30. Epilogue
Epilogue
Dev 1.5 Years Later
The sun hardly ever shines in Vancouver. But today, I had to put on shades to drive to Stanley Park. Driving always seems like a good idea until you have to find parking.
“A picnic in the park was a fantastic idea. I think this is the nicest day we’ve had since we moved here.” She squeezes my hand, which eases the shaking a little.
I need her closer, so I slide my hand out of hers, pulling her in tight to my side. It’s not easy to walk this way, but so worth it to feel her comforting weight pressed against my side. Knowing she’s here with me makes me feel safer than I ever have.
This past year has been a wild ride. We made it to the second round of the playoffs before losing our spot to Edmonton. That hurt, but they’ve got a mature, well-balanced team, and we’re in a rebuilding year. Everything about my first pro season was intense. The competition, the uncertainty, the travel. It’s so much better with Cece able to come along for a lot of the away games. She’s been doing freelance graphic design work while working on her graphic novel series with Anna. I couldn’t be luckier to have a girlfriend with such a flexible job. I’ve seen how hard it is on some of the guys who have to constantly leave their wives, girlfriends, and children behind. I don’t know if I could handle that.
But she’s my home now. My constant. And she has been since the day we graduated. College already seems like a distant dream, but I’m thrilled that Beau’s in town. He’s only staying for a couple days before he has to head back for training camp, but what’s the off season for if you can’t spend it visiting old friends?
The closer we get to the picnic site, the faster my heart is pounding. Spots blur my vision, and my head gets fuzzy. I drag in a few deep breaths, trying to calm myself down.
She tilts her head up, catching my gaze. “What’s up? You’re quieter than usual. Is something wrong?”
My smiles come easier now. Especially when she’s around. “No. Everything is perfect. You’re perfect.”
She giggles. “I’m not perfect.”
“You’re perfect to me.”
She leans into me in a gentle shove.
I slip my hand into my pocket for maybe the hundredth time today.
The sun glinting off Beau’s dark blond hair is the first hint that this isn’t one of the quiet picnics for two we love to share .
“Is that?” She holds her hand up to shield her eyes from the sun, squinting. “Beau?”
And she’s off, breaking into a sprint and hurling her arms around her brother.
She’s talking at the speed of light, getting him all caught up on her graphic novel sales and asking him how he’s been.
I catch up to them, tapping her on the shoulder. “Cece, look over there.”
She follows the finger I’m pointing at the shoulder, falling silent.
There’s a balloon arch leading into the shelter in every shade of pink and gold. And through it, her friends start emerging. Anna and Blake showed up, along with Georgia, all the way from her new home in New York City. Some of my current teammates and their significant others she’s gotten friendly with. And a few more former members of the Lightning showed up. JJ’s got a huge grin on his face, and his hair has gotten unruly since I last saw him.
Fear hits me when I turn to see tears chasing each other down her cheeks.
I lean down to whisper in her ear. “Cupcake. You okay?”
“Yes. They’re happy tears. It’s a lot though. I wasn’t expecting this. It’s not my birthday or anything.”
As we’ve been chatting, I slowly shifted her toward the balloon arch until we’re standing directly under it.
“No. It’s not your birthday, but I hope you’ll remember this day for the rest of your life. ”
Her eyes widen to impossible pools of deep blue, and her mouth drops open. “Dev?”
I drop to one knee in front of her, and all the chatter of our friends stops. Now the only sound are the birds singing to each other from the trees, and the wind rustling through the leaves.
“Cecelia Whitaker, will you marry me?”
Laughter wars with her tears, and she wipes them away with a shaky hand. “Yes. A million times, yes.”
The ring is extravagant, but elegant. The large round stone in the center is set into a double band of tiny diamonds. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was the one. Its sparkle matches hers.
“Can I have your hand?”
“Right. Sounds important.”
Everyone laughs. Then they start clapping and stomping as I slide the ring onto her finger. Her hands are soft and freshly painted with a coat of lilac polish.
“Now you need to kiss me,” she says.
I brush her pale hair behind her little shell of an ear, and whisper for her alone. “Pushy, aren’t you?”
“Yup. And that’s why you love me.”
“That is one of approximately a million reasons I love you. Give or take.”
But I do need to seal the deal, and her rosy, pink lips are tempting me to do indecent things to them.
When our lips finally crash together, the noise from the small crowd swells. I’m second guessing my decision to invite everyone. I want her all to myself now.
My arms wrap around her waist, pulling her in close .
We explore each other’s mouths like it’s the first time. Every kiss between us feels like this, though. I never knew love could be like this.
We’re both breathless when we break apart to join our friends.
Everyone wants a piece of us. Hugs and backslaps. Congratulations and suggestions. I’m here for it.
This is what a family is supposed to be like. Even my dad showed up. He brought along Meredith and her kids. It’s still a work in progress. My relationship with them, but little by little they’ve snuck into my life. And it’s been healing. Because when it comes right down to it. Your parents are just people, too. People who make mistakes and suffer losses. And sometimes they get past their own shit and learn to be better people. And sometimes they don’t.
But when you have friends like ours, you’re never alone. And together we’re so much more than we were alone.
I finally catch back up to my love after we’re both a little overwhelmed by all the affection.
“Cece. I will never stop loving you. You know that, right?” My hand finds its way to her back, rubbing small circles. I can’t seem to stop touching her.
“I know. I love you too, Dev.”
“Forever.”
“Forever and a day.”
“You’re not going to let me win this one, are you?”
“Nope,” she says .
“That’s fine. I don’t need to win. I already won the best prize of all.”
And I dip down for one more kiss that tilts my world on its axis.