Epilogue
BECCA
Four months later
The Vortex is buzzing with energy, fans clearly amped up and ready. The Jaguars are about to play the Warriors, the team that knocked them out of the race for the Stanley Cup last year, so there’s plenty of reason to hope for a win.
But that’s not why I’m nervous.
Theo is playing tonight. His first time back on the ice since his injury.
He’s ready. I know he’s ready. But that doesn’t make this any less stressful.
I reach over and loop my arm through Sarah’s. “He’s going to be okay, right?”
“He’s going to be great,” she says. “He’s got this.”
“Miles told me he’s playing better than ever,” Anna says from Sarah’s other side.
Her eyes scan the players as they warm up on the ice below, and I notice the moment she spots her husband.
Much to everyone’s surprise, Miles recovered from his shoulder surgery much quicker than expected, and he’s on the ice tonight too.
Theo and Carter are standing by the bench, helmets off, talking about something that must be entertaining because they’re both grinning.
Carter shakes his head, like he can’t quite believe what his brother is saying, then Theo laughs.
I should tip the camera crew because suddenly, the giant jumbotron screen is filled with their smiling faces, matching As on their sleeves marking them both as alternate captains.
“Gosh, they look alike when they smile,” Sarah says, and I chuckle.
“Yeah, they really do.”
Ten minutes later, the puck drops and the game starts.
I have to remind myself to breathe every time Theo is on the ice.
I forgot how incredible it is to watch him play; the last time I did, he was still skating in juniors, so the sight of him all grown up, playing at this elite level, is captivating … and incredibly sexy.
“He’s so good,” I say to Sarah. “I didn’t realize he was so good.”
She laughs just as Theo slaps the puck over the opposing goalie’s shoulder and into the net to score his first goal of the season.
He scores again in the second period. And then, because the man can’t do anything halfway, he scores a third time in the final period. The first hat trick of his NHL career. They’re rare for defensemen, but he’s clearly on fire tonight, so I can’t be surprised.
Theo glances into the stands while hats rain onto the ice, tossed from the fans to celebrate his accomplishment. He grins up at me, and I press a hand to my heart, hoping he knows how proud I am.
Once the game ends, Sarah and I leave the stands and make our way down to the family room.
“That couldn’t have gone better,” I say.
I pull out my phone, seeing a string of congratulatory texts from my sisters and both my mom and Theo’s mom.
They were all watching the game together back in Texas, which is no surprise. Our mothers really are best friends.
A photo pops up from my mom of her and Kim wearing matching Jaguars jerseys, wide, happy smiles on their faces.
I show the picture to Sarah. “Can you get over these two?” I ask, and Sarah smiles.
“I love that they love each other so much,” she says. There’s a tiny hint of wistfulness in Sarah’s voice that makes my heart squeeze. She and her brother are close, and she has Anna, of course. But that’s it. They’re her only family.
“Hey, did you know our kids will technically be half siblings?” Sarah says as we step out of the concourse into a stairwell that’s only accessible to family and Jaguars staff.
“Really?” I don’t even flinch when Sarah says things like this. I am as certain about my future with Theo as I am about anything else in my life. The color of the sky. The superiority of sweet potato fries over regular fries. How good Theo smells just after a shower.
“That’s how it works with identical twins,” she says. “Our future children’s fathers will have the same DNA.”
“Right. That makes sense,” I say. “I think that will make my parents your kids’ grandparents, and my sisters their aunts. If they’re half-siblings with my kids, that’s how it works, right?”
She looks over, gratitude clear in her eyes. “I would love that.” She pulls me into a quick hug. “Gosh, what would we have done if we didn’t like each other?”
I laugh. “For real. What a horrible thought.”
We turn and head down a long hallway. Anna appears at the door to the family room—she left the stands earlier than we did so she could call the sitter to check on her girls—but then Mia and Indigo appear. They weren’t at the game, so I have no idea where they came from.
“What are they doing here?” I ask Sarah, and she shrugs her shoulders. “Let’s go find out.”
I give them both hugs. “Um, hi,” I say as I give Mia a hug.
“Don’t ask questions,” she whispers into my ear. “I promise it’ll be easier.”
We make eye contact, and she wills me with her gaze to go along with it—whatever it is—and I give her a tiny nod of understanding. I have no idea what we’re talking about, but I trust Mia, and I’m guessing everything will make sense any moment now.
“Hi,” Indigo says, hugging me next. “We’re here to kidnap you.”
I look over at Sarah. “Kidnap me?”
She shrugs, but there’s a knowing glint in her eye that makes me think she isn’t as innocent as she appears.
“Kidnap you,” Indigo repeats. “We never got to celebrate your acceptance into your NP program, so we’ve decided we’re doing that tonight.”
I frown. “Tonight?”
“Tonight,” Anna says. “We’re all together, and I have a sitter, which almost never happens. So it makes the most sense. And we’re all so proud of you. We want to make sure you have a little moment that’s just yours.”
It’s a very sweet gesture, but are they serious right now? Theo just scored his first NHL hat trick, and they want me to just … leave the arena before I see him? We can celebrate me any night of the week. Tonight, I really want to celebrate him.
I make eye contact with Mia. Her eyes are wide, her expression pointed, and I remember her plea. Just go along with it.
I breathe out a sigh. “Okay. That sounds great. I just need to see Theo and let him know.”
Sarah nudges me from behind. “I texted Carter,” she says. “He already told him. After the game he played, he’s going to be doing press forever anyway. You’ll wait for hours if you stay here.”
She’s probably right about that, but it still feels wrong to leave.
“You’ll see him soon enough,” Indigo says. “The guys might even head over once they’re all finished up. We’re just going to the Cave.”
I finally relent—these women clearly have a plan in place already—and let them shuttle me out to Anna’s enormous SUV.
Even though it’s only been a few months, this group of women has quickly started to feel like family.
Indigo already is family, and of course, Mia has felt that way for years.
But with Anna and Sarah and Malia—it feels impossible to already love them as much as I do.
There’s a level of kinship that exists simply because of the team, the shared experience of navigating the highs and lows that come with the travel, the stress, the public scrutiny.
It’s worth it—there’s no doubt about that.
But it’s definitely unique. It’s nice to have friends who understand.
I sit in the back, squeezed between Mia and Sarah, and type out a text to Theo.
Becca
Hi! I’ve been kidnapped by my friends. They say you already know? But I want to see you! So please come to wherever I am. We’re going to the cave.
Also, I’m so proud of you. You were amazing. Love you so much.
Theo hasn’t responded by the time we get to the bar, but I don’t expect him to. I doubt he’s even changed out of his uniform, much less showered and made it back to his phone.
Thoughts of him stay in the back of my mind, but once we’re inside, it is nice to celebrate with my friends.
The nurse practitioner program starts in January, and I’m so excited to get started.
I also just signed a contract for a permanent position at Atlanta General, which makes the tuition reimbursement program all but a guarantee.
Dr. Novac has already agreed to sign on as my mentor—something the program requires—and she’s been nothing but encouraging.
“Is anyone having a second?” the bartender asks as she drops by our table.
Indigo answers for everyone. “Actually, we have somewhere else to be, so I’ll come close out the tab. Drinks are on me, ladies.”
I lean over to Mia. “We have somewhere else to be?”
“What did I say about not asking any questions?” she says in reply.
I bite my tongue as we climb back into Anna’s SUV.
But I get a little nervous when she turns in the opposite direction of the Vortex—where the rest of our cars are still parked—pulls onto the highway, and drives for a solid fifteen minutes.
I have no idea where we are, but the Atlanta skyline is rapidly fading in the rearview mirror, and I begin to wonder if I’ll ever see my boyfriend again.
Mia must sense my unease, because she reaches over and gives my hand a quick squeeze. “Almost there,” she whispers.
There, it turns out, is an enormous park somewhere east of the city. But why are we here? The fact that I’m the only one who seems to be in the dark about this whole escapade makes me think it must have something to do with me, but what?
“Okay, Becca,” Anna says, shifting the car into park. “This is where our time together ends.”
“Is someone going to murder me in this park?” I ask.
Sarah giggles. “Definitely not. You just need to get out and walk over that hill right there. Then everything will make a lot more sense.”
“By myself?” I say. “But it’s dark.”
“Trust us,” Indigo says. “You don’t want us to come with you.”
“Guys, what’s happening?” I say. “What is this?”
“Just go,” Mia says, giving my hand one final squeeze.