Epilogue #2
“Multitasking, huh?” I murmur, leaning back into him.
His arm tightens around my waist, pulling me closer as his other hand continues to explore beneath my shirt, his fingers brushing higher along my skin.
I can feel him pressing against my back, his hard cock making me even more aware of how close we are.
Heat pools low in my belly, and I shift slightly in his lap, trying to keep my composure, though I’m already losing the battle.
“And what exactly are you thinking about?” I ask, my voice a little breathless as I press back against him, letting him feel just how much I want him.
His breath hitches slightly, and I hear the low rumble of a chuckle against my ear.
“I’m thinking about how long we have to stay here before I can take you back to the hotel,” he murmurs, his lips brushing the sensitive spot just below my ear.
His fingers graze the waistband of my jeans, teasing me, making my body react to every subtle movement.
The music from the stage swells around us, but it feels like we’re in our own world, completely lost in each other.
Santos’s grip on my waist tightens as he shifts beneath me, his arousal pressing harder against my back, making it clear he’s just as affected as I am.
My breath catches, and I lean back into him even more, feeling the tension building between us, thick and electric.
“Think we’ll make it through the set?” I ask, my voice low, teasing.
Santos groans softly, his lips brushing against my neck again, sending shivers down my spine.
“If you keep moving like that, we won’t,” he whispers, his hand slipping lower, fingers grazing just beneath the waistband of my jeans.
The tease of it is almost unbearable, and I press my thighs together, aching for him to touch me where I need it most.
He chuckles softly, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispers, “I’m thinking about how fast we can get back to the hotel so we can . . . celebrate.”
I turn my head slightly, catching his lips with mine in a slow, lingering kiss. “You’re impossible,” I whisper. “But we’re here to listen to our man. We can of course fool around and be ready for when he’s done.”
We both turn our attention back to the stage.
I can feel it in the way he’s holding me, in the way his thumb keeps brushing against my skin, keeping me on edge.
Dustin’s voice fills the room. The song ends, and the crowd erupts into applause right as the next one starts, but my mind is already on the next step. The hotel. Santos. Dustin.
We’re ready for tonight. For us and our future. Last month we decided I’d stop taking the pill and even though it might take some time, we’re going to start trying for a baby—our family. Our dream.
We may have lost our way, but the stars guided us home. Now, we’re ready for the next chapter.
Santos
The chill of the ice beneath my skates feels like home, like something that’s been missing from me for far too long.
The sound of the puck hitting the boards, the cheers from the crowd, the steady rhythm of my heart—it all feels right.
After everything, after months of uncertainty, rehab, and rediscovering what I love, I’m back where I belong.
We’re just warming up, but I’m ready. I’m ready for the speed, the adrenaline, the slap of the puck against my stick, the rush of wind as I skate across the ice.
I’m ready for the hits, the checks against the boards, the roar of the crowd as we chase the goal.
I’m ready for the sweat, the grit, the unrelenting pace that defines the game.
It’s taken eighteen months—eighteen long months since the injury, since I thought my career might be over.
But now, being back out here feels like the perfect culmination of everything I’ve fought for.
Every painful stretch in rehab, every session with the trainers, every doubt I had late at night, wondering if I’d ever lace up my skates again.
But it wasn’t just about getting back on the ice. It was about reclaiming my life.
Reclaiming the woman and the man I love.
We’ve settled into a rhythm—splitting our time between the ranch and Portland.
Halsey juggles her time between clinics and hospitals, and Dustin’s been balancing his music with life on the ranch.
There’s a peace we’ve found together, a balance I never imagined I could have. But here I am—living it.
Even my parents have changed, both of them.
Dad is almost unrecognizable now, softened in ways I never thought possible.
He still has a long way to go, and our relationship is still rocky.
I mean, after everything he put me through, I .
. . well, we’re a work in progress. Mom has welcomed my partners into the family, which is surprising considering Dad used to be the one who made those decisions.
Dustin’s grandparents have always accepted him for who he is and, in turn, accepted us without hesitation. It’s a comfort, knowing that part of our world is so secure.
Unfortunately, Halsey’s parents never will come around, but she’s made her peace with it. She has us, our love, and we’re her family now. And that’s all that matters.
As I glide across the ice, my skates cutting through the rink’s smooth surface, I glance toward the boards, catching a glimpse of the crowd through the glass. The energy of the arena is electric, but something unusual catches my eye. A sign—big, bold letters plastered across it, impossible to miss.
Congratulations #27, you’re going to be a daddy.
For a moment, time stands still.
My number—27—flashes in my mind as I register what the sign says. I slow down, trying to process, but the words keep repeating in my head. You’re going to be a daddy.
I blink, my heart pounding, and that’s when I see them—Dustin and Halsey standing behind the glass, grinning, holding the sign. Fuck, I’m going to be a dad. We’re going to be parents.
I skid to a stop, barely hearing the roar of the crowd anymore. Everything fades as I look at them, my mind spinning. I’m going to be a father. Best surprise ever. Just when I thought I could never be happier . . . I’m going to be a dad.
We’re going to be parents.
My heart feels like it’s about to burst as I skate toward them, the smile on my face growing so wide it hurts. Dustin’s grinning, pointing to the sign like I might have missed it, and Halsey’s laughing, her eyes filled with tears as she mouths the words, You’re going to be a daddy.
I reach the glass, pressing my hand against it, my eyes locked on theirs. This is real. This is happening. My whole body feels like it’s brimming with joy, overflowing with the love I have for the two people standing in front of me.
I laugh, shaking my head in disbelief. Eighteen months ago, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever play again, if I’d ever find peace again. But now? Now I’m on the ice, about to become a father, with the two people I love more than anything in the world.
Tears blur my vision as I press my hand against the glass one more time, my heart pounding in my chest. Dustin’s wiping away a tear, trying to play it cool, but I can see it—he’s just as overwhelmed as I am.
His eyes are shining with emotion, a mix of joy and disbelief. And then there’s Halsey, her smile soft, radiant, like she’s holding all the love in the world inside her. This—right here—this is the happiest day of my life.
In this life, I’ll promise them the moon and the stars because they mean everything to me—they’re forever.