Epilogue LINCOLN
Seven months later
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” I scrubbed the dish a little harder when strong arms wrapped around my waist and warm lips touched my neck.
“Of course, I am. Why are you so nervous?” As soon as I set the dish down into the strainer, Devon used his strength to turn me around in his arms. I moved to look away, but he took my chin between his fingers and held my gaze steady. “No hiding from me. I saw the empty bag of Reese’s Pieces in the trash. Tell me what’s bothering you.”
It was such a difference to see Devon so confident and sure of himself. He didn’t stumble over his words or nervously glance around. No, today that was me. It didn’t surprise me that he called me out on the Reese’s bag in the trash. Even though we’d come miles from where we’d been, there were some habits that were hard to break.
It was all tied to the fact that my parents were on their way from Massachusetts to stay with us for the weekend. Except, this was Devon’s house, and I knew how much he valued his privacy.
I sighed. “Because this is your space and I feel like my family is invading it.”
Devon lifted his hand to cover my lips with his finger. “How many times do I have to tell you this is our space? And I’ve already met them. Your family is amazing.”
I kissed the tip of his finger and moved my head back. “I know, it’s just…”
“A little late to cancel Thanksgiving for everyone.” Devon chuckled. “As long as we don’t burn the turkey, everything is going to be fine.”
That made me laugh. “Well, if we let me cook it, of course it’s going to burn.”
“I’m cooking the turkey.” Devon leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. “Everything will be fine. I can’t wait to have your family here. It’s our first real holiday together in our home.”
My stomach turned, like it did every time Devon mentioned this being our home. It still felt surreal to think of living here with Devon. That we were a completely committed couple. Something I never thought I’d have.
When Devon first asked me to move in with him, my pride almost got the best of me. My salary as an urgent care nurse could never compete with the millions Devon brought home. Hell, it couldn’t even match what he made for one game. Devon read my hesitation pretty quickly and offered to move into my apartment if it would make me feel more comfortable. He said as long as we were together, it didn’t matter where we lived.
It was the moment I let the last bit of insecurity I had fall away. I could never ask Devon to give up his beautiful home and the peace that came with it outside the city. We waited until after the hockey season ended before we moved anything. With Devon still traveling so much, it gave me time to break my lease and get everything packed.
“Now, let’s get started on dinner.” Devon placed a brief kiss on my lips and went back to the counter.
I walked into the living room and grabbed the remote, flipping on the Thanksgiving Day Parade, a tradition for my family. We always watched the parade together. Devon and I would start new traditions of our own, but this one I wanted to keep. I set the remote on the table and moved toward the kitchen. My cooking skills might be severely lacking, but the least I could do was help.
Right as I reached the entrance to the kitchen, I stopped and looked at the two frames that now hung on the wall. The Purple Heart and Bronze Star I’d received for my time overseas hung there. I’d buried them in a closet. That was before Devon, who’d helped me to see that those medals could bring a sense of comfort instead of dread. Now, they hung in a place of prominence in our living room. The memories were still there, but with Devon by my side, I was able to push down the worst of the panic and hold myself in the present.
I stepped into the kitchen. “Where can I help?”
“You can peel a potato, right?” Devon chuckled. He’d learned early on with us living together that my strengths in the kitchen were with cutting and peeling only. Everything else, unless it was something boxed that only required a few simple steps, was a disaster. From then on, we joked about my abilities and Devon left the cutting and peeling to me.
“I was in the Navy. I’m pretty sure I can peel a potato.” I picked up the potato and stood at the cutting board next to him. He hip-checked me with a smirk on his lips.
“If you can’t make dinner, at least you’re sexy.”
And like he always did, Devon helped my worries melt away. At least most of the way. If only, the ring in my pocket didn’t remind me of the moment at dinner I was waiting for. All I wanted was the man who was able to heal my broken heart and mind by my side for the rest of my life. I pushed the nerves aside and picked up the next potato. No need to give anything away.
Halfway through peeling my last potato, the doorbell rang. Devon was in the middle of cutting a sweet potato, so I dried my hands and went to answer the door. I tugged it open and didn’t even get a hello out before my mom wrapped me in a tight hug, forcing the air from my lungs.
“Mom,” I huffed out. “Let go.”
My dad placed his hand on her shoulder. “Iz, you’re going to make him pass out if you don’t let go soon.” Mom finally released me.
“But my baby boy…”
“So nice to know who the favorite is.” Madison laughed as she brushed past both my parents with her boyfriend, Dustin, in tow and stepped inside. It had taken a while for Dustin to stop being so starstruck in front of Devon. But they’d spent enough time together. Now, they fell into easy conversation. Kevin stood quietly behind my parents.
I grabbed my brother’s hand and gave him a quick hug. “Where’s Ella?”
Kevin frowned. “She’s working today. She made a deal to work on Thanksgiving so she could have Christmas off. I’m going to head back tomorrow morning and we’ll have Thanksgiving with her family tomorrow night.”
“That sucks, but at least she’ll be off for Christmas.”
“I know, it just sucks today. She wanted to be here.” Kevin didn’t say anything about what I had planned, but there was no doubt in my mind that Madison had told him.
“It’s all right. We’ll celebrate together at Christmas.”
“Isabella and Frank, I’m so glad you’re here.”
Devon came into the room looking too sexy for his own good. He held his hand out to my dad. Dad shook it and pulled him into a hug. My mom didn’t even wait a second before she hugged Devon as tight as she did me. It warmed my heart to see him relax into the embrace. The first time he looked so uncomfortable and nervous. Over time, he figured out that there was no way out of a hug with my mom.
She leaned back and patted him on the face. “How’s my other baby boy?”
“Good. It’s nice not to be on the road for Thanksgiving this year.”
Mom smiled and stepped into the house. “It’s so nice you can be home for the holiday.”
“You’ve been playing fantastic,” Dad said, lifting his bag.
Devon took my mom’s bag. “Thank you. Let me take your bags to your room.”
My dad and Devon went down the hall with everyone’s bags. Madison looped her arm with mine and walked us into the living room. “Ready?” she whispered.
“Yes…”
“Don’t be nervous. That man loves you as much as you love him.” Thankfully, she kept her voice low. I didn’t want Mom knowing yet. She’d get too excited and give it away. “Oh my god, what are we watching?” I glanced over to the TV to see the Sandpipers game had started.
“When you live in Espen, you have to root for the home team.”
She fake shivered. “I don’t know if I can do that.”
I glanced over at Dustin. “The drama is overwhelming.”
Dustin not thinking, automatically agreed. “Sometimes it is.”
Madison took that moment to punch us both in the shoulder. “Ouch,” I said at the same time Dustin pulled Madison into his arms and kissed her.
I heard the door open and looked over to see Nat and Alec walking through. I went over to unload the trays of food in their hands. Devon appeared beside me to take the other.
“Happy Thanksgiving, Nat.”
She kissed me on the cheek. “Happy Thanksgiving.”
Alec followed us into the kitchen. I set down the tray in my hand and turned to Alec with a hand extended. “Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Same to you, Lincoln.” He took my hand and shook.
Nat clapped her hands together. “What’s left to do?”
Devon immediately put everyone to work. All of us taking turns in the living room watching the game and cooking dinner. I got kicked out of the kitchen more than anyone else. My family was very familiar with my lack of skills there. Nat and Alec had learned it as well. Although Alec was just as bad as me. The two of us ended up on the couch watching the game.
With everything finished cooking, we helped carry it to the table and made sure everyone had their drink of choice.
Once we were seated, I stood. “I have something I want to say.” Madison gave me a warm smile. She’d helped me pick out the ring for Devon. It was the little bit of encouragement I needed. “These last few years were not easy for me. I struggled with not only who I was without the Navy, but also had to get past the demons that chased me at night.” Devon reached over and took my hand in his, giving it a brief squeeze. He didn’t know how much that meant to me right then, but he would soon. I smiled down at him, where he sat next to me. “This man saved me. He brought me from the brink of despair into the light. A light I never want to leave.”
I let go of Devon’s hand and pushed my chair back, dropping down to my left knee, so I could keep my balance better. Devon’s eyes grew wide as saucers. I didn’t want to lose my nerve and pushed through. I tugged the ring from my pocket and held it out to him. “Devon, you have shown me that I don’t have to be defined by my past. That I can live in the future without fear or guilt. I want that future with you. Devon, will you marry me?”
He dropped from his chair onto the floor with me and took my face in his hands. “I would love nothing more than to be your husband.” He kissed me hard, drowning out the cheers and applause from our families.
When he finally pulled back, I reached for his left hand and slipped the ring into place. A place it would be for the rest of our lives. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Devon stood and held his hand out to me to help me up. He knew every one of my issues, every single one of my fears, and he was there to shield the way every time.
After that night in the desert, I didn’t think I deserved to be loved, to be happy. Devon showed me I deserved it all. He was the love of my life, and I knew even through the rough parts, he would always be by my side.
Want to know if the Jetties make it to the Stanley Cup finals? You can find out in book two, Breaking Through the Bond . King and Hayes have a strong bond, but what happens when they add Jamie Deary?
If you don’t remember Jamie, you can meet him in our Espen Emperors Series book one, Checked Swing .