A playful smile is on her face.
“For you, Cassie? Always. You won’t even have to tell me what to say.”
“About damn time, Willy.”
Cassie gives me a quick hug before a mic gets shoved in my face.
“Cash, how does it feel to win the cup?”
My eyes find Piper’s as the families are waiting to come onto the ice after the trophy is presented. I think of her. Of the season the two of us have had together. Of the love we share and still get to share.
“Fucking incredible.”
The reporter winces.
“Sorry. But I don’t know if anything can match this feeling. Our team fought hard throughout the playoffs, and for all that work to pay off feels amazing.”
“Your second Stanley Cup win with the Black Diamonds. How is this one different from the last?”
Not a single person has left the arena — not even Detroit fans. The Cup hasn’t come out yet, but everyone wants a glimpse of the greatest trophy in sports.
At least in my opinion.
“It’s different because I get to celebrate this win with my girlfriend.”
The reporter’s eyes go wide. “I think that’s the most I’ve ever heard you talk about your personal life.”
I laugh because I know it’s true. “I guess Piper is a good influence on me.”
“Well, go celebrate the win with her and your team. Thanks, Cash.”
“Thank you.”
Guys are ecstatic. Some of them are wiping tears from their eyes and others are taking in the crowd.
Only a few of them were here when we won last time.
For most, this is the first time winning the cup.
“I can’t believe this.” Troy wraps an arm around my shoulders.
“It might take a while to sink in.”
Time seems to slow down and speed up all in the same breath. The cup is presented to the team and Bexley gives a speech about the team this year. It’s hard to hear over the crowd’s excitement. I’m bursting to lift that trophy up. To finally haul Piper into my arms and lay one on her.
Bexley stands by the cup before it’s given to the coach and then passed off to Troy, who does his victory lap.
Surreal.
It’s the only way to describe how I’m feeling right now as the cup eventually makes its way toward me.
I take it and start my lap around the ice. It feels weightless in my hands as I lift it over my head. Skating toward where the families are waiting behind the glass, I easily spot Piper.
She cups her hands around her mouth and cheers as I skate in front of her. “Lookin’ good, Cash Williams!”
I shoot a wink her way as I pass off the cup to Noah.
“Yeah, baby!” He takes the cup, cheering as he skates off with it.
When I won my first cup with Colorado, I was a baby of a player. Now that I’m more seasoned, this win feels different.
Maybe it’s because I feel closer to these guys than I ever have in the past. Maybe it’s because I’m older and I can appreciate that I won’t get to do this for the rest of my life.
Or maybe it’s all because of Piper and getting to celebrate this win with her tonight. I look over to where she is, and her eyes are locked on me.
Finally, after what feels like forever, the families come onto the ice. Piper’s parents head toward Noah, but Piper does her best to walk over to me.
“You won!” I catch her before she falls and haul her into my arms. “I can’t believe it.”
Her face is wet with tears as she peppers my face with kisses.
“Did you doubt us?” I hold her close to me.
She’s already got a championship hat on. Happiness is radiating out from her.
“You know how nervous I get!” Piper flips my own hat around on my head so she can lay a kiss on my lips. “I couldn’t sit still.”
“I can’t imagine being nervous at all.”
She swats at me. “Cash!”
I press a kiss to her neck. “I love you, Princess.”
“I love you, my Stanley Cup Champion.”
My heart feels like it could burst out of my chest. I don’t ever remember feeling this happy before. Even the last win doesn’t hold a candle to this.
Because getting to hold Piper in my arms is about the best damn thing in the world.
“You know, I was a champion before.”
Piper drops her forehead to mine, wrapping her arms around my neck. “That doesn’t count. I wasn’t dating you then.”
“Dating doesn’t feel like the right word,” I tell her.
“Are we going to have this discussion now?”
I shrug a shoulder. “I’ve got nothing else to do right this very second.”
“What am I going to do with you?” Piper shakes her head, laughing at me.
She’s beaming, tears still wet on her face. With her jersey and championship hat on, she is the most beautiful person in the world.
“I have a few thoughts…”
“Oh yeah?” Her eyes are sparkling.
I nod, kissing her again before setting her on her feet. “None that would be appropriate to tell you here.”
The crowd is starting to thin out as the guys make their way to the locker room. Champagne will be popped. Beers will be downed. And that’s all before we head out to a club that will be reserved just for us and our families tonight.
“Well then, let’s get these celebrations underway. I want to hear all about them.” Piper shoves me away. “Now go celebrate so we can celebrate together later.”
I give her one last kiss on the ice, wanting to commit everything about this moment to memory.
The win.
The cup.
The love of my damn life.
It all comes back to her.
Piper.
I never thought when Cassie set the two of us up that we would be here. Falling in love and joining our lives together.
Me and her. It’s the only thing that does matter.
And I will spend every minute of my life making sure she knows.
Was Piper in the plans?
No.
But you know what they say about the best laid plans…