Epilogue
LUCAS
THREE MONTHS LATER
I stopped my Jeep at the curb of the house I’d bought for us, a sprawling single-story adobe-style home in Scottsdale, not too far from downtown and close enough to Ezra’s new, larger studio, he could still walk to it.
Palm trees rose on either side of the covered, squared-off portico.
The place was modest by most pro hockey player standards, with three bedrooms and two baths, but it was perfect for us.
Today was move-in day, and the guys would all be here to help unpack. As the moving truck backed into the driveway, I strolled to Ezra, parking his Jetta across the street. He had to take a few days’ break from his busy schedule.
With a grin, he climbed out of his car and met me in the driveway, holding his hand over his eyes, shielding them from the intense sunshine. It hadn’t rained in months, but there were clouds in the distance.
“Hey, babe.” I kissed his cheek and grabbed his hand. “We’ll have to instruct these guys where to put everything.” Ezra had been on a buying spree, storing furniture and decorations in the corners of his studio.
“I know.” He grinned like a kid in a candy shop. “I have a plan laid out in my head.” He brushed his long hair off his shoulder and held his chin high.
He was not the same man I’d met all those months ago. With therapy and support, he’d blossomed to be more stunning each day as the worry lines and wary expression had now gone. And his confidence had my cock in overdrive.
We strolled to the garage door and opened it from a keypad. It slowly groaned open. Ezra said, “It’s too bad you have an away game to travel to tomorrow.”
“Yeah, but it’s the playoffs.” I twisted to face the moving truck, the men rolling the back door open. “And they traded Berg, so I can’t complain.” It sucked for Berg, but his injury had set my hockey career ablaze.
“When is your brother getting here?” Ezra bit the corner of his lower lip.
“Anytime now. Leo’s bringing some amazing pot roast after he gets off work, and Ace and Zoma will be here in an hour.” As my gaze snagged the men on the truck unloading Ezra’s sofa, I said, “Hey, you better get to work directing.”
“Oh, yes.” Clapping his hands at his chest, he sauntered to the men and barked directions.
“That’s my man,” I said with a snort. I fingered the set of rings in the pocket of my jeans. Ezra would lose his mind.
Late in the afternoon, the guys had all showed and helped unpack. Leo stood over a giant slow cooker with the post roast in it. “It’s all warmed up.” He gave me a knowing glance.
The guys knew my secret. I patted Leo on the shoulder. “Let me get Mason. I think he’s chirping on Archer on the best way to orient the television.” With a chuckle, I walked into the main room, open to the kitchen.
Peeking through the patio doors leading to our backyard, lush for a home in the desert, and the swimming pool, I frowned.
Shit, the clouds had moved in, shading everything.
But it enhanced the backyard greenery and the roses along the masonry wall were bursting with blooms. It would still be perfect.
“Angle it more to the left.” Mason sat in the center of the sofa, drinking beer.
“I had it there, and you mentioned not being able to get a good picture from the loveseat.” Archer scoffed, standing next to our television, which rested on a white console with a rustic wood top.
“Just do it, Archer. How hard is it for you to take directions? No wonder Ace is always saving your ass.” Mason snickered.
“Did I hear my name?” Ace lumbered from the hallway to the bedrooms, stopped by the couch, and planted his hands on his hips.
“They haven’t said your name in vain.” Zoma looked up from a box in the corner, holding a framed photo. “Yet.”
Tilting his head, Ace said, “The television’s too far to the right.”
Slumping his shoulders, Archer tsked and rubbed his brows. “You know what? Lucas can fix it when they sit down to watch something.” He stomped toward me. “It’s all yours, man.” He patted my shoulder. “I smell food.”
“It’s ready.” Leo took plates down from an upper cabinet.
“Shit.” Mason jumped off the couch and strode to me, rubbing his hands together. “Where’s Ezra? We want to do this before the sun sets, right?”
“That was the plan, but we might not even see the sun.” I pointed out the patio doors.
“Oh shit. Let’s get a move on.” Mason scrambled into the kitchen, pulled a few bottles of champagne out of the refrigerator, and opened them. “Jett, a little help?”
“Sure.” Jett left a box at the end of the kitchen island to bring champagne flutes to Mason. “Where’s Ezra?”
“I think he’s working on his closet.” Fuck, I should get him. I sauntered into our bedroom, with a fresh king-sized bed in crisp white linens and a dark gray paisley comforter, and found Ezra setting folded clothes into a wooden dresser.
“Babe, can you come out here? We’re having a housewarming toast in the backyard before the sun sets and dinner is ready.”
“Oh, sure.” With a grin, he straightened and kissed my cheek as he left the room.
I followed, watching the sway of his tight, round ass. How could I have confused him for a woman? Maybe my brain hadn’t been prepared for the truth, which was that he was my person. The gender didn’t matter.
As my heart thundered in my ears, I fingered the rings in my pocket. I hoped to fuck this went well.
As we strolled into the main room, all the guys stood around the patio doors with champagne flutes in hand, grinning.
“Oh, this looks great.” Ezra stepped to Zoma, who handed him a glass. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.” Zoma’s grin widened as his gaze met mine.
With a smirk, Mason handed me a glass and whispered, “Go get ‘em. You’re a Hopkins. Remember that.”
“How could I forget it with you around?” I tossed him a quick smile and sipped my champagne, my nerves unravelling. This was it.
Everyone filled the covered patio, and I snatched Ezra’s hand, then set my glass and his on the patio table. “Join me briefly near the roses.” The desert was a strange place. You could have rain one second and sunshine the next.
Glancing back at the guys as we stepped toward the rose bushes, he said, “But everyone else is over there. And what about our champagne?”
Fuck, I had to act fast before he realized something was up. I stopped, grabbing both of his hands in mine and squeezing. “Ezra, look at me.”
His gaze tore from the others and snapped to mine. “What’s going on?” His forehead wrinkled. “Babe?”
With a deep inhale I said, “Ezra Turner, when you walked into my life it was a shit show, but together we got through it, stronger than ever. You taught me so many things, but mostly you taught me how deeply I could love.”
His eyes welled with tears, and he bit his lower lip.
“I told you if we moved in together, we should be engaged and yes, we’ve joked about it. But today, we’re moving in together and I want it to be real.” With emotion bursting inside me, I fell on one knee, fishing a ring from my pocket. “Ezra Turner, will you marry me? For real?”
“Oh, fuck.” His breath hitched, and a tear tumbled down his cheek. “Yes. Absolutely.”
“Love you, babe.” As I stood, I slid the ring on his finger and then gave him a ring, which he slipped on mine.
The guys whooped and hollered, clapping and lifting their glasses, Mason shouting. “I’ve got a new brother-in-law!”
“Love you too.” Ezra cupped my cheeks and pressed a lingering kiss on my mouth.
Rain droplets fell in my hair and speckled the pool decking around us. I broke the kiss. “Shit, it had to rain now?”
“No, this is perfect. Remember when I said you made me want to dance in the rain? Now’s our chance.” With a beautiful smile full of love for me, he lifted our entwined hands and spun.
“Way to go, Lucas. Own that shit,” Ace called out.
I hooked my arm around his waist and pulled him to my chest, swaying him and kissing the side of his hair. As I gazed skyward, a rainbow appeared over the house through a break in the clouds. I pointed at it. “Look, the universe is celebrating too.”
The guys entered the rain, gazing up. “Damn right it is.” Jett lifted his glass and, with a wide grin, said, “Now get over here, so we can toast.”
“Oh, hell yeah.” As I led Ezra back to the patio, the rain stopped. I picked up my champagne flute and turned to Ezra. “Babe, this is to us and our future.”
“I’m honored to be a part of the Hopkins family and to be your husband.” With a glance at Mason and Jett, he lifted his glass and wound his arm around mine. “We have to do this right.”
“That we do.” With my arm wrapped around his, I tipped my glass to my mouth.
“To Ezra and Lucas and may they have lots of sexy times and cuddles.” Mason chortled and everyone tapped glasses and drank.
After sipping my champagne, I gave Ezra the kiss of a lifetime.