Epilogue
SAM
“I can’t believe Coach Rawlings managed to pull this off,” the guy behind me says.
Before Izzy came to the Pickaxes, I had never heard of Wrenshaw University.
Thanks to his success between the pipes, the school has become an unofficial pipeline to success.
Not everyone who straps on the skates for the Wreckers goes pro, but they all seem to end up in careers that carry them far beyond the average college graduate.
Today is the first ever Wreckers Alumni Charity Game, and I’m proud to say that my husband and boyfriend were both invited to participate. Both of their parents even made the journey East to watch, despite the crazy holiday travelers that they have to deal with in the airports.
“My left nut has more hair follicles than his mustache.”
Chase’s mother slaps her husband upside the head when James makes another crack about how young the college players are. Regina and James are amazingly active despite being in their seventies. Pops would have loved them.
I laugh and take another bite of the fries that I picked up from the concessions outside while the lights dim for the announcer to introduce the alumni team.
A few of the guys announced have made their way through the Pickaxe arena over the years, so I wave and cheer for them.
But honestly, there are only two names I’m looking forward to hearing.
“From the first ever championship team in Wrenshaw history, your number two D-man. Welcome to the ice, current financial manager for one of the biggest financial firms in our nation’s capital, Chase - the Ghost - Kinsey!”
Even at forty-five, Chase’s physique stirs me up. I’ve seen him in practice gear while he prepared for this game with Liam and Izzy, but there is something about the uniform that is taking him from his sexy as fuck self to putting me in danger of an indecent exposure charge.
Our eyes meet and I hope he can read the promise in my gaze that we are going to have a very fun night together back at the house we rented for the night.
“And the man you all have come to see,” the announcer continues. “No offense, Coach Rawlings, but we see you every week.”
The arena laughs on cue, and Liam skates out to join the rest of the alumni on the ice. The lights dim and Ceremony by Stray Kids starts playing over the sound system.
IZZY
I gave Coach Rawlings… erhm Liam… a list of songs that I use for my entrance with the team, and I’m surprised he chose Stray Kids instead of AlD1 for my cue. It doesn’t matter what song he chose because I just had the most amazing makeout session with my boyfriend in the tunnel.
Tick another fantasy off the list.
Chase laughed off the cat-calls and whistles from the rest of the guys as they walked past us, but part of me always worries that someone is going to force me to make a big deal out of my relationships publicly.
So far, we’ve been lucky enough that a few other players are less discreet and make the headlines for their actions off the ice.
I try to make sure any media focus on my life is only on my game and the charity work I participate in.
Brad has been phenomenal at navigating all of it to keep them on topic, too. Outside of a mention that I am married, no one has published anything regarding the fact that I have a husband, not a wife.
“On loan to us for one day only. NAPH Champion Goaltender of the DC Gladiators… Our Prince Between the Pipes… Isaiah Charming!”
The roar of the crowd drowns out the music, but I don’t care. This is where I found myself so many years ago, and led me to the men who have made my life complete.
Turning to face the stands behind the benches, I blow a kiss to my husband and wave to my parents who are sitting next to him.
Now that I’m up in the NAPH for good, they don’t always have to fly over four hours to see me play.
Every game I play west of the Rocky Mountains will see them in the stands, and I love having them cheering me on again.
Sam returns my kiss with a wink, and I pull my helmet down to hide the fact that he can still make me blush like a fucking teenager even after five years together.
“I think we can make your ass as pink as your cheeks later tonight,” Chase whispers as he skates behind the net before getting into position for the face-off. Oh, fuck. I haven’t been in net with a hard-on since I was seventeen.
This is going to be an interesting game.
CHASE
Liam owes me big time. I’m about twenty years out of shape for pulling off a full sixty minutes of play. Playing with a bunch of white collar workers in a beer league on the weekends for the last two years definitely didn’t prepare my crusty ass for playing with college kids.
I know I’m tall, but come on. They are so fucking tiny! Is there some cosmic rule out there that younger guys are automatically smaller than you remember them being when you were that age?
Despite my age, I manage to play decently enough, but the only thing that kept us old farts competitive was Izzy in the net.
My boy is even being kind enough to give the college guys pointers every time he snatches away their chance to put a point on the board.
I have the feeling there will be an influx of pro players from our alma mater in the next few years.
After the game, all I want to do is pop some ibuprofen and sleep, but I have to join my boyfriends and the parents for dinner.
It was torture showering in the same room as Isaiah without touching him, but I risked enough when we were kissing in the tunnel before the game.
While the world might be ready for a non-hetero professional hockey player, I’m pretty sure him also being poly would get the bigots and “family values” crowd up in arms all over again.
“You are still amazing, Baby Boy,” my mother tells me when I lean down to give her a kiss on the cheek. Soon enough, she pushes me away to give Izzy a big ole Mama squeeze.
“Not as amazing as this one, but no one can be better than my favorite prince.”
Izzy turns an adorable shade of pink while the rest of us laugh. I take Sam’s hand in mine while we all make our way over to the parking lot so that we can make it to our reservations in the city. While Wrenshaw is a great little metropolis college town, Pittsburgh offers so many more options.
Of course, with the larger city comes more recognition for our boy, but he handles it all with grace and charm.
Over the last five years, he has really embraced his nickname of the prince between the pipes, and he plays up the “Prince Charming” aspect by dressing up when he visits the kids at the children’s hospital.
When we finally say goodbye to our parents and reach our rental for the night, I’m done. Forty-five years is too old to be playing hockey with teenagers.
“Let me take care of you, Chase,” Isaiah offers when he takes my jacket off to hang it on the back of the dining area chair.
“Let us,” Sam echoes and hands me a bottle of water. “You let us pursue our dreams and figured out how to keep us together when Iz got his big break. You’re always spoiling us. Let us spoil you for a change.”
As we fall into each others’ embraces, I can’t help but be thankful for whatever out there was looking out for me. My life was empty, but in five short years, I’ve found my forever with my closet Dom and our voyeuristic prince.