Epilogue
Casey
Three months later…
The snow has been falling outside the window for the past hour but I’m in no rush to go outside and shovel it, not when Sage is sleeping in my arms. Her naked body rises and falls with each breath, and I lie as still as possible, so she’s not tempted to move.
“What time is it?” she asks with her eyes still closed.
I smile. “I didn’t think you were awake.”
“I’ve been awake for a while but it’s so warm in your arms.”
“You should call in sick.”
“I did that yesterday.”
“Then they’ll believe you’re still sick.”
She groans but pushes away. “I’ve got patients today. I can’t let them down. My ten o’clock is making some incredible progress, and I’m thinking she might take a step today.”
I kiss her lips. “I’m so proud of you. I may have won a World Series but you’re the real hero.”
“Come on now, be serious.”
“I am. In a little over ten weeks, you opened a new clinic and it’s already one of the busiest physical therapy places around.”
“That’s because it’s the only one for miles.”
“Exactly. All these people would have to travel far or not get the help they need if it wasn’t for you.”
She brushes her lips against mine. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. But before you go, do you think you can give me a little physical therapy?”
She looks at my arm. “Are you feeling any pain?”
I grin. “Not at all, but I’d love to have your hands on me right now.”
She laughs but it almost sounds like a growl when she leans in for a kiss. I take advantage of her weakness and pull her back into bed. “I can’t,” she laughs. “I’ve really got to go.”
I groan but let go. “Fine. But later you’re mine.”
“Deal. Maybe you can cook me a hot meal when I get back from work?”
“Baby, there will be soy candles, too, and maybe some smudging if you’re a good girl.”
She smiles. “You get me.” She bends for a quick kiss before jogging to the shower. I lean back against the bed and enjoy the view.
Fortunately for her, my phone rings while Sage is in the bathroom, stopping me from trying just one more time before she leaves.
“Hey, Brett, what’s up?”
“Did you speak to Caleb Consuelos about joining the Lions?”
“Yeah, I told you I want to play for New York next season. What’s the problem?”
“The problem is now I’ve got no negotiation leverage. I can’t bluff or anything. Not that I need to, there’s no way New York can afford to pay you what Philly or L.A. is offering. Are you sure about this?”
“Absolutely. I’ve already discussed it with my fiancé. If I play for New York we won’t be more than two or three days apart for away games and I’ll be here for home games. It works out.”
“I guess that depends on what you mean by working out. I think we’re not on the same page there. I don’t understand how you can give up so much money.”
“I’m not giving up anything that means something to me. What you don’t get, Brett, is that I can’t afford to lose her. But maybe you’ll be lucky enough to get it one day.”
“Jesus, man. I hope not. That sounds insane.”
I laugh. “Is there anything else you wanted to talk about? Sage and I have our engagement party tomorrow and I need to pick up the flowers.”
“No, that’s it. I’ll see you later, and don’t breathe another word to Caleb. Let me handle him. I think I might get some added perks for you, and me.”
“Knock yourself out.”
Caleb already offered to loan me his plane whenever I need it, but I don’t tell Brett. I’ll let him think he negotiated that on his own.
*
The next day I wake up early and make breakfast. It’s my favorite thing to do for Sage because she loves breakfast and moans over a plate of pancakes like no one I’ve ever known.
Afterwards, we drive to Sunset Ridge and look at some of the homes on the street. There is only one for sale at the moment, but it’s perfect from the outside.
“It’s only three doors down from Charlotte and Caleb’s place. Are you sure we can afford this?”
“Absolutely. We just need to renovate the place a bit to make it our own, but otherwise, I think it works.”
“I don’t know,” says Sage. “I kind of like the antique doors and scratched up wooden floors. It feels like a place that’s been loved. I think it just needs a paint job.”
“That’s fine with me.”
I put an offer in with the realtor, and she says she’ll let us know as soon as possible.
When we’re back in the car, Sage sighs. “I only have an hour to get ready for our party. I hope that’s enough time.”
I kiss the back of her hand as I take the road back to Sage’s bungalow. “You already look beautiful.”
She rolls her eyes but gives me a quick kiss before checking the time again.
Less than an hour later, she’s walking out of her bedroom wearing a knitted white dress that hugs every curve of her body. “Holy shit, you look incredible.”
She spins the way women do when they look over their shoulder, and the view is more than I can handle. I cross the floor, intending to go back into the bedroom and take that dress off, but she stops me with just one finger. “Don’t even think about it.”
“Too late.” I pull her into my arms.
“I’m serious. We can’t be late to our own engagement party.”
“Why not? Who’s going to really get upset?”
“Your mother. She gave me a specific time. Do you think she’ll like this dress? I made sure it wasn’t see-through.”
“I love the dress, and my mother won’t care if we’re late.”
“Oh, yes, she will!”
“Fine. But as soon as we come home…”
She smiles and rises to her toes. She runs the tip of her tongue along my bottom lip. “Definitely,” she whispers and I groan loudly. “Baby, we better go before I change my mind.”
Sage grabs her purse and lip gloss on the way out.
The Mill is already crowded by the time we arrive. My mother wanted it that way, she always believes a woman should make an entrance. Sage agreed to come fifteen minutes late, but no later. It was a compromise.
“Sage, darling, you look great,” she says and Sage’s shoulders relax.
“Thank you.”
“Casey, why aren’t you wearing the tuxedo I brought for you?”
“Because I thought that was for the wedding.”
“No, darling. But that’s okay, you look nice, too.”
After several guests greet us, Billy and Dean come say hello. Billy is holding a glass of wine and I grin. “Should I take a step back or can you handle your liquor tonight?”
“Shit, man. I’m still so freaking sorry about that.”
“Don’t mention it,” I say. “Spilling that glass of wine was the best thing that happened to me. I got to speak to Sage that night.”
Billy grins. “You know, you’re right. Well, then I’ll just…” He leans his wine toward my shirt and Sage shakes her head.
“Don’t even joke about it,” she says but smiles broadly at Billy. “How have you been?”
“Good. Dean and I have been keeping busy with the new business.”
“New business?” I ask.
“Yes,” says Dean. I haven’t seen him since high school, but he looks the same. Same hairstyle, same goatee. “We’ll tell you about it when you’ve got some time.”
I nod and take a sip of the beer Dean hands me.
Sage keeps standing on her toes and looking over our shoulders.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“I don’t see Frankie. She wouldn’t be late for our party. Have any of you seen her?”
Billy shakes his head and Dean rolls his eyes. “She isn’t exactly the most reliable person,” says Dean.
“I disagree,” says Sage. “She’s never let me down.”
“Just give her some time…”
Sage narrows her eyes at Dean. “You know, neither of you have mentioned why you stopped talking.”
“It isn’t worth mentioning.”
“Mmm… she said something very similar.” Then Sage bounces on her toes. “There’s Jane. Let me see if she’s seen her. Jane!”
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” I say and walk over with Sage to speak to Jane.
“No, she isn’t here,” explains Jane. “She called but said not to tell you because she doesn’t want to ruin your day.”
“What happened?”
Jane shakes her head. “She’s okay but stole some things from the lab over in Bowmanville.”
“I can’t believe Frankie would steal equipment,” says Sage. “There’s got to be some mistake.”
“There’s no mistake. She didn’t steal the equipment, she stole the test subjects. She set free all the rabbits from their cages last night, but security caught her license plate on camera. I’m just going to bail her out and then I’ll be right back.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” asks Sage.
“Absolutely not,” Jane says in her most teacher-like voice. “She’ll kill me for even telling you about it. I won’t be long. The paperwork is already done.”
Jane leaves and I pull Sage into my arms. “Don’t worry about Frankie. She’ll be all right. She’s always been a fighter.”
“I know.”
“Come on,” I say to Sage. “Jane will take care of Frankie, and I will take care of you.”
I lead Sage onto the dance floor and feel her muscles loosen as I hold her close to me. She gets goosebumps along her arms when I trail my hand down her back.
She smiles and drops her head on my chest. “I can’t wait to marry you,” she says.
“That’s good because the wedding is only a few months away.”
“I wish it was tomorrow.”
“Mmm… that wouldn’t give us much time to move.”
“Move?” she asks, lifting her head up.
“I got a text from the realtor. They accepted our offer.”
Sage pulls away from me and gawks. “So soon? Are you serious?”
Her face is so dramatic it’s almost funny, but I don’t laugh. I pull her back into my arms. “I’m completely serious. We have a home, Sage, a home in Cedar Brook Falls together.”
“On Sunset Ridge.”
I chuckle. “Yes, on Sunset Ridge.”
“I can’t believe this.”
“You seem more excited about the house than the wedding.”
“Of course!” she says and squeezes my arms. “This makes it all so real. This is my dream, Casey. I’m planting roots here in a home we will build together. I want to plant irises along the front of the house. They were my mother’s favorite.”
“I’ll plant a hundred flowers if that’ll make you happy.”
“And cedar trees. We need a row of those as well.”
“I’m not sure if the off-season will be long enough to get everything done.”
“It’s okay,” she says. “We have the rest of our lives to make this our home.”
I kiss her lips gently and caress her cheek. “I don’t need that long,” I say, looking deep into her eyes, “because I’m already home.”
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