Epilogue
Noah
As soon as the buzzer sounded, the arena went wild.
Three years as the Titans’ head coach, and this was our second championship win.
That first year, we’d gotten all the way to the conference finals and lost in game five.
It had been a blow, but we’d taken what we’d learned that season and used it to win the championship the next year.
That time, we’d been in the opposing team’s city. This one, we were at home, making the win that much sweeter.
Out on the court, Evan jumped onto Xaden’s back, the two of them celebrating with the team while the media moved in to start their interviews. I shook hands with the other head coach and then turned to look for my angel.
She was surrounded by a small army of security, our daughter on her hip. Giving me a soft smile, she waited for me to come to her. Upstairs in the owners’ box, Drake and Emmie were still cheering with the rest of their family.
Correction, our family.
I’d been enfolded into the craziness that was Bliss’s extended family as if I’d always been a member.
My four brothers-in-law were close with me, including Damien, and Drake was the first consistent father figure I’d ever had.
On the other hand, my sisters-in-law all busted my balls on a regular basis, but I found that oddly endearing.
Reaching Bliss and Malaika, I lifted my wife off the floor, causing our daughter to giggle.
As soon as we’d found out we were having a girl, I’d known exactly what I wanted to name her.
Malaika meant angel in Arabic. I’d shared the name with Drake before even suggesting it to Bliss, and he’d fallen in love with it.
“Congrats, Coach,” Bliss said, giving me a quick kiss. “Now put me down and go do your job. We’ll still be waiting here when you’re done.”
Reluctantly, I placed her on her feet, but when I started to step back, Malaika protested. Her chin barely had time to wobble before I lifted her into my arms. Dropping another kiss onto my angel’s lips, I turned in time to have a microphone shoved up into my face. Or at least tried to.
For the next hour, I gave interview after interview with my toddler in my arms, and when I walked into the press conference, ready to give a more thorough rundown, she was still with me.
Evan was already seated behind a table with at least fifty microphones set up.
I wasn’t surprised to see that he wasn’t alone either.
On his lap sat his niece Jessa, who was only a little older than Malaika. Evan preferred to do interviews with her, because the toddler won over the crowd and his time with her in front of the cameras got more replays than when he was on his own.
Jessa looked exactly like her mother in every way except her warm chocolate-brown eyes, which meant she favored Evan too. They had matching dimples and wild curls. Anyone who didn’t follow basketball automatically assumed that Jessa was Evan’s daughter and not his niece.
“Coach Kavanaugh, that’s two championships in three years. How are you feeling right now?”
I made sure my daughter was comfortable on my lap before responding. “I think we’re all feeling blessed, but this opportunity wouldn’t have been possible without our incredible staff and the sheer talent on the court. This entire series, every single team member has played his heart out.”
“Unca Evan, I gotta potty,” Jessa said loudly, causing a few chuckles.
“And on that note, I’m going to leave you to Coach.
” He stood with Jessa in his arms, paused to muss Malaika’s hair, which caused her to growl at him and swat at his hand, and then hurried away.
At the back of the room, I saw Hayat waiting.
She gave me a quick wave before taking her daughter from her brother.
It was another two hours before I made it back to Bliss. By then, Malaika was asleep with her head on my chest. Taking my wife’s hand, I kissed the wedding rings on her finger and tucked her against me. “Let’s get my angels home.”