Bonus Epilogue
Five Years Later
Trenton
“This is so exciting. I’ve never been to a lacrosse game before.”
Shifting my SUV into park, I glance over at Cassidy in the passenger seat.
My hand moves from the shifter, and I press my palm against her round belly.
We both pause, waiting for my daughter to feel my presence like she always seems to lately.
After a moment, I feel the little jump underneath my hand, and a wide smile breaks across my face.
“There’s my girl.” I make small circles over Cassidy’s belly. “Hi, baby. Daddy loves you.”
Cassidy bites her plump bottom lip. “Mmm, and I love Daddy.”
I chuckle as I lean across the center console and nip at her earlobe. “Don’t give me a boner. We’re in the middle of a school parking lot.”
Her hand slides between my legs and gives my hardening dick a squeeze. “Your windows are tinted.”
Fuck, my wife is insatiable and I love it. “After the game?”
“Or how about under the bleachers?” She lifts the hem of her dress, flashing me her thick thighs and bare pussy before covering it all up again. “It’ll make for a great scene in my next book.”
I groan, and my dick jumps at the sight of her perfect lips. “We can—”
Tap, tap, tap.
My shoulders hit my ears as I turn and lower my window.
McKinley waggles his eyebrows wearing a shit-eating grin. “You guys are getting freaky in there, aren’t you?”
My jaw clenches as I glare at my best friend. “Go away.”
His head falls back as he cackles, his coppery curls bouncing with his laughter. “I fucking knew it. Chance owes me fifty bucks.”
I roll my eyes, but can’t deny it. Cassidy and I haven’t been able to keep our hands off each other—even more so than before she got pregnant, which is saying a lot.
Cassidy gives me a quick peck on the cheek before pulling on the door handle. “I’ll meet you out there once your situation calms down.”
My gaze drops to my lap as I adjust my throbbing dick in my pants. “Thanks.”
I watch out the window as McKinley throws his arm around my wife and places his other hand against her stomach, leaning down to talk to his goddaughter.
I couldn’t choose between McKinley, Stamos, and Krum, so I made all three of them godfathers.
Which was fine with Cassidy, because that makes Aarya, Kourtney, and Celeste the godmothers.
We’re one big family, and our daughter will never feel unloved or unwanted or unprotected for a second in her life.
Once I’m able to step out of the SUV without the chance of becoming a sex offender, I make my way through the parking lot onto the field beyond the gate.
McKinley’s step-daughter, Alyssa, is playing in her first away game. She made history as her school’s first freshman to make the varsity lacrosse team. None of us were surprised, since Alyssa is a firecracker. I have no doubt she’s going to do great things as an athlete.
“Trenton! Trenton Ward.”
I spin around at the sound of my name, and spot a familiar face. Tall with brown hair, I rack my brain to place where I know him from. “Landon...?”
He grins as he strides over to me, and slaps his palm against mine. “Hey, man. What the hell are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing.” I gesture to Alyssa’s team warming up on the sidelines. “My niece is playing today.”
Landon’s eyebrows hit his hairline. “No way. She’s playing against my school.”
My eyes flick to the whistle around his neck and the teal Ospreys polo shirt he’s wearing. “You coach here?”
“I do. It’s my first season. Just moved back to New Jersey.”
I heave a sigh. “Wow, man. It feels like so long since college.”
“That’s because we’re old now,” he says with a chuckle.
Landon Fletcher and I went to college together in California. He was an incredible lacrosse player. I haven’t seen him since I graduated.
“You’re doing amazing for yourself,” he says. “I watch all of your games and tell everyone I used to know you.”
I laugh. “Thanks. In even better news, my wife is pregnant. We’re having a girl this summer.”
Landon’s eyes widen. “No shit. Congratulations.”
“What’s new with you?”
He runs a hand through his hair and blows out a long sigh through his lips. “My mom’s not doing too well at the moment. I moved home so I could help take care of her.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.” My heart sinks. “Anything I can do, don’t hesitate to ask. We’re both in Jersey now so—”
“Fletcher!”
Both of our heads turn in the direction of the woman who called Landon’s name.
She’s wearing the same coaching uniform as Landon, a pair of aviators, and a whistle hangs around her neck too.
Her dark brown hair is pulled into a high ponytail, and she’s glaring at us like we somehow pissed her off when I’ve never seen her in my life.
She plants a hand on her hip. “Whenever you’re done socializing, we have a game to play.”
Landon’s jaw works under his skin as he glances from her to me. “I should get going.”
I arch a brow. “Who is that lovely ray of sunshine?”
“That is my high school nemesis, and the current thorn in my side.”
I blow out a low whistle. “Sounds fun.”
“It’s a blast.” Landon rolls his eyes. “Let’s catch up after the game.”
“For sure.”
I head for my friends waiting on the bleachers, and take a seat beside Cassidy. “I just ran into an old friend from college. He’s coaching for the opposing team.”
“Oh, wow. Small world.”
I press a kiss to her temple. “Seems like his coaching partner isn’t the nicest though.”
“What makes you say that?”
“She snapped at him to stop talking so the game could start. He said they haven’t gotten along since high school.”
Cassidy grins as she gazes up at me. “Remember when we didn’t get along in the beginning?”
My lips twist into a smirk. “You mean when you were waking up the dead with your awful singing?”
She jabs me in my ribs. “You love my singing.”
“Sure, just not at five in the morning.”
She giggles, and the sound goes straight to my heart.
Who would’ve thought that we’d be where we are today?
I was so sour after being traded from my old team in Seattle.
My whole life was uprooted to play for the Goldfinches here on the East Coast. Then I moved next door to the most infuriating woman I’d ever met.
Now, we’re married with a baby on the way.
Funny how life works out.
“Hey, Ward.” Jason nudges my shoulder from his spot behind me. “Heard you were trying to get some before the game just now.”
I shoot a glare in McKinley’s direction, but he just grins at me like a happy dog.
“I can’t help it.” I shrug. “Have you seen how gorgeous my wife is?”
“Can’t blame you one bit.” Celeste winks from beside him. “And she’s a New York Times best seller now.”
A pink blush creeps into Cassidy’s cheeks. “I still can’t believe I made the New York Times list.”
“Believe it,” Kourtney says, squeezing Cassidy’s shoulder. “How are you feeling?”
“After the nausea finally subsided, I feel good. Tired, but good.” She giggles. “And horny, apparently.”
Aarya covers Giuliana’s ears. “Tell me about it. I can’t keep my hands off this man on a normal day. When I’m pregnant, I become like an animal in heat.”
“Is that why Alex looks so tired today?” Chance chimes in.
We all laugh, and Alexander grins. “Why do you think we keep having all these kids?” He bounces his toddler on his knee and presses a kiss to his little girl in the carrier strapped to his body. “We’re going to have a whole hockey team by the time she’s done with me.”
Giuliana gasps. “I want to be the captain!”
Alex, Aarya, and Giuliana deserve everything and anything they want in life. They’ve been through hell with Alexander’s accident, and it makes me overjoyed to see them thriving after it all.
I glance around the group until my eyes land on Presley. “Hey, Pres. Where’s Avery today?”
“He’s getting ready for his art exhibit this weekend. I told him to take a break and come to his sister’s game, but he said, Artists don’t take breaks, Aunt Pres.” She rolls her eyes and smiles. “He’s so excited for this opportunity.”
“He’s going to do great,” Aarya says. “I caught a glimpse of what he’s working on and it’s going to be phenomenal.”
“Thanks for letting us use your studio.”
While everyone breaks off into smaller conversations, I reach over and take Alexander’s son from his lap. “How are we doing today, Matthias?”
He wraps his little hands around the back of my neck and sinks the few teeth he has into my cheek.
“Someone’s teething, I see.” I rub small circles on his back. “Can you say, Trenton? Say, Tren-ton.”
“Trey-trey,” he says, as drool dribbles down his chin.
I smile wide. “Hey, that’s pretty good.”
McKinley leans over and says, “Say Kin-ley.”
“Key-key.”
“Get out of here.” I spin around with Matthias in my lap. “It’s my time with him. You’ll have your turn later.” I dig my fingers into his tummy, and he giggles. “You’re with your favorite uncle, aren’t you? I’m your favorite uncle. Yes, I am. Yes, I am.”
Aarya scrunches her nose. “Stop with the baby-talk. You’re going to ruin him.”
Cassidy laughs as she rubs her belly. “Everyone talks to babies like that. You’re the only weirdo who doesn’t like it.”
“It’s just...” Aarya’s top lip curls. “Off-putting.”
Alexander cups his hand around his mouth, pretending to whisper. “I do it when she’s not around.”
Aarya jabs her husband in the arm. “Don’t do that!”
I bounce Matthias on my knee as he giggles, and my heart feels so full.
It’s rare that we all have an off-day together.
Between the grueling hockey schedule and kids, we don’t always get everyone together at the same time.
So, I’ll soak it up today. All of my friends are here.
Everyone is healthy and happy. We’re all one big family, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Go, Goldfinches!” a parent shouts from a few rows below us.
Several people around us cheer, and we agree to pose for a few pictures.
“You guys think you’re going to take the cup again this year?” one of the women asks.
“That’s always the plan,” Alexander says. “We’ve got another one in us, boys, wouldn’t you say?”