Epilogue
A Year Later
“Did you think I forgot about you?” Jackson says as soon as I open the door. It’s an hour after a home game, and no one is celebrating because it was another loss. Surprisingly, he’s actually grinning.
“I know you didn’t forget.” I rise to the tips of my toes and tilt my chin up, pressing a chaste hello-kiss to his lips.
“I’m used to the insane amount of time it takes you to remove all your gear.
And double-check for your glove eighteen times.
” I open the door wider, stepping to the side so he can enter. “Did you guys go out?”
“No.” He slips his shoes off, setting them neatly next to mine. “I was in a hurry to get over here. I knew if I didn’t, you’d be sleeping by ten.”
I laugh because it’s true. It’s Chase’s night to have Bella, and I’m exhausted.
I graduated last spring without a job offer, so I started substitute teaching this fall.
Every day it’s a different classroom, with a new set of kids, a new set of rules.
It’s enough to make my head explode. By the time Friday rolls around, I’m ready to fall face first onto the couch and go into a coma.
“Sorry about your game.” I take the to-go bag from his hands and drop it on the center of the table.
We are the biggest homebodies on the planet, and we’ve developed the most basic routines—routines that are consumed completely in each other. I can’t help but think I’m the luckiest woman. I don’t need fancy dinners or dates. Just someone to share my time with.
Someone who gets me.
That Jackson does.
It’s never just the bare minimum with him.
He spoils me with the little things, like date nights at my place when I can’t stand to be in public.
He always shows up for me and Bella, taking care of the little things—even the big things, like when he spoke to Chase about showing me more respect.
I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it, but having Jackson around has made Chase more punctual with his time with Bella.
It might be in my head, but Chase even seems a little more attentive when they are together.
It’s not a miracle by any means, but it’s progress.
Jackson drops into the chair that Bella now refers to as “Jackson’s spot” and takes his burger out of the to-go box. “How was teaching today?”
“Good.” My eyes are heavy, but my heart is full as I shift my face to his. It’s a lot to sub every day, but I love it. “I was in sixth grade today. So, the fractions were fractioning a little hard for a Friday. I had a couple extra cups of coffee, but I made it through.”
“I hate when fractions fraction too much.” His smile is easy, and I notice his facial hair is shorter than normal. Usually he keeps it scruffy, often going several days without shaving. I don’t prefer it one way or the other. I enjoy never knowing what I’m getting.
I smile, watching as his eyes bounce from my lips to my eyes. His lips move as if about to say something, but then he sighs and drops his attention back to his burger.
“Everything okay?” His lips are set into a bit of a grim line, and I can’t help but think something is off.
“Fine.” His brows pinch as his gaze drops to my shirt. “I was looking for that sweatshirt for like an hour this morning.”
“This sweatshirt?” I playfully bat my lashes and pull the hooded collar tighter around my neck. “I might have swiped it from your hamper the other day.”
“You don’t have to steal my dirty laundry.” He tips his forehead closer. “I can get you a clean one.”
“I love the ones that smell like you.” I laugh, shrugging. “Plus, I know how to do laundry. If I wanted it to be clean, I would wash it.”
A soft laugh gusts from his chest as his eyes latch onto mine with intensity. “I know you know how to do laundry. Remember?”
“Oh yes.” I throw my head back laughing, thinking back to meeting him at the laundromat.
I had no idea what I’d really found that day when I picked up that glove—but if I’ve learned anything about Jackson the last year, it’s that he’s obsessed with it.
He never lets it out of his sight. I’m still waiting for the “luck” to kick in though, because the team is on a losing streak.
I sigh, adding, “I’ll never forget your lucky glove. ”
“You can’t say it’s not your lucky glove too.” He leans back, pointing a finger toward me.
“Mine?” My face must have been colored with confusion, because we both know that even after months of going to games, I know very little about hockey.
“Well, yeah.” He reaches across the table, taking my hand and threading his fingers into mine. “It brought us together.”
“That’s true.” I sigh again, this time leaning forward as his lips move, nearer.
Before he meets my lips, he angles his jaw and softly kisses the crown of my head, I pause in reverie.
He’s always sweet with his gestures, but I suspect I have salad breath, and that’s the real reason for not kissing me on the lips.
Ever conscious about my smell, I dip my chin down. Instead of pulling back, he lowers his lips to rest by my cheek and whispers, “I think we should get married.”
I stare forward as heat engulfs my face. We talked about marriage. Some. Like in passing. Casually. Someday. He knows why I want to get married, but we never talked about a timeline—or anything happening anytime soon.
I turn to look at him, seeing the seriousness on his face. “Sorry, if this isn’t the most romantic. I think by now you know I’m sort of impulsive.”
I shiver. Maybe it’s goosebumps. I’m stunned by whatever is going on. “So, that was an accident?”
“No.” He pins his somber gaze on me, a faint echo of his smile lingers there.
“Not an accident. Just interesting timing. It’s been on my mind a lot lately.
I guess it just tumbled out. I know you had wanted to get a teaching job and all that first, but you’re subbing.
It’s practically the same thing. What are your thoughts? ”
“Of course I want to get married.” I place my hand over my heart as it seems to be pounding harder by the minute.
I never planned on Jackson. I honestly believed I wasn’t worthy of a man who loves me and Bella as much as he does.
I didn’t think those types of men actually existed.
Now that I’ve found him, I definitely don’t want to risk this slipping through my fingers, but I’ve always wanted to take things slow, for me and for Bella.
“I-I,” I stutter with the knee-jerk reaction to try to come up with a reason we can’t get married now.
There’s really nothing. No red flags. Bella adores him.
Honestly, it’s my heart’s biggest desire.
Just thinking about it cracks a smile wide on my face. “I-I think I’m ready too.”
The creases by his eyes deepen as his smile inflates. He leans over and presses a kiss to my forehead before whispering, “Just making sure we are on the same page.”