Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Oscar
After our impromptu first dance, we returned to Coach’s house to find most of our guests had made their way toward the yacht club for our reception. Coach offered towels to dry off while Luca ran back to our house and brought us fresh clothing for the party.
An hour later, dry and freshly changed, we once again pulled up to the yacht club.
The rain clouds had passed, leaving the sky a brilliant canvas of pinks and oranges where sun was low on the horizon. A cool breeze blew in off the water and brought a salty edge to the fresh smell of wet earth. I slipped out of the passenger seat and circled the car to offer Mia my hand to get out of her side, pausing at the sight of my ring on her finger.
We were officially married.
I brushed my finger over the simple gold band, happiness bubbling inside of me as she folded her fingers over mine.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
I met her beautiful silver eyes, still feeling like we were in a dream I’d wake from at any moment. How the hell had I gotten so lucky?
“Let’s do it.”
Her red painted lips spread into a smile that cut through me every time I saw it and together we headed in through the front door. At the direction of the concierge, we turned down several corridors before Mateo met us at a set of double glass doors that barely contained the thumping of music inside.
Pushing them open, he strode confidently into the space, put his fingers to his mouth and whistled. The DJ cut the music instantly, and in the ensuing silence he announced “Ladies and gentlemen! I give you Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Cavanaugh!” The roar from the crowd was deafening. Burlesque dancers, hockey players, and everyone who had touched our lives crowded forward to congratulate us en masse.
Over the heads of the crowd, I found my mom and Tia patiently waiting their turn to say hello, and in the corner, Elle yelling at some dude I hadn’t met before. I silently encouraged her to give him hell and turned back to find Mia watching me.
“I love you,” I mouthed at her. Her lips turned up in a secret smile before forming the words back to me and I wondered if it would be bad form to leave already so I could fuck my wife.
“Oscar!” Cian’s voice broke through the salacious ideas forming in my mind. He held his phone aloft, ignoring the frowns of several well-wishers as they were jostled aside in his haste to get to me.
“What’s up, man?” I asked as he reached my side.
“I think the weather in Texas is nice this time of year.” His grin was so wide it changed the entire shape of his face.
“What are you talking about? Texas?”
He huffed, pulling me down to his level to shout in my ear.
“Austin is signing both of us. They’ve been trying to call you all day. I told them you’d call them back tomorrow, but we did it! We’re going to the NHL!” He grabbed me by the ears and planted a kiss on my lips before turning to Mia and reaching for her face.
“No way in hell. She’s mine to kiss.” I scooped her body up against mine and took her mouth in a kiss that told her exactly what would be happening later. She melted against me and I took a moment to appreciate the complete sense of contentment that came over me.
I was officially married to the most beautiful woman in the world. My family and friends were all celebrating our love, and I was going to have a career playing the best sport in the world.
Life was good, and I couldn’t wait to spend every moment making sure Mia felt the same way.
Forever.