Epilogue
THREE MONTHS LATER - HADLEY
“Come on,” I say, pulling Paige through the crowd. A few months ago, I didn’t know the first thing about hockey. Now I’m dragging my best friend through a throng of people to make it to our seats before the players hit the ice for warm-ups.
“I’m coming, jeez,” Paige says, grinning. “I’ve created a monster.”
I laugh. “Maybe, but you love it.”
We make our way down the steps to our seats, just before players start funneling onto the ice for warmups. Bryce spots me and immediately skates over and taps the glass twice with his stick, a cocky grin on his face.
My stomach flips and butterflies dance in my chest. I’ll never get used to the way this man looks at me like I’m his whole world.
The adjustment to DC and living in the same town has been easy. Just like everything else in our relationship, it feels meant to be.
When we found out Colt was being traded to Washington, too, we were excited he’d be sticking around. I thought he and Paige would start dating right away, but that hasn’t happened… Yet.
“Hey, did we miss anything?” Dad asks, sliding into the seat next to me.
“Nope,” I say, standing to hug my mom. “They just started warming up.”
“Good. I don’t want to miss a thing.”
Bryce wasn’t kidding when he said he’d turn my dad into a hockey fan. Over Sunday dinners the last few months, he’s done just that. I look over as my mom takes off her coat revealing a Chambers sweater and I stifle the urge to laugh. He’s converted my mom, too.
“Let’s go, boys!” Dad yells as they do warmup laps.
“The game hasn’t started yet,” Paige says, laughing.
“Never too soon to get the hype going,” Dad says, rubbing his hands together. “Maybe I should go see if they sell some gloves. It’s chilly in here.”
“Okay, dear,” Mom says, laying her coat over her lap. “See if you can get me one of those sticks that lights up.”
I shake my head and grin. “Look what you’ve done,” I say to Paige, who is watching my parents with a curious look on her face.
“I think it’s cute,” she says. “They support you.”
I snort. “I think they’re here for Bryce.”
She glances over at my mom who has her crochet hooks out working on a replica of the Washington jersey.
“No,” Paige says quietly. “That’s all for you.”
Evy and Arthur show up with the kids and slide into seats beside my mom. The girls each have a giant foam finger, and my sister’s carrying a giant bucket of popcorn.
“I see you found the shop,” Paige says, nodding to the foam fingers. “Good choice, girls.”
Dad makes it back with a pair of gloves and a hockey stick that flashes red, white, and blue for Mom just before the guys’ grand entrance onto the ice. I will never get tired of watching my guy’s face on the Jumbotron.
We stand for the flag ceremony and national anthem, and then it’s time for puck drop.
The crowd erupts with excitement as Washington wins the opening faceoff.
The energy is palpable. Since Washington restructured over the summer, the support from fans has increased dramatically.
And with Colt and Bryce on the team, everyone’s hoping for a winning season.
The puck bounces off the boards and a player from the opposing team gets it. “Watch the line!” I yell out.
Paige slowly turns towards me, grinning. “You’ve changed, Hughes.”
Dad is chirping the other team like it’s his favorite pastime, and Mom is busy crocheting away, glancing up every now and again to make a comment or admonish my dad for something outrageous he says.
Bryce blocks a shot in the second period, and the crowd jumps to their feet.
“Did you see that, Aunt Hadley?” Clara asks. “Mr. Bryce just won the game!”
Dad chuckles. “The game's not over yet, pumpkin.”
She frowns. “So, no ice cream?”
Everyone laughs at her cute pout. “Not yet,” Arthur says, but if Bryce wins, we’ll even get you ice cream with sprinkles on? top.”
“Let’s go Mr. Bryce!” Clara yells loudly. “It’s sprinkles time!”
The third period is rough with Washington down by one at the start, but they come back late to win it by one.
“Sprinkles!” Clara yells, doing a happy dance in the row and making everyone around us laugh.
“Come on,” Paige says, motioning to my nieces. “Let’s go see what we can find.”
A few minutes later, they return wearing matching frowns. “All the snacks were closed,” Eloise says, pouting.
Arthur sighs. “Come on, kiddos. Let’s head out and see if Swirly Cone is still open.”
“We’ll come too,” Dad says, standing and stretching. “It’s getting late and we have a long drive home.”
“Thanks for coming,” I tell my family. “I know Bryce was thrilled to hear you’d be joining us for opening night.”
Mom smiles and pats my cheek. “We were glad we could make it. You tell that boy he played well.”
I glance at the nearly finished crochet project in her bag. “I will.”
Dad laughs. “She sees everything. Even when she’s not looking.”
Mom laughs and follows my sister’s family up the stairs.
“Want to head to the family area and wait for the guys?” I ask Paige.
“Sure,” she says, shrugging her shoulders.
We head down to wait for the team to come out. Some of the other players’ families are scattered around chatting while they wait. I stop and say hello to most of them, chatting for a few minutes before moving to another group.
It’s been interesting getting to know this team, and I’ve been thankful to have a group chat with Taylor, Lauren, Penny, and Paige to talk through some of the awkward moments.
I’m almost bummed I didn’t get to be a Denver Wag, but I know my new friendships are strong, and I know they’re all planning to fly over later in the season when our teams play each other.
“There they are,” Paige says.
I watch as Colt glances around at the people waiting before spotting Paige and grinning. Bryce beats him to us, but just barely, and pulls me into his arms for a kiss. “I missed seeing you in my jersey,” he says, smiling. “It looks good on you.”
“Thanks,” I say, winking at him. “My boyfriend got it for me.”
“You know,” Colt says, stopping in front of Paige, “you could wear my jersey when you come to games.” He shrugs as though it’s no big deal, but the way Bryce’s eyes get wide tells me it really is.
Paige laughs him off, clearly not realizing he’s serious.
He sags a little in disappointment but hides it quickly. “Are we getting food?”
Paige grins. “Now that you mention it, you do owe me some ice cream.”
Colt looks at me confused. “I do?”
Paige nods. “I was promised ice cream with sprinkles if your team won.”
I laugh. “My nieces were promised ice cream with sprinkles if they won. You just want ice cream.”
She grins. “Same difference.”
We step outside and let Colt and Paige lead the way to a nearby ice cream shop, bickering the whole way.
“You know,” Bryce says, slipping his hand into mine. “I’m really glad I walked into that bookstore.”
“Me too,” I say, smiling up at him.
Because that’s where I found my favorite love story.
Ours.
Thank you so much for reading Bryce and Hadley’s story.