Epilogue
brENDAN
Two Months Later
I hate waiting.
So when Scarlett negotiated us down to three months of dating before an engagement, she might as well have said three years. Because after waiting this long, every day has felt like eternity.
For the past two months, we’ve barely seen each other between my playoff schedule and her new partnership with the Marco women. I’d catch glimpses of her in the stands wearing a Crushers jersey, or she’d text me good luck before the game, but it wasn’t enough.
By the time we reach the Calder Cup Finals, it hardly seems possible we’re the same team that almost didn’t make the playoffs. But I always knew what this team was capable of.
Tonight, we prove it.
Thanks to a last-second shot by MacPherson in overtime, the entire arena erupts. Helmets fly. Sticks litter the ice. All the players pile on top of Brax.
After Scarlett, it’s the best moment of my life.
As we approach the locker room for the post-game speech, Coach Jenkins pulls me aside. “Marco, I want you to address the team tonight.”
“You want me to give the speech?” I glance past him to where Jakowski’s standing, arms crossed.
“No question.” Jenkins lays a hand on my shoulder. “You’ve earned your place on this coaching staff.” The look he gives me tells me he means it. This time, it has nothing to do with my uncle.
When I walk through the door, the locker room is in complete pandemonium—music blaring, guys dancing, towels flying.
As Brax sees me take Coach Jenkins’ spot in the middle of the room, he starts to chant, “Speech! Speech! Speech!” until the entire room is beating on lockers and yelling at the top of their lungs.
I lift my hand, waiting until the noise dies down.
“Crushers, you pulled off an incredible win tonight. When I came to this team as conditioning coach a few years ago, most of you were strangers.” I glance at the men who have become family to me.
“I had no idea I’d end up here as your assistant coach, standing in front of you after winning a Cup.
But I’m proud of you. You earned every second of this. And I’m lucky I get to be your coach.”
“Coach Marco,” Rourke asks. “Are you getting sentimental on us?”
“Not at all,” I say with a smirk. “I’ll go back to yelling at you tomorrow. Don’t get comfortable.” I turn to Jaxon next, who’s sitting on the bench, his knee still in a brace. “Jaxon, I know how much you wanted to be on the ice tonight. And I’m sorry you couldn’t join the team out there.”
“Me too, Coach.” Jaxon stands slowly from his spot.
“Wearing the Crushers jersey has been the greatest honor of my life. I couldn’t be prouder to see you guys win tonight.
But after talking with the coaches and medical staff, my knee can’t take another season.
” He pauses, looking more serious than I’ve ever seen the guy.
“So I’m officially retiring from professional hockey. ”
There’s a beat of silence before Brax stands and approaches Jaxon. “The team won’t be the same without you, Jax.” He hesitates long enough for the room to fall silent, then he pulls Jaxon into a hug.
That’s all it takes. One by one, the guys rise to their feet. There’s no teasing. They all know now isn’t the time.
Leo is the last one to hug Jaxon. “There’s no way you can quit hockey, man. It’s in your blood.”
“I’m not quitting,” Jaxon says. “There’s a youth league in my hometown that needs a coach. And I’m helping my mom with the horses now that Dad’s gone. So I’m not done with hockey—just finished playing professionally.”
“How about that girl back home?” Rourke asks with a grin. “Think you’ve got a shot?”
Jaxon laughs. “A very long shot. According to my mom, she’s still mad at me.” His mouth slips into that lazy grin. “But I’ve heard girls love a guy on a horse, so I’m not ruling anything out.”
“We need to give you a proper send-off,” I tell him. “Retire your number and throw you the biggest party this team’s ever seen.”
“Speaking of celebrating,” Leo says, turning to me next. “When are you going to pop the question to Scarlett, Coach?”
I shove my hands in my pockets, trying to keep my face straight. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t pretend like you don’t know,” Brax says, pointing at me. “We know how much you hate waiting.”
“There’s nothing to tell.” I shrug. “Scarlett wanted to date three months, so I’m honoring her wishes.”
“You have the ring, don’t you?” Rourke asks bluntly.
The guys are all staring at me, the silence tangible.
I frown. “What makes you think that?”
“One, you’re a terrible liar,” Tate points out. “Two, you’re messing with something in your pocket that looks suspiciously like a ring box.”
Leave it to Sheriff to notice everything.
“So I have the ring,” I admit, taking it from my pocket.
“I knew it!” Rourke yells.
“We all knew it!” Leo grins.
“I just hope Scarlett likes it.” I turn the box in my hand. “I took Gabriella with me to the jewelry store.”
Miles’ brows rise. “Does Scarlett have any idea?”
“I hope not.” I tuck the ring back in my pocket again. “I want it to be a surprise.”
“Then ask her now,” Rourke says.
“I can’t just propose in the parking lot.”
“We don’t mean tonight,” Rourke says. “But you should do it this week, before we all leave for the summer.”
“Tell her we’re celebrating the big win and Jaxon’s retirement,” Tate suggests. “She won’t suspect a thing.”
“Wait. Who’s we?” I’m having second thoughts about letting them be a part of this. “I don’t want an audience for this.”
“Come on,” Miles says, sitting on the bench. “Didn’t she say she wanted it to be a big surprise?”
“Yeah, but—”
“Then let us help,” Jaxon coaxes. “I want to be part of this before I leave town.”
I glance around at these guys—the brothers who’ve had my back through everything. They fought for me this whole season and celebrated when Scarlett and I finally got together. Of course they want to be there when I propose.
“I’ll agree,” I say with a sigh. “Under one condition—”
“What’s that?” Jaxon asks.
I give them each a look. “Don’t mess it up.”
“When have we ever messed anything up?” Leo asks with a smirk.
The room goes silent.
“Fine.” He throws up his hands. “But this time will be different.”
Scarlett
When Brendan picks me up from the cafe that evening, I can tell something’s different.
It could be he’s still flying high from the Crushers’ big win, but he’s wearing a nice button-down instead of his usual Crushers hoodie.
He looks so handsome, I almost wish we weren’t meeting the team to celebrate tonight.
“You look beautiful,” he says, pulling me into his arms and kissing me.
“I’m just in jeans and a top,” I say around a laugh.
“Still irresistible.” He kisses my temple slowly, long enough to send heat through me. “I can’t wait to go out with you.”
Things have been so busy the past few weeks, we’ve hardly seen each other.
“How was work?” he asks as we walk to his vehicle.
“Going well, actually. The food truck helped double our sales this month, which means we’re paying off more of Dad’s medical bills. And the doctor said only a few more months of treatment before he’s officially in remission.”
“Best news I’ve heard all day.” He squeezes my hand.
“So where are we going tonight?”
“The location is a surprise,” he begins, getting the car door for me, “and before you say you hate surprises—you’ll like this one, I promise,” he finishes, before closing the door.
He seems unusually confident about it.
“Well, I’ll do it for Jaxon and the team,” I say. “Even though I’m surprised you want to celebrate the same man who took me to the team Christmas party.”
“Hey, I got the girl in the end,” he says, taking my hand as he pulls onto the street. “Bygones.”
After we’ve driven a little way, I spot the lights of the Ferris wheel and know immediately where we’re headed. “Does this mean you’re going to win me another stuffed animal?”
He laughs. “I’ll try, but no promises.”
As we walk through the entrance, I’m overwhelmed again with the magic of this place—the scent of fried food in Junk Food Alley, the music from the carousel, and the kids squealing in delight. It’s one of those places that makes you happy as soon as you step inside.
We see the team right away as Gabriella waves us over. “Hey, guys! You want to get some food? I’m starving.”
“I’ll join you,” I say. “I didn’t really get a chance to eat at work.”
“I’ll come too,” Miles adds.
I catch a weird look between Brendan and Leo.
“Is that okay?” I ask Brendan, wondering what’s going on between them.
“Uh…sure. I’ll meet you back right here.”
There’s something he’s not telling me, but maybe they’ve got a secret planned for Jaxon.
I head toward the food booths with Gabriella and Miles, chatting about whether elephant ears are better than funnel cakes. While we’re waiting on our orders, a guy approaches Gabriella in the funnel cake line. They chat for a minute, and by the end, it looks like they exchange contact information.
That’s when I notice Miles’ face. He’s staring at them, flexing his fists like he’s about to punch a wall.
“Who was that guy?” I ask Gabriella when she walks up with her funnel cake.
“Oh, just someone I knew from college.” She rips off a section of her dessert, dusting powdered sugar over her fingers.
“Like an ex-boyfriend?” Miles prods, trying to sound casual but failing completely.
“No. Why?”
“No reason,” Miles responds, looking down at the corn dog he hasn’t taken a single bite of yet. “You just seemed…friendly.”
“Friendly?” she asks with a frown. “Do you think I want to date him or something?”
“No.” He’s trying so hard to act uninterested, it’s painful to watch him.
“It doesn’t matter anyway.” She shrugs. “I’m taking a break from dating, indefinitely.”
“You have?” The relief on Miles’ face is almost comical.
“Too many losers in the past year.” She nods to me. “I’m focusing on my job with the Crushers, just like you suggested.” She looks like she deserves a medal for this decision.
“Me?” I ask.