Epilogue
Nine months later…
IT WAS CHRISTMAS MORNING and Madison sang along—loudly—with every song playing through the speakers.
A lot had changed since last year’s alumni game.
The kids’ classes at Gym Rat Fitness had become such a success they’d expanded the program and Chase took charge of it.
Tobias was so pleased to have Chase, who had become the face of his business.
Tobias enjoyed hiding behind the scenes and running things from his office, although he still ran the six a.m. class every day with their friends.
Chase had even worked with Shane Kendrick in putting together a yoga program for the Inferno and including it in a fitness camp they ran at the arena over the summer. They’d planned to hold it at the gym, but it outgrew the facility quickly once they announced it.
Tobias remained in awe of Chase’s energy and drive.
He’d even found time to join his brother’s soccer team when they needed a new goalie, and Chase and Shawn had made so much progress in fixing their relationship.
Watching him play was one of Tobias and Madison’s favorite things to do together, and Shawn was slipping into their family with ease.
He would be there later for Christmas brunch.
The media storm from Tobias' coming out died down quickly, thanks to him being out of the game.
Once people realized there was no scandal and he was just in a regular relationship, they lost interest. It turned out he had worried over nothing—typical for him.
After his coming out, he started seeing a therapist, who helped him manage his anxiety.
When Chase’s lease ended this past summer, Tobias suggested Chase move into his house. He hadn’t even gotten the question out before Chase said yes.
Madison started kindergarten in September and was delighted to have the same class as Colin.
She adored her teacher and told plenty of stories when she got home from school every day.
Tobias loved seeing her so happy, much like she was now in the middle of their Christmas morning.
It was a much different Christmas than last year’s, with just the Moyers under the tree.
Chase was snuggled against Tobias’ side on the couch as they watched Madison play in the piles of wrapping paper.
“Hey, it looks like someone still has a stocking to open,” Natalie said as she pointed to the spot above the fireplace where Chase’s stocking hung.
Madison paused in her singing and grabbed Chase’s stocking off the hook, an edge of wrapping paper poking out of the top.
Tobias’ heart raced in anticipation of what he was about to do. He’d even called in his favor to Cole for help with the details. Cole may have been a pain in the ass, but he oddly knew romance.
Grace sent him a supportive smile from her favorite recliner as Chase sat up, ready to accept his stocking from Madison.
When Chase had first spotted the giant red sock with his name on it hanging from the mantle next to Tobias, Madison, Natalie and Grace’s, he immediately fell into Tobias’ arms, soft sobs racking him as he found himself part of a family once again.
Now, he beamed in delight as he took the stocking from Madison.
“You already got me so many gifts,” he said to Tobias as he pulled out the first gift. “This is too much.”
Yet he wasn’t exactly refusing the gifts, and Tobias stifled his laughter. He wondered how long it had been since Chase had had a pile under the tree just for himself.
He ripped away the wrapping paper to reveal a paperback.
“On Thin Ice by Beth Bolden,” Chase read from the cover.
“It’s about two goalies who train together and fall in love, with a bit of forbidden love and an age gap,” Tobias said.
Chase beamed at him. “How fitting for us,” he said as he leaned over to kiss Tobias, who accepted it happily but kept it quick. “Although five years is barely an age gap.”
Tobias chuckled. “Keep going, there’s more.”
Chase reached into the stocking and pulled out a red and orange knit piece Tobias had finished the week before.
After unfolding it and holding it up sideways, Chase inspected it questioningly.
“It’s a bag to hold your yoga mat. I knitted it for you.”
“Oh! I see it now,” Chase giggled as he found the strap and the opening for his mat to slip into. “This is so perfect. Thank you.”
He went to push away the stocking, but Tobias nudged him. “There’s one more.”
“There is?” Chase gushed as he dove back into the stocking, then he froze. His hand had likely found the last gift buried in the toe of the sock and he stared at Tobias in shock.
Tobias pulled the stocking away from Chase, revealing the tiny, red jewelry box clutched in his hand. Chase finally looked at it sitting in his palm.
“Tobias?” Chase whispered.
He was vaguely aware of his mom taking pictures or recording or whatever she was doing, and Madison sitting on Natalie’s lap ready to burst from the excitement.
Tobias wrapped both of his hands around Chase’s, holding the jewelry box between them, and kept his eyes on Chase.
“Chase, the moment you entered my life, you made it better. I was drowning, barely living, and you showed me how much more there was to look forward to. I can’t imagine spending my life with anyone but you.
I want to be yours, and I want you to be mine in every way.
I want you to be there every morning when I wake up, and I want to fall asleep wrapped in your arms every night.
” His voice cracked as he removed his hands and pulled the box from Chase, opening it to reveal a silver silicone ring.
“Chase Townsend, would you make us the happiest family in the world and be my husband?”
Chase turned, tears in his eyes to find Natalie, Madison and Grace watching with big apprehensive smiles on their faces.
He turned back to Tobias and shook his head, causing Tobias’ stomach to sink.
“I can’t believe you beat me to it,” Chase said, huffing out a breath of laughter, and Tobias’ brows furrowed.
Chase took his free hand and shoved it into the gap in the couch cushions between them.
“Do you know how hard it is to hide something in this house?” Chase asked, a giggle in his voice.
When Chase pulled his hand from between the cushions, he held a black jewelry box.
A collective gasp filled the room as Chase opened his own box, revealing a black ring with a red stripe through its middle.
“Tobias Moyer, I would love nothing more than to be a part of your family and call you my husband.”
Tobias chuckled through tears and lunged at Chase, pulling him into a deep but quick kiss thanks to their audience.
They separated reluctantly to raucous cheers from the ladies, but kept their foreheads together as they exchanged rings, taking turns slipping them onto each other’s fingers.
A couple months before, they’d passed a ring shop and had broken into a conversation about the kinds of rings they preferred. They’d agreed silicone was the way to go due to their jobs. Fitness and metal rings didn’t often mesh well, unlike Tobias and Chase.
“Merry Christmas,” Chase said.
“It wouldn’t be merry without you.”
They kissed again, until Madison jumped into their laps, covering them with congratulatory hugs and kisses.
“Chase, does this mean you’re gonna be my uncle too?” she squealed in excitement.
“It sure does, Maddie-moo,” he said. “You okay with that?”
“It’s the best news ever!”
They spent the rest of the morning toasting to their engagement with eggnog and hot cocoa, Chase never leaving Tobias’ arms.
He couldn’t wait to see what the future would bring with Chase at his side.