Epilogue Two
Cassidy
1 month Later
“Has anyone seen my crissandwich?” Hayley says, walking around the bridal suite, the back of her dress unzipped.
“It’s right here,” I say, walking over to her trying to stop her from pacing a hole in the floor. “Will you relax?”
“Relax? Relax?” she says, sarcastically chuckling. “You try relaxing knowing there are three hundred people out there waiting for you to say I do.”
I scoff as I walk over to my champagne glass. I was her a year ago if she remembers very clearly. At least she’ll make it to the I dos and mean them.
“Knock, knock,” Sydney says, walking through the door. “Are you ready to become my sister-in-law? Gosh, I always wanted a sister.”
Hayley smiles at her before it slowly fades from her face. I look to Sydney and see that her smile is wooden and tight. “What’s wrong?” I ask Sydney as she fidgets with her dress.
“Nothing.”
“That’s not nothing,” Hayley says, taking a bite of her sandwich. “You look like you’re about to puke, and I thought for a moment that was because I was marrying your brother,” she says, taking another bite before speaking with her mouth full. “But I know that’s not true, so spill.”
“Hayley, swallow your food please,” I say, on a chuckle.
Sydney takes a seat on the couch, running her hands along the fabric of her bridesmaid dress. “Everly’s father is here.”
“Dwight? We didn’t invite him,” Hayley says, immediately enraged. “Cassidy, call security and have him escorted out.”
“Not Dwight,” Sydney says, stopping us all in our tracks. “Dwight’s not Everly’s father.”
We both stare at her with stunned faces. Ever since I’ve known Sydney, I had assumed her ex-husband was her little girl’s father, and not once did she deny it. But this just threw a whole curveball into things. Did she sleep with someone on the Skipjacks? How did she manage to keep that from her brother? Oh God. Her brother. He’s going to flip a shit if he finds out.
“Six years ago, when Dwight told me he wanted a divorce, I went on a girls trip with my friend Em to see the Skipjacks play in Anaheim,” she says, avoiding our gazes. “I slept with Mitchell Tremblay that night.” Our mouths drop as she continues, “I knew he was Brooks’ biggest rival, but I didn’t care. I was horny, heartbroken, and on the rebound. I gave him a fake name and never contacted him after that.”
“Tremblay?” I question.
“Yes.”
“Like Mitchell Tremblay. The guy my husband can’t stand.” Hayley smiles as she realizes what she just said. “My husband.”
Hayley squeals. “Hayley, focus,” I snap before turning to Sydney. “Does he know about Everly?”
She shakes her head no as her palms cover her face. “I wanted to shield her from rejection. I know the score with Mitchell. He’s like all the other guys out there. A one and done. A wham, bam, thank you, ma’am.”
“Now he’s here, and I’m afraid he’s going to meet her and put two and two together,” she says, tears brimming her eyes.
I grab a tissue and signal for the makeup artists to retouch her makeup. “We will cross that bridge when we get there. He won’t even put it all together. I mean he’s a pretty face, but that doesn’t mean he has the brains too.”
Before anyone can respond there’s a knock at the door. Channing opens it slightly, popping Scottie’s head in before his own.
“Are my mommy and aunties ready?” he says in a small voice to resemble Scottie.
I can’t help but smile as I walk over to him and take her in my arms. My nose rubs against hers as she squeals in excitement. “Look how pretty my girl is.”
“Hey, what about me?” Channing complains.
I smile and place a small kiss on his lips. “You look good too. And I think we’re all ready.”
He nods before taking Scottie from my arms and leaving the room. We all check ourselves one last time before lining up. The ceremony goes off without a hitch. Brooks practically attacking Hayley with his mouth the moment she stepped up to the alter. Let’s just say Mr. Richards wasn’t too happy about that. But everything was perfect. The reception is in full swing, and everyone is feeling pretty good right about now. I sit at the table, watching Channing sway back and forth with Scottie on the dance floor. If you had asked me a year ago, I would have never guessed I’d be here. Yet, I can’t imagine my life any other way.
“Can I have this dance?” Channing asks as he hands Scottie to my mom.
I take his hand, and we walk to the center of the dance floor. “Think our wedding will be as good as this one?” he asks, pulling me close.
His arms wrap tightly around my waist as my arms rest gently around his neck. Our bodies sway to the music as I picture what our wedding day will be like. Peonies and hydrangeas lining the aisles and the arch. Channing dressed impeccably in a navy suit, holding Scottie who is dressed in a little blush-pink dress.
Though that all sounds amazing, we both already had weddings similar to that. Even though we never actually made it to the I dos. I want simple. Intimate. Just use and the little family we created.
Channing presses his lips to my forehead. “I’m thinking something more low key. You know, just us and maybe a few close family and friends.”
“How about the week before training camp?” I stare at him, a hint of mischief in his eyes. “We can redo the week I realized I was hooked on you.”
My cheeks blush as I pull his lips to mine. I’ll be hooked on him for the rest of our lives.
The End.
Thank you for reading Hooking Game 2 of the Seattle Skipjacks series.
Don’t miss Sydney and Mitchell’s story in Power Play: Game 3 of the Seattle Skipjacks series!
Divorce isn’t something I had planned on when I said I do almost five years ago to my college sweetheart. The family I had dreamt of starting quickly came crashing down when my infertility problems came to light—that and well, the fact that my husband had gotten a coworker of his pregnant.
I shouldn’t have gone on a girls trip to watch my brother’s hockey team play. And I most definitely shouldn’t have left the bar with him. My brother’s biggest rival. Yet one thing led to another, and I wound up pregnant with none other than Mitchell Tremblay’s baby. A baby I never told him about.
Six years go by, and I finally think I got this single parenting thing down. That is until I find out he was traded to the Skipjacks. One wrong move could have everything I had hidden come crashing down.
Turn the page for a sneak peak of Power Play… Coming 2024.