Epilogue
Michelle
Three months later
Maddie’s practically vibrating with excitement as she hands me a silky jersey emblazoned with a number I thought I’d never wear again. The fluorescent lights of the stadium locker room flicker slightly, and the spring day is already warm.
Next to me, Tristan’s already changed into his lime-green-and-turquoise jersey that makes him look even more like a quintessential surfer dude. He’s so freaking cute.
I sigh contentedly, because that man? He is all mine.
And now we get to play together, in Maddie’s PR crown jewel, a charity game with as many celebs and athletes the Aces could rope into playing on short notice.
Although I’m technically neither, apparently Tristan wouldn’t agree to participate unless I got to play, too.
The thought makes me feel warm and squishy all over again.
“Okay, you all have ten minutes until you’re needed in the lineup. We’ll be announcing each player, just like we talked about, so you’ll come out on the field when you hear your name, wave and ham it up for the crowd, then go to your team’s side and set up for the game, okay?”
“Got it,” I tell her.
“It’s good to see you, Michelle.” Maddie throws her arms around me impulsively, and I don’t even hesitate, returning the hug enthusiastically. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“I’m glad you got me here,” I tell her. “You’re doing amazing work.”
Maddie pulls back, pointing at the balled-up jersey. “Get dressed. We’ll catch up later, okay?”
“At our place,” Tristan tells her. “After-party at our house.” He tugs me close, kissing my temple, and I love the way that sounds. Our house.
I’ve been living with him for months now, but it doesn’t fail to make me positively giddy every time.
“How are the cleats?” he asks me. “I like that brand.”
“Are you kidding? They’re awesome.”
“Good, I had too much fun picking them out for you.”
I pull the jersey over the thick sports bra I’m wearing, and the slip of it over my skin triggers a wave of nostalgia that I was unprepared for.
I grin, and it’s feral, because the jersey makes me feel like it’s fucking go time. “I’m going to wreck the other team.”
“Don’t hurt yourself,” Tristan tells me. He puts his hands on my shoulders and peers into my eyes. “I know you’ve been working with Lauren on your knee, but you don’t want to tear it again.”
I rise up on my tiptoes, loving how concerned he is for me, and press a quick kiss to his lips. “I won’t. I’m just excited.”
“Quit it, you two,” Luke snarls as he walks by hand in hand with Abigail. “No making out before the game.”
“He loves to break his own rules,” Abigail tells me over her shoulder, throwing a wink at us. “I’m going to be terrible at this,” she adds.
“That’s the fun of the charity match,” Maddie assures her, beaming.
Lauren runs up, dressed in a matching lime-green-and-turquoise cheer uniform. Her hair’s up in a high ponytail, and she looks freaking adorable.
“Let’s G-O go!” she shouts, clapping her hands.
Coach Garrett trails behind her, in a shorts-and-tee version of the same cheer uniform, looking dazed in her wake.
“Excuse me, sorry, we just wanted to come say hi,” a new voice says from the entrance of the tunnel. “Security said we could pop down? It was on our passes, backstage access or something?”
“Bro!” A woman sprints past the other one, nearly knocking over Tristan as she throws her arms around him in a hug.
Stunned, I stare at her, then him. “Your sisters are in town?” I squeak. “You didn’t tell me.”
“We didn’t tell him! We wanted to surprise you both.” A third voice chimes in, and then I’m being hugged by three blond female versions of Tristan, all with his familiar greenish eyes. “That way you didn’t feel like you had to invite us to stay with you or whatever.”
“We refuse to make it weird.”
“Like this isn’t weird?” Tristan says with a laugh.
“You know what I mean, doofus.”
They’re all looking at me expectantly, but there’s no malice in it, or judgment, and I relax, because they all seem thrilled to be here and to meet me.
“It’s really nice to meet you all.” It comes out more stilted than I meant, and Tristan sweeps me into his side.
Whatever I was going to say next is cut off by a lingering kiss that earns catcalls from the rest of the players behind us.
I push him away, laughing, and try again.
“I’ve always wanted sisters.” I look at the three pairs of eyes staring at me, thinking about what Tristan’s told me about each sister and matching them up mentally. “I’m excited that I’ll have three to help me annoy him.” I poke Tristan in the stomach.
“I knew I’d like her,” the tallest one says. “Especially after hearing how she handled Mom and Murph the douche. I’m Meg, by the way, and this is Isla and Paisley.” It’s a rapid-fire introduction, but I stand up a little straighter at hearing she’s not mad at my showdown with their mom.
“And Michelle needs no introduction.” Tristan just squeezes my hip. “She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
All three sisters have huge smiles on their faces, and I can’t help but feel overwhelmed in the best way possible.
“Okay,” Maddie interrupts, doing her kindergarten-clap routine. A good thing, too, because I’m going to melt into a puddle of mushy goo if he keeps talking about me like that. “It’s time to get ready for the lineup and announcements. Ladies, you’ll have to go back to your seats.”
“No, let the beautiful women stay with us. Can they not cheer with Coach?” Vincenzo asks, all heart eyes.
Maddie snorts.
“We’re going, don’t worry. But I’ll find you later, handsome,” Meg says, winking at him.
“Absolutely not,” Tristan says.
All three sisters link arms as they walk out of the tunnel, a security guard holding open the door for them.
“You didn’t know they were coming?” I ask Tristan. “Are you okay with it?”
“I had no idea. And I’m fine, but how are you? You okay with them being here?”
Damn, I love how he always checks in with me. I never knew how much I needed that, the constant reassurance that how I feel is important. Just one more way Tristan’s helped unravel the knot of control I’ve kept around myself.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to know them,” I say, and I mean it.
The announcer’s voice crackles over the loudspeaker on the wall, echoing weirdly from the stadium itself through the open door, cutting off any chance at further conversation.
“It’s starting,” Maddie squeals, and Abigail and Lauren high-five as they begin to announce Abigail’s name.
One by one, my friends run out of the tunnel onto the field, and then it’s my turn.
I never thought I’d get to hear my name called on a field again, much less play to full seats on a pro pitch.
The sunlight hits me full force as I jog through the doors, and I blink at the dazzling brightness while I wave at the cheering crowd.
The turf springs with each step of my cleats, and I take a deep breath, soaking it in. It might not have happened the way I planned it, but this is one childhood dream firmly fulfilled.
When Tristan jogs up behind me, scooping me up into his arms, I realize I couldn’t have imagined this happiness in any of my wildest dreams.