Epilogue
Catherine Celia
By Christmas, I had finished my research with the Blaze, moved into Hunter’s condo, and learned that living with him and Isla meant there was glitter everywhere. Our relationship was out in the open now. Not in some huge dramatic way. The team and staff knew, and everyone handled it respectfully.
Tonight, everyone was coming here for Christmas dinner.
To our home. That part still made my chest do something weird since I had only moved in with Hunter and Isla last week.
My textbooks were stacked in the corner of the living room.
My mug sat beside Hunter’s coffee machine.
Isla’s drawings covered the fridge. A Christmas tree stood by the window, decorated with hockey skates, lopsided angels, a Moana ornament, and one handmade decoration Isla had given me that said OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS in crooked red letters.
I cried when she gave it to me. Now Hunter stood beside me in the kitchen, wearing dark pants and a black sweater, stirring gravy like he was not a professional athlete but someone’s hot suburban husband.
“You’re doing the panic face,” he said.
“I’m not panicking.”
“You’re aggressively checking the potatoes.”
“They need checking.”
“They’ve been checked.”
I pointed the serving spoon at him. “Don’t start with me before both of our families arrive.”
His mouth twitched. “Yes, ma’am.”
The doorbell rang before I could panic more.
Isla shot out of her room. “They’re here!”
“Walk,” Hunter called.
She walked for two seconds, then ran. My parents came in first. Mom carried dessert even though I told her not to bring anything.
Dad carried wine and the expression of a man who had accepted reality but still wanted credit for it.
Mila came in behind them wearing sparkly tights.
Jaden followed with his hair in his eyes, pretending he was too cool for Christmas dinner while immediately looking toward the presents.
“Merry Christmas,” Mom said, hugging me.
“Merry Christmas.”
Dad looked around the apartment. His gaze landed on the tree, then Isla, then Hunter’s hand on my lower back. Hunter slowly moved his hand. I bit my lip.
“Merry Christmas, Cole,” Hunter said.
Dad held out the wine. “Russell.”
“Dad,” I said. He needed to go back to calling him Hunter like he had done before the days Hunter and I got together.
“What? I brought wine,” Dad said, pretending that counted as being nice.
“That was almost friendly,” Mom said.
Dad grunted. “Don’t push it.”
Then Oli and Sloane arrived with Quinn and her two kids, and the apartment became loud in under thirty seconds. Sloane hugged me like she had not seen me two days ago. Oli kissed my cheek. Quinn walked in, looked at Hunter setting rolls on the table, and grinned.
“Look at you,” she said. “So domestic.”
Hunter gave her a flat look. “Leave.”
“On Christmas? Rude.”
Dinner was chaos. Perfect chaos. Mila talked Isla into showing everyone every ornament on the tree.
Jaden ate three rolls before dinner technically started.
Quinn’s youngest refused anything green.
Sloane kept telling me to sit down even though I was hosting.
Mom helped anyway. Dad watched Hunter pass Isla a napkin, refill my water, and help Mila cut a piece of chicken in precise tiny pieces.
I could see it in Dad’s face. He was still not thrilled about Hunter and me, but he was trying.
Halfway through dinner, Isla dropped her fork and whispered, “Oops,” like she had committed a crime. Hunter picked it up, got her a new one, and kissed the top of her head without missing his conversation with Oli. Dad saw that too.
After dinner, Hunter and I cleared plates while everyone moved into the living room for presents. He came up behind me at the sink and wrapped one arm around my waist.
“You, okay?” he asked near my ear.
“I’m happy,” I admitted. It felt good to have our families together.
His arm tightened. “Good.”
From the living room, Dad said, “I can see you.”
Hunter sighed. “I barely touched her.”
“That’s still touching.”
“Cole,” Mom warned. “She’s a grown woman.”
“What? I’m adapting.” Dad shrugged.
I laughed and turned in Hunter’s arms. “Come on before my dad attempts to ground me.”
The living room looked like Christmas had exploded. Wrapping paper was already everywhere. The kids sat near the tree. Isla positioned herself beside me on the couch like she had a job to do. I noticed because she was never that still. She looked at Hunter. Hunter looked back at her.
I narrowed my eyes. Those two were up to something. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Isla said too fast.
“That was not nothing,” I giggled.
Hunter’s face was painfully innocent. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Quinn snorted from the armchair. “Liar.”
Isla bounced once. Hunter gave her a small nod.
“It’s okay,” he said. “Go get it.”
She jumped up and ran toward her bedroom.
I turned to him. “Hunter.”
“Trust me.”
“I do. That’s what worries me.”
A few seconds later, Isla came back holding a golden retriever puppy.
A puppy. A tiny golden puppy with huge paws, floppy ears, and a red bow around his neck.
Mila screamed. Quinn’s kids jumped up. Sloane grabbed Oli’s arm. Mom pressed both hands to her chest. Jaden said, “No way,” with actual emotion.
And I just stared.
Isla walked over carefully, holding him like he was made of glass.
“Merry Christmas,” she said.
My throat closed. “Oh my. . .”
Hunter’s thumb brushed my hand. “He’s yours. Ours, really. But mostly yours.”
I looked at him through watery eyes. “You got me a dog?”
“You said you always wanted one.” He glanced at Isla. “And someone made a very detailed presentation.”
“It had bullet points,” Isla said proudly.
The puppy wiggled, and I reached for him. The second he was in my arms; he licked my chin. I cried immediately. The puppy tried to eat my hair.
Hunter laughed and wiped my cheek with his thumb. “What do you want to call him?”
I looked down at the puppy, then at Isla. She looked at me. We both knew.
“Pua,” we said at the same time.
Everyone laughed.
“After the pig?” Jaden asked.
“Obviously,” Isla said referring to Moana’s pet pig Pua.
Pua yawned like he agreed. I kissed the top of his tiny head, then leaned into Hunter. “I love him.”
“Good.”
“I love you,” I said, and kissed him.
Hunter’s hand came to my cheek. For one second, it was just us. Me, Hunter, Isla beside us, a puppy between us, and both our families crammed into the living room. Then Dad grunted. I pulled back, laughing.
“I’m still getting used to the public displays of affection,” he said.
“You’ll survive,” Mom told him.
Dad looked at me, then Hunter, then Isla, who was already trying to reclaim Pua. His expression softened. Just a little.
“I’m happy for you,” he said. “Deeply uncomfortable, but happy.”
Everyone laughed.
Hunter’s shoulders eased beside me. “Thanks, Cole.”
Dad pointed at him. “Don’t make me regret it.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Hunter pressed his lips together, suppressing a laugh.
I thought that was the surprise. The puppy. My family here. My dad making a joke instead of threatening Hunter’s life. Then Hunter stood. . .
At first, I thought he was getting another present. But he turned toward me, and the room went quiet so fast my heart stopped.
“Hunter,” I whispered.
He reached into his pocket.
Oh.
Isla gently took Pua from my arms like she had known this part was coming. Of course she had. Hunter lowered himself to one knee in front of me. Someone gasped. It might have been Mila. It might have been me.
“Catherine,” he said, his voice rough. “I spent a long-time thinking love was something I had to protect myself from. Then you came into my life and made it feel like something I could trust.”
My eyes filled with tears.
“You love me. You love Isla. You made this place feel like home.” His mouth curved a little. “Even with all your shoes in the hallway.”
A shaky laugh broke out of me.
“I want this,” he said. “Every loud dinner. Every game night. Every ordinary morning. Every impossible day we figure out together.” He opened the ring box. “I love you, Catherine Celia Davis. Will you marry me?”
I pressed a hand to my mouth. Hunter looked up at me with those green eyes, steady and scared and so full of love I could barely breathe.
“Yes,” I whispered.
His face changed. “Yes?”
I laughed through my tears. “Yes. Of course, yes.”
The room erupted in congratulations. Isla screamed.
Mila screamed louder. Sloane started crying.
Mom started crying. Quinn clapped. Jaden said, “That was actually kind of cool.” Pua barked once, offended by the noise.
Hunter slid the ring onto my finger with shaking hands.
Then he stood and kissed me. Even Dad was smiling which felt like its own Christmas miracle.
“Merry Christmas,” Hunter whispered against my mouth.
I looked at Isla holding Pua, at our families laughing and crying around us, at the ring on my finger, and then back at the man who had become my home.
“Merry Christmas,” I whispered back.
For once, forever didn’t feel far away. It was right here. Messy, loud, imperfect, and ours.
Next, up in the Dallas Blaze series is Hat Trick Chemistry. If you loved Max McGuire in The Offside Rule wait until you read his story.
Turn the page, because Hat Trick Chemistry is waiting…
Full story coming October 2026
(This excerpt is unedited and subject to change)