Epilogue
COOPER
The clock runs out on the game, and the confetti sprinkles from the sky. In seconds, I get bombarded by every player on our team.
We did it. Three championship wins in a row. I’m a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame after I retire, whenever that will be.
I’m being interviewed by Samson again, and his typical stern impression shifts to a smile right before someone jumps on my back. I don’t have to see her to know who she is because the feel of her, the smell of her—everything about her—I committed to memory years ago.
“Congratulations, babe! I’m so proud of you.” She kisses me on the cheek.
“I must say you’re much happier this time than at the division championship,” Samson says.
Ellery is moving back to Chicago this week.
Things between us are different this time around.
She’s not holding herself back, and I’m not pushing us forward.
I waited ten years for her to be mine, and she is.
That’s all I really want. She’s moving in with me, but sadly we’re leaving The Den. Along with Miles and Bryce.
Ever since Rowan Landry moved in, there have been more than enough parties. And that’s what The Den was meant for, honestly. When I bought the building, I pictured bachelors there enjoying everything it and the area had to offer. But it doesn’t suit any of our lifestyles anymore.
She slips off my back and into my arms. God, her body up against mine, there’s no better feeling. “Let’s go get your award,” she whispers, assuming I’ll win the MVP, but we had a lot of great players today, including Bradley.
“I’m not sure it’s mine,” I whisper back, taking her lips and kissing her until I hear the clearing of a throat.
I look around to see Bradley standing at our side. I guess Samson moved on since he’s interviewing Miles now.
Bradley puts out his hand in front of me. There are rumors he wants a trade. Feels he’s too much in Damon’s shadow and wants to go to a team where he shines. I understand, we only have a set number of years to make our mark in this profession. You never know when an injury can take you out.
“I just wanted to say, thanks. I know we’ve had our problems, but you’re a great quarterback and captain.” I shake his hand, his words meaning more to me than anyone else’s.
“I selfishly hope you end up with us, but if not, good luck. Any team would be better for having you.”
We shake, and he nods his head. “Ellery.”
“Bradley.” She smiles.
“Let’s go, man.” Damon smacks me on the back, Clover in his arms, and Adeline right next to them. Last year was his year, and I hope this year is mine.
We all end up huddled at the end of the platform they wheel out. Orange and blue confetti still streams down to the ground.
Our GM gets handed the trophy and passes it to Coach Stone, who signals for me to come up. I kiss Ellery on the cheek and join him.
“We’d never be here without this man. He is consistent and steadfast and never gets detoured.
” Coach eyes me, and I smile because I did a little this year, but I recalibrated and tried not to let my personal life affect my performance.
“Three Super Bowl wins in a row puts us all in elite territory. We’ll take it.
” He raises the trophy in the air and hands it to me.
I step up to the microphone. “I’m not alone on that field, every one of these guys worked their butts off to reach this goal. Not to mention our fans. Chicago, another one comes home to us!” The stadium roars to life.
I pass the trophy down to Damon, and then he passes it to Miles. Each player takes a picture with it.
“And now for the MVP,” the announcer says, getting handed the award.
I don’t have to win MVP to know I played a great game. Tons of players deserve it, and I don’t care because I have the one thing I’ve always wanted. I look at Ellery, and my eyes lock with hers as they make the announcement.
“No surprise here, Cooper Rice!”
Ellery screams, and even I’m surprised. She rushes over and I pull her to me, kissing her and taking her hand to drag her back over to the microphone with me.
“Thank you!” I raise the award in the air. “But every player on the field and coach on the sidelines was an MVP today. This is for all of us.” I hold it up, and everyone cheers.
I hug Coach and everyone else, about to pull Ellery from the stage, but when I turn around, she’s still standing there, asking for the microphone.
What is she doing? I look at our friends, and they all shrug. Well, the boys do.
“Sorry, just one more thing,” she says into the microphone.
I think people are confused and don’t know how to react because it gets oddly quiet.
“I’ve known Cooper for a long time, and I selfishly put him in the friend zone because I never wanted to lose him.
See, what not everyone knows about Cooper Rice is that he’s a good guy, he’s faithful, and he genuinely has your best interests at heart.
He’d run a mile in a snowstorm to save me.
I didn’t want to give that up for what could be some fling we’d get out of our system.
As many of you are aware, we tried and failed once this year, and that’s on me.
But I never dreamed I could live this life with you, Cooper.
Every day I’m happier than the last, so… ”
She digs into the pocket of her coat, falling to one knee and opening a box with a silver band inside. “Marry me?”
“Elle…” I can’t think of anything else to say—I’m in shock.
“I was a fool, Coop. I want to be your wife and have your babies and grow old with you. What do you say?”
I rush back over to her, ready to pick her up when she shoves the microphone into my mouth. “Yes,” I say with a laugh.
She stands, and I pick her up and swing her around. “You’re still getting the best proposal ever, you know that, right?”
“I can propose to you, it’s not the 1950s.” She takes the ring out and holds it for me, sliding it on my finger. “It looks good on you.”
“Not half as good as your diamond ring is gonna look on you.”
The stadium goes wild, and I take my new fiancée down the stairs to take her to the nearest jewelry store.
One Month Later…
All six of us—well, seven, including Clover—stand outside The Den.
Bryce rubs her small belly, and Miles kisses the top of her head. Adeline clings to Clover, and Damon’s arms are around them both. This place holds so many memories for us.
Even Ruby has decided to leave, shutting down Peeper’s Alley. Said she didn’t understand the young customers anymore and wanted to take it easy.
A moving van pulls up, and then another one behind it.
Rowan opens up the gates after coming down from his apartment and stares at all of us. “You all look like you’re about to cry. You can visit anytime you want.”
“No, they can’t,” all the women say in unison, probably thinking of what will happen here now that three bachelors are back to living in the apartments.
Tweetie comes out of one of the moving trucks. His personality is bigger than Damon’s, and I wonder if he’ll ever settle down. There was a time I didn’t think Damon would.
“Who died?” he asks.
“Their single lives.” Rowan laughs.
Tweetie walks over to the gate and pulls down the sign that reads The Den and smacks on another sign. He smirks over his shoulder and follows Rowan through the gates. “Go live your happily ever afters.” He shoos us with his hand. “We’ll take over from here.”
The gate shuts, and we all laugh because Tweetie’s sign reads The Nest.
It’s official, we’ve been replaced by the Chicago Falcons, and I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we couldn’t be happier.
Hold on tight… we’re staying in the same city, but shaking things up!
Come join us in a brand new world, The Nest, where you get a new group of guys, more Ruby, and some old faces (more than Tweetie’s).
"Rowan Landry is my favorite book boyfriend!
.... this man is literally perfect!!"- Readingwithdesi (Sneak Peek below)
CLICK HERE if you love a brother’s teammate, one-night stand, hidden identity storyline
Sneak Peek
“That’s totally him.” Alara elbows me, causing my wine to slosh over the glass’s rim.
“And?” I down what’s left in my glass, then set it on the now-soaked ivory linen tablecloth.
“Come on. You act like I don’t know you. He’s the it hockey player right now.” She stares at Rowan Landry, the Chicago Falcons’s new center, who’s standing at the open bar.
Sure, I know of him. He’s been all over the news since his trade to Chicago. And Alara isn’t wrong. I love hockey players.
Thank you, Conor.
That button was installed early since I was carted around to hockey games starting at the age of four.
I practically grew up in ice rinks, watching my older brother Conor play, but it wasn’t until I hit twelve years old that I developed crushes on my brother’s teammates.
How could I not? There’s just something so rough and tumble and alpha about hockey players.
It’s hard to explain, but they’re my weakness, plain and simple.
And Rowan Landry is the best of the bunch.
Not only is he the best center in the league, but he also has this arrogant, mysterious persona that sucks me in like a riptide in the ocean.
His dark hair is a little longer, wavy, and although it’s styled tonight, if you Google him, you’ll see it looking unkempt and like he just got thoroughly fucked in most pictures. I can’t be the only woman who wants to be the one to give him that hairstyle.
“I see why they call him Magic.” Alara rests her chin in her palm, her body slumping forward. “He could have been in the movie Magic Mike.”
“Want a glass for your drool?” I slide my water glass over in front of her. “And they call him Magic because he skates so smooth and flawlessly on the ice.”
“He sure is.” Her eyes stay trained on Rowan. I don’t judge my friend. He’s hard to look away from.
“Why is he standing at a bar alone though? Maybe it isn’t him. Why aren’t people bombarding him?”