Epilogue
Sloane
I’m in the stands sitting next to Tessa when Theo Bishop wins the face-off against Chicago.
It’s been an up and down season, but the young center has stepped solidly into Knox’s skates, and reinvigorated the team.
It doesn’t hurt that he’s got Knox behind him at the bench, only this time he’s wearing a whistle instead of a helmet.
He had a bit of a gap between his last game as a player and his first as assistant coach to have the laparoscopic surgery on his shoulder.
During the four weeks he was forced to rest, at great effort on my part, the team wobbled a bit.
Not as bad as when he was home injured before our relationship pause, but they didn’t play as well as they are right now.
Of course, this is the final game in the playoffs.
No one expected the Titans to make it into the playoffs the way their season started out.
Scandal and injury have left their mark on the team, but just like they have since their wild card spot helped them fight their way to game seven of the championship game.
Bishop flies down the ice, out skating the Chicago defender. Like the rest of the series, the score is currently tied, and unless the Titans want to go into sudden death overtime, he needs to score now before the end of regulation play.
Reminiscent of the old plays between Knox and West, they manage to confuse the defenders with some quick passes.
They focus on Bishop while West sends a slap shot right into the top left corner of the net.
There’s less than a second left on the clock, which runs out while the goalie for Chicago is still beating himself up for missing the game winning goal.
The team descends onto the ice to celebrate.
Each player gets a chance to hold up the cup, with West going last. He skates over to Knox, and hands it off.
The two best friends exchange words between the two of them.
I don’t need to hear it to know that Knox is satisfied with how the season has wrapped up.
Gerry steps out onto the ice and holds a microphone up to his mouth.
“There’s one more thing to celebrate tonight.
I know that Knox didn’t make it to the final game as he had hoped when the season began, but his contribution to this team will last forever.
He’s brought home two other championships in the sixteen years he’s played for the team, and was no small part of the one we’re celebrating tonight.
He’s going to continue to serve this team as our new assistant coach.
That’s why I’m happy to retire number seven and hoist his jersey for all fans to see for years to come.
Join me in giving a round of applause to the best center the Portland Titans has ever had. To Knox Rennick!”
The entire arena explodes in applause, and I know that he is at peace with his decision. This is what he fought so hard to protect. His legacy is safe, and now will forever hang from the rafters here for generations of Titan fans to pay homage to.
Tessa drops her arm around my shoulder. “Do you wish you were back to working with the Titans? Ford and I would understand if you wanted to work with Knox again.”
“Nah, I think it’s better for Knox and I not to work together. Besides, you and Ford aren’t getting rid of me that easily.”
She rolls her eyes. “We’re never getting rid of you, and that’s if you work for us or not. But, I prefer the former. I like not handling my husband’s PR anymore.”
I laugh. “I understand that.”
We stand together and watch the team celebrate. All of the players have family or significant others joining them on the rink, except Theo. He doesn’t seem to be lonely, just preoccupied by something or someone he sees in the stands.
“What’s with the new player?” Tessa asks.
I shrug. “I really don’t know. He wasn’t on the team when I was traveling with them. Kendall says that he was kind of a player until about a month ago, and then suddenly he was only interested in his phone.”
“Well, unless that lady he’s gesturing to goes by the name Phone, I’d say she’s the reason for the sudden obsession with his iPhone,” Tessa says.
“It’s never a dull moment with these guys, that’s for sure. But whatever he’s got going on, it will hold until Knox, Xander, and I get back from our European vacation. Three weeks, three countries, are you sure you can survive without me for that long?”
“Absolutely. I don’t want you to think about anything work related while you’re away. I’m pretty sure I can keep my husband out of trouble for a few weeks. Probably,” she says.
There’s a bit of commotion going through the fans sitting around us. I look up and see Knox making his way up the aisle toward us. “You didn’t come down and join us on the ice.”
I look down at Tessa’s very pregnant belly. “Uhm, there was no way I was going to leave Tessa up here alone, and bringing her down to the ice was a hell no in her condition.”
He leans forward and kisses me. “Let’s get you two out of here. We just need to collect West. You’d think he wasn’t a professional athlete himself the way he’s fangirling over meeting your husband,” he says to Tessa.
My worlds are mingling, growing, and I owe it all to accepting one indecent proposal.
Based on the hints he’s been leaving, I know he’s going to have another proposal for me soon.
I’m in no rush, and thankfully, he no longer is either.
When he does decide to pop the question of all questions, I will say yes.
For now, I’m just enjoying our crazy, unpredictable, day to day life together. After not being anyone’s priority, I finally have someone who puts me before anything else. I just had to give him the cold shoulder for a while and learn how to do it for myself first.