Epilogue
XAVIER
It’s like we picked up the dining room out of Artemis’s apartment and dropped it here in our house in Wisconsin. Everywhere you look, there’s chaos. His siblings and their partners are all in town for his and Apollo’s birthday.
We ordered in for dinner. The table is stacked high with takeout boxes, silverware, and plates.
Artemis is sorting everyone with drinks, and Apollo and Edith brought enough Get the Fork Out pies for us all to have pie today, tomorrow, and for Artemis and me to freeze a couple for future pie emergencies.
It’s a lot of fucking pie. But I’m not mad about it.
Artemis has looked… well, at home. Comfortable… free since he moved here from Cedar Rapids, and I’d be lying if I wasn’t worried that bringing the whole gang here would upend him somehow, leave him unsettled.
But he’s radiating happiness. I mean, don’t get me wrong, he’s still a stoic, ice prince when he needs to be, but here, in the comfort of our home, he’s so much more. He’s complex, deep, a man of layers, and he’s finally sharing more of himself with the world.
He squeezes my now fully recovered shoulder as he hands me a beer. We’ve spent a large part of the summer in our home gym, rehabbing and prepping for the upcoming hockey season.
Artemis isn’t playing ‘professionally’ anymore. He’s joined a local beer league, and he’s coaching at the local high school, but he’s busting my balls to make sure when I hit the ice in the fall that I’m ready for it.
His whistle hangs next to my practice sticks by the back door—a tiny, everyday domestic reminder that we’re building a life worth coming home to.
“Artemis tells us that your new hockey initiative will be ready to go when school starts.” Eloise offers me a container of fried rice.
The man himself sits next to me, picking my hand up and placing it on his thigh while he sips his own beer.
“That’s right. Stick Together Foundation is almost ready to go.
He’s already had a soft launch. He’s been taking some classes for the last couple of weeks because he can’t help himself.
” Artemis’s smile is full of pride as he scoops some orange chicken onto his fork without letting my hand go.
Building this thing didn’t just remind me I still mattered outside of hockey, it gave me purpose, a different kind of scoreboard, one that’s not attached to my brother, or my worth, or my health and fitness.
Ares clears his throat, reading from his phone.
“Founded by NCAA hockey player Xavier Martinez, Stick Together Foundation breaks down financial barriers that keep underprivileged youth off the ice.
The nonprofit provides free equipment, subsidized ice time, and expert coaching to kids who can't afford hockey's notoriously high costs, ensuring that talent and passion—not a family's bank account—determine who gets to play.”
Pride is filling every cell in my body. I took the leap and made that pipe dream, that random file with bits of information and ideas in it, a reality. I did that. I’m going to help kids play the game I love the most.
Ares meets my gaze. “Fuck. This is cool as shit.
With a mission to build community through sport, Stick Together partners with local rinks and volunteers to create inclusive after-school programs where every child, regardless of economic background, can learn teamwork, discipline, and confidence while discovering their love for the game.
Because hockey isn't just about winning—it's about sticking together.”
Eloise has clutched her hands to her chest. “I love this so much.” She sniffs.
Scott nods, shoving half an egg roll in his mouth.
“Me too. It’s such a great cause. I hate to say it, but hockey’s a luxury sport for kids.
It’s expensive as fuck, money’s such a big barrier to entry.
” He rolls the other half of his appetizer between his finger and thumb.
“I have no idea how my mom made it work.”
“You’re a donor, right?” Apollo points his crab Rangoon at his twin, who nods. “Cool. I want in, too.”
I shake my head. “No. That’s not… I don’t need y’all’s money. That’s not why we invited you here tonight.”
“I’m in too.” Ares is typing on his phone as he speaks.
Athena brings Scott’s hand to her face and kisses his knuckles. “Me four. Breaking down societal barriers for underprivileged kids is right up my street. Even if it is for hockey.”
Oh my god is Athena de la Pena smiling? I open my mouth to protest, since none of them seem to have heard the first time, but Athena’s hand silences me. “Shut up and take our money.”
I never expected the de la Pena chaos crew to feel like my own, but damn if they aren’t proving it every chance they get.
I look to Artemis for help, or at least some kind of direction as to how to handle his siblings because it’s really not why they’re here. But he simply shrugs. He leans close to me, pressing his lips against my cheek. “I’m so fucking proud of you.”
It took me about three weeks after my injury to figure out what I wanted to do if I couldn’t play hockey again, or indeed for some time in the future when my body fails me, and I’m too old for the game.
I wanted it to be something still connected to the sport, and knowing how hard Mom worked to get us all into hockey and keep us there…
well, Stick Together really was a no brainer.
I just so happened to be dating a man who has experience setting up a not-for-profit organization to give me a helping hand.
And start-up capital, because that’s the area I was truly lacking when it came down to it.
Considering Artemis withdrew from school—though he officially requested his transcript for future use, just in case—and his father is no longer an issue seeing as he is on permanent sabbatical from the family business having been legally cut off from the company, Artemis had some time on his hands.
And he was only too willing to help me figure out how to set up Stick Together.
Roman offered to help out as well, claiming he’s never been so proud of me as when I came up with this idea. He and some of his teammates offered to do coaching sessions with the kids as well as donate to the cause.
“I don’t know what to say.” The fact all of his siblings are ready to open their wallets and donate to my charity even though Artemis isn’t the one making the decisions confirms that the decision was the right one.
I’m more than capable of doing this, finishing my degree, and playing professional hockey.
I am. And if they didn’t think so, they wouldn’t be offering to help fund it.
The de la Pena’s don’t fuck around when it comes to money.
“Thank you.” I look around the table, making eye contact with each of them.
“I mean it. This is going to help so many future stars get their start on the ice.” I can’t hide the excitement in my voice.
How many more Sidney Crosbys might we have had if low-income kids had access to the game over the years?
“We went to Guac ‘n Roll last night.” Edith dips a potsticker into soy sauce. “Claudia said she’s coming to cover the official launch?”
She’s still not my favorite person, but I’m working on forgiving her.
Alonso de la Pena is the real bad guy here, and I have to keep reminding myself of that.
“She is. She’s done her apology tour. She’s still writing under her Tabitha moniker, and she’s working toward a mainstream job in sports broadcasting.
” I glance at Artemis. “She’s got her foot in the door. She just needs to ace the interview.”
Did Artemis connect her with someone he knew at the biggest sports broadcasting company in the country? Of course he did, because that’s what he does. He’ll always choose humanity over ego, and it undoes me every time.
“Good.” Edith takes a bite. “I’d say I can’t believe the audacity of Alonso but…” She trails off, popping the other half of her potsticker in her mouth.
“What about the boys?” Athena picks up the discussion that threatens to turn into a mutual, inward mulling over their father.
Artemis nods, drawing circles on the back of my hand with his thumb.
“The three of them are doing better than expected. I knew they’d find their sea legs, but they were hired to senior roles without senior experience, so I was a little concerned.
Mathias is doing great things with our HR department.
Flexible work arrangements, paid mental health days, paid family leave for all employees, backup childcare benefits, even elder care support for aging parents. ”
I don’t pretend to understand corporate politics, but seeing Artemis light up talking about his brothers’ wins? I get that part perfectly.
Ares gets up and goes into another room, when he comes back, he’s holding a pen and grabs a napkin. “Say all that again, I feel like we need to steal some of our brother’s ideas.”
We invited them to come today, but Alejandro is on vacation, and Matthias and Thiago had other commitments which meant they couldn’t come. But we’ve got dates in the calendar over the coming weeks to have dinner with each of them.
It was a little awkward at first, but Artemis and the gang are determined to foster a strong relationship with the trio of additional de la Penas.
“It’s so good to hear they’re thriving in their new roles.” Apollo brings it back to business. “Would have been awkward as fuck to have to fire family.”
Artemis tips his head. “Sure, but we all knew the stakes going in. Rise to the challenge or you’re out on your ear.”
I nudge him with my elbow. “Sounds like our relationship, dear.”
The table descends into a warm buzz as we finish our meal. Scott and I almost come to blows over the last slice of apple pie—and my diplomatic boyfriend slices it fairly down the middle seconds before I smear it all over Scottie’s pretty little face then lick it off to prove a point.