Epilogue
Two years later
“Holy fuck, man, pass him the puck!” Mel is screaming next to me, with Elliot giggling while he is perched on her hip.
Emmett is on my hip, clapping at all the action on the ice.
It’s the last period of the Stanley Cup championship game. We are currently tied with the Winnipeg Falcons.
Mikey has been blocking shots like his life depends on it, and Kai, I swear, will have a concussion after how many times he’s been checked into the boards.
The crowd is deafening. Every hit makes the glass rattle beneath our hands, and every miss pass pulls groans from the arena. My heart is pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat.
“Daddy fall!” Emmett shouts happily, clapping again as Kai goes down hard near the blue line.
“Buddy, no, daddy is fine,” I mutter even though my hands are already sweating.
On the ice, Kai pops right back up as if nothing happened and skates it off.
He smacks his stick once on the ground and takes position again.
Kai glances over his shoulder at the net, locking eyes with Mikey for a half a second.
They don’t need words. They never have. It still weirds me out to this day.
“Jesus Christ,” Mel mutters. “They’re playing line men possessed.”
“They always do in the third period,” I reply, bounding Emmett slightly when he starts to squirm. “But this is different.”
This isn’t just any game…This is everything they have poured their heart into, every sacrifice, bruise, and scar.
The Falcons gain control again, streaking down the ice. Mikey drops low, sliding across the crease just in time to block a slap shot that would’ve gone top shelf. The puck ricochets off his pads and skids wide.
The arena explodes.
“LET’S GO!” Elliot yells, mimicking the crowd with a tiny fist pump.
I stare at my son for a long minute. He has curly hair like mine, but blonde like his daddies', and he is wearing a custom-made Vortex jersey with 22/33 on the back.
Of course, we had to have both of the boys supporting both of their dads.
I also have a custom jersey with the same numbers on it.
“Fuck yes!” Mel yells, bringing my focus back on the game. Kai takes possession, weaving past one defender then another. He fakes left, cuts right, and sends a perfect pass across the ice straight to Luca.
Time slows as Luca winds up and unleashes the shot…
It’s like the arena is holding its breath as the puck flies through the air and slams into the back of the net.
Red Lights go off.
Goal horns blaring.
The world detonates.
I scream without realizing it, hugging Emmett so tight that he squeals with laughter. Mel is crying, laughing, and shouting all at once. Elliot nearly launches himself out of her arms.
On the ice, Mikey drops to his knees, head tipped back, chest heaving. Kai is on him a second later, crashing into him, helmets knocking together as the rest of the team piles on Mikey, celebrating the win.
Stanley Cup champions.
My vision blurs as I watch them celebrate. Mikey and Kai both skate over to the glass and hold up their hands. The boys put a hand on theirs, and then they kiss the glass. The whole arena erupts in cheers when I see the big screen showing this moment to the world.
I press a hand to my chest, heart full and aching in the best way.
They made it.
All of us did.