Epilogue
Preston
Eight months later
I stood on the sidelines at Cougar Stadium.
It was the first game of the season, and the first game that I held the title of Head Coach at Canyon University.
After I talked with Rodney and explained to him that I was irrevocably in love with his daughter, he understood my decision.
He wasn’t even upset that Trinity and I had fallen for each other, but he was concerned about her well-being in the situation.
Something we both had in common. So after discussing the remaining games and making the final decision for me to resign, he spoke on my behalf to the director, who hired me back as head coach when Rodney retired in May.
It worked in our favor, since my girl walked the stage the same month, earning her full master’s degree.
Then she landed a full-time spot with the team right alongside Julia.
I was so damn proud of her and couldn’t wait to ask her the one question that had been burning on my tongue for months.
We had it planned to a T. Rodney and Jodie stood a few feet behind me, the twins dressed in their best. Rodney was doing better.
The chemo had worked well, and he had moved on to radiation.
He and Trinity had a standing monthly golf day, and it was amazing to see the change in their relationship. The trust that was being rebuilt.
Her mother was a different story. It was still very strained, and I knew it killed her that they weren’t on good terms.
It was a hard lesson, but one we were working through together.
“You ready?” Wes asked.
“Been ready since aisle seven.” I shoved my hands in my pockets.
He chuckled, slapping a palm against my back. “I’m happy for you, man. You deserve it.”
“Don’t make me tear up.” Shaw stretched his neck. “There are cameras everywhere.”
Theo crossed his arms, his gaze neutral as usual. “She’s a good one. Don’t fuck it up.”
“Thanks for the pep talk, Theodore,” I quipped.
The announcer spoke, my cue to get this ball rolling.
I strode out to the fifty-yard line. When I took my spot, the announcer boomed over the speaker, asking Trinity to make her way to the middle of the field.
She was already near the tunnel. The location where Landry was in charge of keeping her.
The small velvet box in my pocket felt hot in my palm, my heart pounding as she crossed the field, looking like the most beautiful creature I’d ever seen.
She smiled at me, her eyes already wet with tears. When she finally made it to me, she adjusted her glasses before she placed a hand on her chest.
“Hi.” She smiled.
“Hi, Angel.” I lowered down to one knee, the crowd behind us screaming in response. “I need you to do something for me.”
She blushed, tears falling along her pink cheeks. “Anything.”
I presented the small box, an elegant princess-cut diamond planted in the center. “Marry me.”
More tears flowed as she nodded, then shouted, “Yes!”
Pushing up to my feet, I slid the ring on her finger, then banded an arm around her waist as I pressed a possessive kiss to her lips.
“Folks, she said yes!” the announcer bellowed.
She held up her hand, showing off the ring as we crossed the field to the sidelines, where Rodney and Jodie greeted her with a hug.
Jodie snapped a quick photo of us, then I shot it to Millie to show Ray.
I was crushed he couldn’t be here for this, but recently, there were more bad days than good. Travel was hard on him.
When I glanced up from my phone, she gripped my face, tugging me down for one more kiss. “Good luck, Coach.”
Four hours later, we pulled onto our street. The buzz from our first win still under our skin and a big diamond ring on my girl’s finger. Trinity kept her hand in mine the whole ride home, a grin on her face and eyes that held dirty promises. I couldn’t wait to get her home to celebrate.
When we reached the driveway, I spotted my sister’s car parked along the curb.
“Is that Liv?” Trinity asked, unbuckling her seat belt.
The two had met at Christmas and made quick friends. I was pretty sure she talked to my sister more than me nowadays and we were the ones living together.
“Yeah, that’s her, but she didn’t tell me she was visiting.” I killed the ignition.
“Me neither.” Trinity opened her door. “I talked to her yesterday.”
Climbing out of the car, we headed to the front door, anxiety growing in my chest. Liv was a person who thrived on routine.
She had a strict schedule and anything that was not already coded into her well-kept spreadsheet was grounds for a spiral.
She made plans months ahead of time, so the fact that she randomly showed up at my house without any prior warning was alarming.
“Is everything okay?” Trinity slid her hand in mine as I led her through the front door. “Is it Ray?”
“Not sure,” I answered.
I froze when we stepped into the entryway. The bass vibrated the walls, music blaring from my kitchen. I believe it was Beyoncé belting something about being a survivor.
Trinity squeezed my hand, so I kept moving.
When we rounded the corner of the living room, my steps slowed, my eyes zoning in on the open refrigerator.
The door slammed, revealing my sister holding a bottle of wine in one hand and a chocolate donut in the other.
“Hey!” Olivia smiled, then pushed a lock of blonde curls off her forehead with her forearm.
“Hey, Liv…” I trailed off. “What are you doing here? Is everything okay?”
Her eyes bounced between me and Trinity, her nose twitching slightly. It was her tell that she was about to unravel. She gently placed the wine bottle on the counter, her lip quivering as she fought to hold in her emotions.
“Liv?” Trinity whispered, her gaze soft.
That was all it took.
One tear escaped, then the dam broke.
The end.