Epilogue
Kason
Three years later
Rylan right beside me, the rest of the team crowded around us, the Rebels stadium louder than it’s ever been, we hold the Stanley Cup over our heads, screaming and crying, celebrating this moment I’ve spent my whole career waiting for.
We’ve gotten close more than once but never managed to accomplish this dream that such a small percentage of the world will ever achieve or understand.
“I love you, Madsies!” Rylan shouts, hugging me and crying.
“I love you too, man!” I reply, getting swept up in the whirlwind of excitement.
As incredible as this moment is, it’s not complete. The second we’re not holding the Cup anymore, I’m looking around for him. It only takes me a few seconds to find him, as if my gaze is always drawn to where Anthony is.
He’s standing with Hayes, Donovan, and Eric. Ana and her boyfriend are here somewhere too, but not down on the ice with us. They started dating two years ago, and he’s great. We all love him, and he makes a great addition to our crew.
I can’t get to Anthony fast enough, skating to him when I see him trying to walk my way without falling. I get to him quickly, immediately lifting him into my arms.
“I’m so fucking proud of you!” he shouts over all the loud voices, crying happy tears.
The second I set him down, he grabs my face, the wedding ring on his finger pressing into my cheek.
“God, I love you.” His lips join mine, in a quick, hard, claiming kiss before we’re bombarded by our friends and my family, all of us celebrating the Rebels’ achievement.
Anthony and my family are still incredibly close, and Aline is one of his best friends.
The night goes by in a whirlwind of press and partying.
Lush is closed to regular business tonight, instead filled with our team, friends, family, and Rebels staff.
We dance and celebrate for hours, Anthony and I never leaving each other’s sides, and as much as I love this, I want a moment with just us—well, me, Ant, and our people.
“Come on.” I take his hand, give Rylan one look, and then both of us are gathering our people. Security lets us in one of the back rooms, the thumping music muted there.
We’re all married now—except Ana and her man, but I have a feeling it will happen someday soon.
Eric’s landscaping business is going well. He’s getting so much work, he had to hire another crew and truck to run.
Malcolm left LA about two years ago. The last we heard, he went from cheating and lying to fraud, pretending to be someone he wasn’t and stealing a bunch of money from a person he was dating.
He’ll likely spend a long time in jail. As long as we never see or hear from that motherfucker again, I’m good.
But if we do, we’ll handle it together, the way we deal with everything.
Nothing he says or does can hurt any of us again.
“Can you believe we fucking did it?” Rylan grabs me, pressing our foreheads together.
“I can.” It’s the icing on top of an already perfect life, with my husband by my side and the best friends in the world around us.
“Here.” Anthony grabs a bottle of champagne, and for the first time I notice the glasses on the table. “I planned ahead.” He grins. “I believed in my husband.”
“That’s right.” I wink at him. He pops the top, then pours glasses for each of us.
“To the Rebels!” Anthony says.
“To friends!” Donovan adds.
“And lovers!” Rylan pumps his brows.
“I hate that word,” Hayes complains.
“Sure you do, cutie,” Rylan replies.
“To us!” Anthony says.
We clink our glasses together and drink, and then he’s in my arms, my husband, my best friend. “I love you, beautiful.”
“I love you too,” he replies. “Think we can sneak away to enjoy some of those benefits now?”
I grin. “You better fucking believe it.”