Epilogue
MAVERICK
Four Years Later
Hoisting this trophy up in the air is the biggest fuck you I could possibly send to everyone in my life that ever held me back or made me think I wasn’t worth it.
The noise of the crowd is deafening. I’m jostled around by teammates and their family and friends.
Theirs, not mine. There’s only two people I give a flying shit about seeing right now.
As if the crowd can read my mind, it parts. And there she fucking is.
“Dude, are you smiling?” Monty slings his arm over my shoulders, and I don’t even bother shrugging him off. Even now, after all these years playing together, he still gives me grief when I smile.
Like it’s rare or something.
Maybe at one time it was, but not recently. These last several years, I’ve had nonstop reasons to smile.
“Fuck off, Monty,” I say, but there’s no bite to my words. His eyes light up when he sees Lark, and his arm falls away.
“You love me and you know it,” he teases, but his attention isn’t on me anymore. And I don’t blame him. He’s finally getting his forever with the girl he’s wanted for so fucking long. And no one deserves it more than that dude.
Sadie reaches me, and I pass the trophy off to Monty without a second look so I can lift her up into my arms. She’s a better prize than some fucking trophy, anyway.
“Hey, baby,” I say, giving her the small smile that’s just for her.
“I’m so proud of you.” She’s beaming. Happiness radiates out of her, bathing me in warmth and light, the way she always does.
This is where I belong, with her in my arms, making me feel like anything is possible.
Her love is the only reason I’m here, surrounded by people I respect and most of the time even like.
She’s the reason my teammates named me MVP and the reason I was fucking happy to sign a five-year contract with the Tridents last year.
“You know it’s all because of you.” I tilt my head to her ear, because even though it’s loud with all the excitement and chaos around us, I don’t need anyone hearing this. “It’s because of this morning.”
As expected, her cheeks turn bright red in an instant. “Maverick,” she chides, but there’s no heat behind her words. Well, not the angry sort of heat. A different kind, yeah. But that’s my girl. I can read her moods like the pages of a fucking book written just for my enjoyment.
“I didn’t notice you complaining this morning.”
“It’s not like you gave me a chance,” she retorts, but her eyes are sparkling with mischief, and I know she’s remembering the four orgasms I gave her before we got out of bed.
Higher the orgasm count, higher the score for the game.
That’s what I figure. And seeing as we won the championship with a healthy three-point lead, I’d say those four orgasms were worth it.
Nothing beats seeing Sadie lost in herself and knowing it’s because of me. Knowing that she only truly lets go with me.
“How soon can we get out of here?” she asks, but before I can answer, a voice cuts in.
“Not until he’s done with the press conference.”
Sadie slides down my body, her feet hitting the grass. But I keep her close to me as we turn to see Colin standing there with a wide grin.
“Well played, brother.”
I slap his hand with mine and let him pull me in for a one-armed hug, keeping my other wrapped around Sadie.
“Thanks, man.” A moment passes between us.
A moment not even Sadie is aware of. We’ve been through shit she can’t even fathom, and I’m glad of that.
Even though she knows everything about my past, it doesn’t matter how deep our love runs.
There will always be pieces of me no one understands like Colin does.
And that means there’s a small piece of today she can’t appreciate the way he does.
Two kids from the wrong fucking side of the tracks. Two kids with fucked-up families and even more fucked-up childhoods. Two kids who rose the fuck above all of that.
His wife is standing back, and I bring her in for a quick hug as well. The only person missing today is Eli, but he couldn’t get away from the treatment center he works at as an addictions counselor out in Manitoba. I’m proud of him for prioritizing his work and told him just that last night.
Besides, tonight I really only want to celebrate with one person. My wife. The woman who helped me realize the man I am today is the man I always wanted to be. Strong, steady, and open to what life brings.
“I love you, Sadie King.”
Her beautiful smile is blinding, even under the bright lights of the stadium. “I love you, Maverick King.”
We kiss and I don’t give a fuck who sees or what camera catches us.
Let them.
Let the whole fucking world see me love the woman who saved me from myself.