Epilogue
Adrian
One year later…
“Guard the net,” I screamed. “Guard the net.”
“Look at Mr. Hockey Fan now.” Neil snickered.
“I’m a Blades man through and through.” I sniffed.
“I’ll just bet you are, little brother.” Neil elbowed me, and I ignored the innuendo to concentrate on the final minutes of the game, but my face burned.
“Idiot.”
To the roar of the Blades’ fans, Rip came out of nowhere and stole the puck from the Drifts’ winger about to take a shot on goal.
“Rip’s gonna score,” John said, unruffled, his gaze firmly on Rip speeding down the ice toward the Drifts’ net. If he did, it would be a hat trick for him, and the Blades would win their second Stanley Cup in a row. Blades Arena was on fire.
“To the left,” Neil yelled, jumping out of his seat, his cheering as loud as mine.
The Drifts’ goalie, Pieter Lindell, spread himself in front of the net, but at the last moment, Rip spun off to the side and smacked the puck, sliding it behind Lindell’s bulk and into the net.
The light went on, and the arena erupted.
The Blades’ lead had increased by two with less than five minutes left.
“He did it. He did it.” I threw my arms around John, the gold band on my finger catching the overhead lights.
We’d gotten engaged over Christmas, and I’d been promoted to Channel 8’s full-time political reporter, after uncovering a huge scandal in the city’s Finance Department, which had led to the resignation of its top commissioners.
Sterling Forest had the anchor job locked down and strangely enough, I was okay with that.
I still had the sports show, Playing the Field, which the station believed was best as a monthly program, so between that and my news reporting, it was a perfect balance.
I had the job I’d dreamed of, the man of my dreams, and I’d never been happier.
John remained standing, never taking his eyes off Rip as he hugged it out with his teammates, then skated to the side for a final shift change.
The Drifts pulled Lindell to put an extra skater on the ice, but the Blades would not be denied.
The sticks flew fast and furious as the Drifts attempted to control the puck, but Peter Varhov stole it from their center and skated away with Chitty and Seb guarding him.
The Drifts refused to go quietly. Two defensemen flanked Varhov on either side, and he had no clear shot at the empty net.
I winced when they smashed him into the boards and their defenseman stole the puck, but he only made it to center ice before the buzzer sounded and the game was over.
“Yes, yes! Two years in a row!” I threw my arms up in the air, and we jumped for joy while the arena lights flashed and “We Are the Champions” blasted over the loudspeakers.
The entire Blades team piled out on the ice, and after shaking hands with the Drifts, they skated to center ice for the Cup ceremony.
“Damn glad to be sitting here this year.” John laughed. “Rip told me the engineers did a walk-through and checked the entire arena last night to make sure everything was secure.”
“You’re where you belong,” I said, squeezing his arm. “With family.”
I watched as the NHL commissioner made his speech, and Rip was named most valuable player and handed the trophy. He stepped in front of the microphone and it took him a moment to collect himself. I knew him so intimately, I could see how he struggled for self-control.
“Thank you to the league and the Blades organization for making my dreams come true. To my teammates, who are more like a family. To my fiancé, Adrian, for always being by my side, cheering me on, and for loving me, no matter what. To Mom and Dad Hunt, Neil and Lisa—I love you all so much. And to my father. I’m glad you’re in my life and here to share this night with me.
” He wiped his face with the back of his hand. “And everything in the future to come.”
He hopped off the podium, and to thunderous applause, skated the circumference of the rink, holding up the Cup to the cheering fans.
He handed it off to Seb, then skated to the section where we sat, and though we were separated by the plexiglass, he placed his hand on it and I reached out to line my fingers up with his.
“I love you. See you outside. I’m gonna get cleaned up.”
“Okay.”
“Dad?”
Even after a year, my heart still squeezed tight seeing Rip with his father and hearing him call John dad.
They’d had some hard conversations, but each day brought them closer.
John had moved to New York when recurring headaches and dizziness from the head injury made it impossible for him to work.
Rip had bought him a small house with a garden, and he had a service dog who helped him with balance support when the unsteadiness hit.
“Yeah?”
“We’re having a celebration at Slapshots afterward. Can you come?”
A smile lit up John’s face. “I’d like that.”
“I’ve got some press to do, so I’ll meet you outside the locker room.”
Rip rejoined his team celebrating on the ice, and we stood for a while as he, Denis, and the rest of the team were interviewed by sports networks and local stations.
The three of us waited until the arena emptied out. We made our way to the locker-room area and it took about half an hour for Rip to appear. He’d showered and was dressed in street clothes. He put his arm around my shoulders.
“Ready?”
“Yeah.”
“I gotta get home,” Neil said, and Lisa kissed Rip on the cheek.
“Mom and Dad are babysitting so we need to relieve them, otherwise we’d stay for the celebration.” She hugged him, then me.
Neil shocked me by wiping his eyes. My brother rarely got emotional.
“I am so goddamned proud of you, Rip. You’re the best of the best. Two Cups in a row. I think it’s the Adrian effect.” He winked at me.
My cheeks burned. “Shut up,” I mumbled.
Rip tightened his hold on me. “I think you’re right. Everything’s better with Adrian.”
They hugged, and Neil pulled me close.
“This year has been incredible. I’ve loved watching you grow and come into your own. Never let anyone change you. You’re the best.”
“You are too. Thanks for always believing in me.”
“And remember, you and Rip are coming to the house this weekend. Mom and Dad are dying to see you both, and the kids want to see their uncles.”
“We’ll be there.” We hugged again, and I watched him get into the car he’d called.
Hand in hand, Rip and I walked to Slapshots, with John holding on to Rip’s other arm.
Once inside, a cheer rose from the crowd.
Win or lose, Rip and the rest of the team had rented the bar out for the evening for family and friends, and the corks were popping as we got a table.
Rip made sure his father was settled before he raised a hand to quiet people down.
“To the Blades and our fans, and to keeping the Cup where it belongs. Brooklyn, baby!” He gulped the champagne straight from the bottle.
“You know that’s right,” Seb shouted, standing on a chair. “To our captain.” He drank from his own bottle, and he and Rip hugged. I loved their friendship, and Seb and his wife had become my good friends as well.
His face flushed with happiness, Rip pulled me close for a kiss. His mouth tasted warm and sweet, and I clung to him.
“To my guy, the one who never lost faith in me. This is where our story began, and it’s only gonna get better. I love you, baby. Here’s to us.”
As I drank my bubbles, I caught sight of Denis, a wistful expression on his face.
He’d gone out with numerous men over the past year, and I wondered if he even knew what love was.
Rip had forgiven him for his bad behavior, but I didn’t trust him.
It still upset me that he’d wanted a threesome with Rip knowing the two of us were dating.
Was his loneliness an act? With Denis, no one could ever be certain.
Rip nuzzled me close. “What’re you so deep in thought about?”
I smiled against his cheek, the plight of Denis Bouvier’s love life forgotten. “You. What else?”
“Mmm. Good answer.” He played with my hair. “I’ve been thinking. Let’s do it.”
Confused, I met his dancing eyes. “Do what?”
“Get married. This weekend at Neil and Lisa’s. What’re we waiting for? We’ll bring everyone together who can make it, and we have the whole off-season to celebrate the honeymoon.”
I blinked. “Are you sure? It’s so spur-of-the-moment. Shouldn’t you check with Neil first?”
He held me closer, his laughter rumbling through me. “Neil is oblivious. I’ve already mentioned it to Lisa, and she’s chomping at the bit to get it done. Especially with your parents visiting. It’s the perfect time.”
I grinned, settling into his arms. “You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”
“I did. Because you are my everything. I’ve never been happier than I have been with you.”
Overwhelmed, I drank in the sight of everyone celebrating the Blades’ win. Even Denis had come out of his funk and was toasting away. Like Rip said, a team that was more like a family.
“I love you so much, Rip, and I’m so happy, I don’t know what to do with myself.”
“You can marry me, that’s what.” He brushed our lips together. “Before you, I was alone and lonely. I thought I’d lost my joy. Then you appeared and became the one constant in my life I could count on and turn to. The one I could confess my secrets to without any judgment.”
“Do you know how long I’ve loved you?” I gazed into the face I used to dream about, wishing he were mine, knowing it was an impossible fantasy. “All I wanted was you to be my boyfriend.”
“And now I’m going to be your husband.”
I kissed him. “Guess we’d better get ready to handle all the good stuff coming our way.”
Rip held me tight. “Bring it on, baby. Time for us to take that shot at forever and score the ultimate goal. You and me. Together forever.”