Epilogue
CHLOE
It’s April, and for the first time in months, I’ve let myself slow down.
After a whirlwind competitive skating season filled with long practices, lots of international travel, and a personal-best score at the world championships.
I’m finally on vacation, curled up in Colorado with the people I love, about to have pizza.
“Admit it,” Emma says, kicking her feet up on her coffee table. “I’m a brilliant matchmaker.”
I shake my head and hide my laughter. “Not this again.”
“Yes, this again.” She chuckles. “I won’t give up until either you or Drew admits that the reason you guys ended up together is because of me.”
“If you want to get technical, it was because of you. He’s your brother and—”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I know.” I giggle.
The door opens and Drew enters, balancing two boxes of pizza and a case of black-cherry sparkling water.
“Food’s here,” he announces. Emma and I both stand and head over to the table. “I picked up one supreme and one Hawaiian.”
“Dibs on the Hawaiian!” Emma grins.
Drew rolls his eyes. “It’s all yours. Pineapple on pizza is disgusting.” He wrinkles his nose.
“More for me,” she says smugly.
“I like pineapples on pizza,” I tease.
“And you can have some . . . if you admit I’m right.”
Drew arches his eyebrow. “This again?”
“Yes,” I say matter-of-factly. “Fine, Emma, you win. You’re the matchmaking queen.” She freezes mid-reach for a slice. “If you want that in writing or on video, though, you’ll have to wait until after lunch.”
“I think you’ve stunned her into silence,” Drew says.
“If I’d have known that would happen, I would’ve admitted she was right ages ago.”
Drew grabs three slices. I peck him on the cheek and help myself to one too.
We’ve officially been together for four months. And in that time, we’ve somehow fallen even harder for one another. Although it hasn’t been easy being apart for weeks at a time, all that is finally about to change.
Drew’s aquarium design business has taken off. My boyfriend is not only the official aquarist for the Mynt Peak Resort, but he’s also scored a number of other high-profile clients too, like the Jasper Ridge Resort and Spa and the Scottsdale Sloths Baseball team.
He’s just reached the point where he’s able to turn it into his full-time job and work remotely. We’re packing up his life in Winterbrook, and in a few days, we’ll be driving out to California. Drew’s found an apartment not far from mine in Sequoia Valley, where I’m still living and training.
I thought long and hard about moving to Winterbrook, but after winning my second national championship, placing third at Worlds, and proving to myself that those results weren’t flukes, Drew convinced me to stay put.
Everything has clicked since I started working with Charlie, Frankie, and Fernando.
In fact, I never thought I’d be in this position, but I’m making a serious run for the Olympics next year.
If I make the team, it’ll be the icing on the cake to a career I thought was over last year.
But if I don’t, it’s okay too. Because at least I’ll be able to retire knowing I’m ending my competitive career on a high note.
After that, I have my eye on coaching. I’ve recently started helping out a bit at the rink, and for the first time, I feel like I have the perfect work-life balance.
Emma eventually snaps out of it and joins us at the table. “Do you need me to run to the store and pick up some more boxes?” she asks, changing subjects.
“No, I think we have enough. Anything that doesn’t fit in my truck, I’ll either keep here in storage or donate,” Drew replies.
Emma nods. “It’s going to be weird not having you around.”
“Maybe you’ll just have to move to California too,” I say, only half joking. “The Jasper Ridge Resort and Spa is looking for an experienced concierge to lead the department.”
“I’ll never say never, but I’m happy where I am right now,” she replies.
A part of me deflates. She’d be perfect for that job. After being passed over for the promotion at Mynt Peak, I know the sting’s still fresh. But this could be her shot.
“Well, I’m not happy about you being here without me. Do you promise not to kill me, Em?” Drew says. We both turn our heads in his direction.
“What did you do?” she deadpans.
“I may have mentioned I have a sister who’s a concierge when I met with the hotel owner at my consultation last week.
I gave him a rundown of your experience, and he was impressed.
” Drew wipes his fingers with a napkin, pulls a business card from his wallet, and slides it across the table.
“If you change your mind, here’s the contact info. ”
Emma picks up the card. I read over her shoulder. “This isn’t HR. This is the owner,” she says slowly.
“Like I said. He was impressed,” Drew says, casually biting into another slice. “Not to sound overconfident, but it sounded like the job is yours if you want it.”
Emma opens and closes her mouth and sets the card down slowly.
“Maybe I just wanted to give you the kind of nudge I wish someone had given me. I’m hoping this cancels out any debts of favors I owe you for a while,” Drew adds.
“I . . . I guess it does.” She shakes her head and sighs. “But only if I get a job. When we’re done here, do you mind if I disappear and work on a cover letter?”
“Do whatever you need to do,” he says. “We’re in a good spot. All that’s left is the stuff in my room. And I’d rather pack that myself.”
Emma snorts. “You don’t want me going through your underwear drawer.”
His cheeks flush. “No.”
Watching them go back and forth, I smile to myself. This is what happiness looks like. Not just the big wins, but the quiet moments—shared meals, teasing, and easy laughter.
I didn’t grow up with this kind of closeness, but with Drew and Emma, I’ve found something better. A family I chose. And if Emma takes that job? It’ll feel like winning Nationals all over again.