Extra Epilogue
RORY
Some people said video games were a waste of time. I disagreed.
They weren’t just part of our Saturday afternoons…they were the start of everything.
The familiar sound of sibling warfare echoed through the house.
Button-mashing, triumphant yells, and the occasional complaint about something not being fair.
From my spot at the kitchen counter, I half-listened to the chaos while scrolling through a few emails.
The kids were in the living room, controllers in hand, faces locked in concentration.
“Ray, stop blocking the view!” Gracen snapped.
“Am not,” he shot back.
“Are too!”
I glanced over the top of my laptop. “Hey. No yelling at each other.”
“She started it!”
Gage came down the stairs and gave the kids an exasperated look. “If you sat down, it wouldn’t be a problem.”
That earned him an eye roll before he headed toward the kitchen. Tilting my head back, he claimed a quick kiss, then circled the counter to look in the fridge.
Our son trudged over to the couch and dropped onto the cushion next to his sister. “Best two out of three?”
“Sure.”
The peace between them lasted all of five minutes.
“Mom!” Ray’s voice carried over the couch. “Gracen’s cheating!”
“It isn’t called a cheat motion because I’m cheating,” Gracen shot back, her pigtails bouncing as her thumbs smashed buttons on the controller. “It’s in my team’s playbook, so I can use it.”
Gage looked up from the sandwiches he was making for our lunch. “You sound just like your mom.”
I smirked. “It’s called tactics.”
Ray groaned dramatically and pointed his controller like an accusation. “You always take her side!”
“Only when she’s right,” Gage corrected.
That earned him a glare before Ray flopped back against the couch cushions and muttered, “Girls only win at football games because we let them.”
The room went silent. Gage’s brows shot up. “Oh boy.”
I closed my laptop slowly and stood. “Excuse me?”
Ray froze. “I didn’t mean—”
“But you said it.” I walked over and held out my hand to Gracen. “Controller, please.”
My daughter grinned as she gave it to me. “Here you go.”
Behind us, Gage chuckled low. “You’re in for it now, kiddo.”
Ray scoffed, clearly thinking this was going to be easy.
I dropped onto the couch beside him, cracked my knuckles, and selected my profile—AllAbouttheStats.
It’d been awhile since I’d played, but that was fair since I was going up against a seven-year-old.
“Ready for me to prove how wrong you are about girls playing video games?”
“Didn’t say all games,” he mumbled.
Gage joined us in the living room, getting comfortable in one of the recliners. “I’d bet a million dollars on your mom no matter what game she’s playing, she’s just that good.”
I didn’t even need to look at the controller much—muscle memory kicked in.
I scored my first touchdown within minutes.
Ray’s mouth dropped open. “No way!”
“Way,” I replied with a grin.
Gracen cackled. “That’s what you get!”
Gage just sipped coffee while he called a play-by-play like an announcer. “And AllAbouttheStats strikes again. Son goes down. Daughter cheering. Dad smart enough to stay retired from video games after Mom mopped the floor with him years ago.”
“Traitor!” Ray yelled, turning on him.
“Hey, I’m Switzerland.” Gage raised both hands. “Neutral territory.”
The next few quarters were a cacophony of trash talk, shrieking laughter, and me proving I still had it. When I finally dropped the controller, my son flopped back against the cushions, defeated but grinning.
“That was awesome,” he admitted. “But I want a rematch.”
“Anytime.” I ruffled his hair. “After you admit girls don’t need permission to win.”
He sighed, glaring halfheartedly. “Fine. Girls can win. Happy?”
“Ecstatic,” I drawled.
Gracen snorted. “Told you not to mess with Mom.”
“Sometimes us boys need to learn things the hard way.” Gage chuckled. “Just remember, never underestimate a girl. Or your mom.”
Gracen bounced in place. “I wanna be on your team next time, Mom! We can destroy the boys together.”
I beamed a proud grin at her. “Now there’s my little strategist.”
Gage joined us on the couch, looping an arm around my shoulders while Ray leaned against his side and Gracen rested her head against my shoulder. “Remind me to get a second console. Otherwise, this house might not survive round two.”
I looked up at him with a grin. “Looks like I haven’t lost it.”
“I never doubted you.” He kissed the top of my head. “You’ve been winning since the day you logged in.”
“True.” My smile widened. “But I had no idea way back then that I’d win something so much better than bragging rights.”
Gage smiled, brushing his thumb over my cheek. “We both did.”
Gracen and Ray were already on their feet, arguing about the next rematch, their laughter echoing through the house. Gage reached for my hand, lacing our fingers together.
And as we watched our kids, I knew I’d already won the best game there was.