Epilogue
Two Years Later
Callie
“It’s your turn!” Vivi pushes the microphone into my hand.
“No way!” I shake my head.
But Gage backs her up. “It’s definitely your turn.”
Claire whistles loudly. “Get up there, girl! This is your baby shower!”
“Only you would throw a karaoke party at a bar for a baby shower,” Claire’s husband, Easton, remarks.
We’re in Boston, with the Boston Hawks Hockey girls and their hockey-playing significant others. A few of the Coyotes and Thunderbolts players and their women are also in attendance. Clients from all sports have shown up for Gage and me today.
Over the past two years, I cut back from work. I fell into a happy rhythm with Gage.
As he retired and found his footing in his new normal, I learned to balance my life between personal and professional. Between love and purpose.
And somewhere along the way, Gage and I realized how desperately we both want to have a child.
We’re adopting a sweet baby boy, due to an amazing birth mother, in six short weeks. She’s a high school junior who dreams of law school. She and the baby’s biological father made the decision to go the adoption route with the support of their families.
Gage and I know how blessed we are to receive this precious gift, and we cannot wait to become parents.
I glance at him over my shoulder as he gives my ass a tap. “Get up there.” He smirks.
I take the microphone from Vivi’s hand, and my wedding band flashes. I step onto the stage and nod to the man working the karaoke machine. He cues up my song and as the opening notes of “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-a-Lot rings out, I sing loudly into the microphone.
The entire bar of Taps erupts in a chorus of cheers as I begin to dance.
And I savor this moment. This feeling that my life has come full circle.
I revel in the genuine joy of being celebrated by a room filled with my closest friends, my dearest athletes, and the love of my life.
I can feel the presence of my dad and grandma wrapping me up in a warm hug and letting me know everything will be okay. I got this.
I can be a badass sports agent, a present wife, and a loving mother.
With Gage at my side, I can grow into the best version of myself.
I shake my ass and lift the microphone over my head as Claire hollers for me to crowd surf.
As I jump into the crowd, I laugh.
Hell, I already am.
Thank you so much for reading The Final Touchdown! I hope you loved Gage and Callie’s story!