Chapter 22 #3
"Perfect. Everything is perfect."
They stood in the dining room, surrounded by people, both exhausted from their respective triumphs.
"We did it," Lucy whispered. "Both of us. We're really doing it."
"Yeah," Jake said. "We really are."
Lucy kissed him quickly—conscious of her staff watching, of the full restaurant, of professional boundaries.
"Go," she said. "You need rest. Championship game Friday."
"You need rest too."
"I will. After closing. After cleanup. After making sure everything is ready for tomorrow."
"Lucy—"
"I promise. I'll rest. But right now, I have a restaurant to run."
Jake left, looking back once to see Lucy returning to her kitchen, her team, her dream.
They were both living their dreams. And somehow, against all odds, they were doing it together.
Friday would be the championship game. Lucy would be there, in the stands, cheering him on.
And whatever happened—win or lose—they'd have each other.
That was the real victory.
Friday morning, Lucy woke up exhausted.
Two nights of dinner service, hundreds of customers, endless hours in the kitchen. But Margaret's was a success. Reservations were booked solid for the next month. Reviews were glowing. She'd done it.
But tonight was Jake's championship game. And Lucy wouldn't miss it for anything.
She went to the restaurant early, prepping with Daniel for evening service.
"I need to leave by 6:30," Lucy told him. "Jake's championship game is at 7. Can you handle dinner service alone?"
"Absolutely. Go support your man. We've got this."
At 6:30, Lucy changed out of her chef's whites and into regular clothes. She met Rei at the arena, and they found their seats in the family section.
"How are you feeling?" Rei asked.
"Terrified. For Jake. This is everything he's worked for."
"He's got this. The team is playing so well."
The arena was packed—the entire town had come out for this game. Emma was there with her parents, wearing a homemade sign that said "GO COACH JAKE!"
The game started, and Lucy's stomach was in knots.
It was fast, physical, intense. The Wolves went up 2-0 in the first period. Lucy screamed so loud Rei had to tell her to calm down.
But the other team came back, tying it 2-2 by the end of the second period.
The third period was agony. Back and forth, neither team able to score. Lucy's hands were shaking.
Then, with five minutes left, Marcus made an impossible save. The crowd went wild.
The Wolves pushed forward. Owen had the puck, passed to Marcus (who'd joined the rush because of course he did), who shot—
Goal.
3-2, Wolves.
The arena exploded. Lucy was screaming, Rei was crying, Emma was jumping up and down.
Five minutes. They just had to hold on for five minutes.
Lucy watched Jake behind the bench, completely focused, calling plays, managing his team. This was what he was meant to do. Not play hockey—coach it. Help others achieve what he couldn't.
The other team pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. Lucy couldn't watch.
Two minutes.
One minute.
Thirty seconds.
The buzzer sounded.
The Wolves had won the championship.
Lucy watched as Jake's team mobbed each other on the ice. Watched as the officials brought out the championship trophy. Watched as Jake hoisted it with Marcus, both of them grinning like kids.
This was his moment. His triumph. His dream realized.
Lucy made her way down to the ice. Jake saw her, handed the trophy to Marcus, and skated over.
"We won," he said, breathless.
"You won. Jake, you did it!"
"We did it. The team, Tommy's foundation, all of it."
Lucy kissed him through the glass barrier, not caring who was watching.
"I'm so proud of you," she said.
"I'm proud of you too. Margaret's is incredible, Lucy. Everyone's talking about it."
"We both did it. Same week. Both our dreams."
"Yeah. Pretty amazing timing."
"Or terrible timing. We barely saw each other."
"But we made it work. That's what matters."
The team was celebrating on the ice, but Jake stayed by the glass, talking to Lucy, choosing her over the celebration.
"Go," Lucy said. "Be with your team. Celebrate. You earned this."
"Come to Mac's after? The team's celebrating there."
"I have to go back to the restaurant—"
"Lucy. One night. Let Daniel handle it. Come celebrate with me."
Lucy thought about it. She should go back to Margaret's. Should be there for cleanup, for her team, for her restaurant.
But she also wanted to be with Jake. To celebrate his victory, their victories, everything they'd built together.
"Okay," Lucy said. "One night. I'll come celebrate."
At Mac's Tavern, the whole town seemed to be there. The Wolves, their families, supporters. Giuseppe had closed his restaurant to come celebrate.
Jake found Lucy in the crowd and pulled her close.
"Thank you," he said into her hair. "For being here. For supporting me through this season."
"Thank you for supporting me through the restaurant opening."
"We're a good team."
"The best team."
They stayed until past midnight, celebrating with the team, with the town, with everyone who'd supported them.
And when they finally went home—to Jake's apartment, collapsing into bed exhausted but happy—Lucy felt something settle in her chest.
This was it. This was the life they'd built. Two people chasing their dreams, supporting each other, making it work despite impossible timing and competing priorities.
It wasn't perfect. It wasn't easy.
But it was theirs.
And it was enough.
More than enough.
It was everything.