Epilogue Crosby
Four Months Later
“ W e’re not going to be playing any games where we have to smell diapers, are we?” Gus asks warily as we walk up the sidewalk.
“What?” I ask, confused, stopping in my tracks.
“I googled some of the things that happen at baby showers. There’s a game where you smell things smeared on diapers and have to guess what it was. You know, like figuring out poop.” Gus looks absolutely horrified, and I’m inclined to agree with him. I’m happy we’re here to support Allison and Tex, but I might draw the line at guessing possible poop stains.
“Violet didn’t mention anything like that, so I think we’re okay. She said they want to just keep things casual, a BBQ to celebrate with their friends,” I reassure him. Violet, Bea, and a few of Allison’s other friends have spent months planning this shower, a welcome project after the chaos of the end of the season.
After the drama and distraction of Ethan’s firing, Violet went back to work, where the department was restructured at Ava’s insistence. Under the new organization, Violet was given the role of Head of Analytics. She was all-too-happy to give back the creative content to coworkers who wanted to design, film, and upload things to the team’s social media platforms. Now, Violet puts her energy into reviewing the metrics associated with the content, organizing focus groups that interact with our public relations staff, and fact-checking the statistics associated with player profiles online. She’s happy and thriving at work, especially with the addition of Bea in the Public Relations department. An unexpected change that also found Bea making a move into Violet’s old place when she moved into mine.
“Well, I’m letting you know now, Cap, I’m out of here the second someone waves a diaper in my face,” Gus replies as we start back up the sidewalk.
“Don’t call me that in there,” I request, stomach churning nervously over the new honorific. Tex announced his retirement when we lost in game seven of the conference round of playoffs. That was a hard night, emotionally. Losing when we were even closer to the Stanley Cup than the year before and losing our captain left more than a few of the guys in tears.
“But you’re captain now. Going to have to get used to it sometime,” Gus just shrugs at me as I shake my head.
I wasn’t expecting the phone call from Coach last week when he let me know I would be serving as The Midnight’s new captain. I was deeply moved, honored to carry the “C” on my chest to advocate for my teammates on the ice and lead them off. I’m also painfully aware Henri Texier leaves big skates behind to fill.
“I don’t think today will be that day,” I tell Gus as I push open the side gate of the house. The baby shower is being held in Tex and Allison’s expansive and beautiful backyard of the place they bought last year. I hear music playing from hidden speakers and the chatter of the other guests as we round the house.
The yard comes into view, delicate decorations of pastel green and neutral taupe make the space feel inviting and festive. I smile at the amount of work Violet has put into making today perfect for our friends. I scan the space, looking for a flash of brown hair, red lips, and bright blue eyes, only to come up wanting.
“She’s gone inside,” Obie greets us, handing over a couple of newly opened beers, answering my unspoken question. “Something about shoes, I think? I don’t know. She’s been running around here all morning.”
“Thanks for coming to help. I offered, but she told me she wanted ‘best friend time,’” I say.
“We got some of that, too!” Gus chirps, slinging his arm around my shoulder. Obie laughs.
“We are not lacking time together,” I shove him off me, laughing with the others. I bring the cold bottle to my lips, taking down a sip of the pale-amber liquid. I look around at the other attendees, nodding to the guys on the team and smiling when I see Violet emerge through a part in the crowd, a pair of sandals in her hand. She walks directly to Allison, kneeling to switch out the heavily pregnant woman’s shoes for the pair she can slip on easily. Tex is holding Allison’s arm to keep her steady, but I see him thank Violet before pushing the discarded footwear off to the side of the patio. Violet gives a squeeze to Tex’s forearm and turns toward me.
Almost as if she felt me watching her, the smile that illuminates her face is bright and warm, just like the sun today. I cock my head at her as she makes her way through the guests to me.
“There’s my little flower!” Gus crows, stepping in front of me. I drop my head back in exasperation at being denied the first hug from her, but my shoulders shake with laughter when I see how happy it makes Gus to scoop Violet into a tight hug. He presses a sweet kiss to the top of her head before turning her loose.
“I know he says we have to share custody of you two,” Obie says, sharp green eyes bright with laughter as he takes in the exchange before turning to me, “but I’m never going to do that with you.”
“Fine with me,” I acknowledge, clinking the necks of our bottles together.
“I think you’re still jealous that she loves me more than you,” Gus tells Obie, smiling devilishly.
“Not true,” Violet quickly assures Obie before she finally steps into my side, arms wrapping around my middle, head resting against my chest. I look down to see her beautiful face turned up to stare at me. “And I love you the most.”
I dip down to kiss her perfectly pouty lips, the usual ruby color replaced with a soft pink today. I feel her hand run up the length of my spine, fingers toying at the base of my neck in a quick tease before she pulls back. My heart races from just that brief kiss, and I love that she can still make me come undone so easily.
“Everything go okay this morning? It looks beautiful,” I tell her, gesturing to the yard full of smiling guests. Allison and Tex are laughing with Coach.
“Yes, it was great. Allison insisted on hiring out almost all of it, so I just had to point to where things should be set up. Bea and I honestly felt a little guilty,” Violet says. I know she did more than that, but if she wants to be modest about the last few late nights I found her and Bea in our downstairs study preparing, that’s fine.
Movement in the corner of my eye draws my attention. Bea holds Natalia’s hand as she guides her over to a giant calendar where we can guess when Baby Texier will make their appearance in the world. Nicky follows behind, a bemused expression on his face as he talks to Bones, and I lift an eyebrow at Violet. She shrugs but winks at me.
“I put my gift inside. Is that all right?” a sweet voice asks from behind us.
“Maeve!” Violet squeals, shooting from my side and into the arms of Gus’ little sister. “I’m so glad you made it!”
“We were supposed to bring a gift?” Gus asks, confusion and concern twisting his face. “Tex said they had already bought more than they needed for the baby.”
“They did. You didn’t have to bring anything, but it’s thoughtful. I’m sure they’ll appreciate it,” Violet diffuses as she smiles at the girl with the same amber eyes as her older brother. Gus thinks it all through, then he snaps his fingers.
“I’ve got it!” He nods enthusiastically, clearly proud of whatever solution he has come up with. “I’ll volunteer to babysit!”
“God save that kid,” Maeve jokes. Gus leaps at her, trying to swipe her into a headlock or something, the siblings falling into a natural rhythm together. They tear off around the side of the yard, drawing shouts from a few members of the team.
Violet quietly grumbles beside me, her eyes narrowed on where the pair are kicking up a ruckus, but the rest of the guests have already returned to their previous activities and conversations.
“Maeve got into Yale. She’s going to be around a lot more,” Obie says. “But I’ll go get them to break it up and remind them they’re not in the basement in Minnesota anymore.”
“Thank you.” Violet follows him a few steps. I wrap my arms around her from behind, feeling her relax back into my chest. I play with the little bow at the waist of her pretty green dress, its delicate skirt swishing against my knees. I press a kiss to her cheek, inhaling the apples and sunshine smell that blends perfectly into today.
Her hands come up to hold mine, lacing between my fingers.
“Where’s your ring, Sparks?” I say low in her ear, noting that she’s missing the new accessory I gave her this morning before she slipped out of bed. Her thumb rubs at the empty skin of her left ring finger.
“I left it in my purse inside,” she answers. “I didn’t want anything to distract from Allison and Tex’s perfect day.”
I nod.
I hadn’t planned on asking her. Not for another month. But the way she looked curled up in the sheets, the soft light filling the room, I didn’t want to waste one more second before asking her to be mine.
“That’s fair.” I turn her around to hold her more firmly in my arms. Her blue eyes are happy and warm as she looks at me. I dip my head, giving her a soft kiss. She hums a little in pleasure before breaking apart.
“Remember when you told me you didn’t date hockey players?” I tease when her arms wind around my neck. Her eyes narrow just the slightest as I repeat what she told me the night we met.
“I don’t,” she sasses, lifting up on her tiptoes to whisper in my ear. “I marry them.”