Epilogue
Six months later
Oliver
Cupping my hands around my mouth, I shout to the team, who just scored the first goal of the game. “Nice defense! Keep it up!”
Next to me, Jeff claps his hands together, the sound sharp even over the noise of the crowd.
We both know we’ve lost our chance to make it to the championships this year, but whatever.
It’s the last game of the season before winter break, and the kids are excited about getting some time off from school.
I’m not sure even one of them will be hanging their heads after this game.
Movement to the left catches my eye, a flash of bright red that I instantly recognize as Devin’s hat.
She’s next to the plexiglass, talking to this season’s physical therapy intern, her gloved hands moving as she speaks.
As if feeling my eyes on her, she looks right at me and grins.
I grin back, feeling no older than the boys on my team, an awkward teen getting all excited when his crush blesses him with a smile.
It takes tremendous strength, but I drag my eyes away from her and focus on the game. The team is pulling ahead, cheers erupting from the stands when our goalie blocks the puck. The sound echoes off the arena walls, a wave of noise that makes my chest expand.
“What are your plans for winter break?” Jeff asks me, falling into the easygoing chat we often have while also keeping our eyes on the game.
“We’re staying at home.” Just saying it makes me feel warm all over.
It’s been six months since I moved in with Devin, and every morning I wake up next to her feels like another lottery won.
After a busy year with a few more flares than she would have liked, we’ve decided to take it easy and not travel.
Her family was disappointed but also understanding, and my family. ..
They’re another story, but it’s fine. The space that’s grown in our relationship is probably for the best. Talking less means that there’s less tension, and I’m not dreading going to my brother’s housewarming party in a couple of months.
I now know the benefit of keeping the conversation to certain topics, and my parents are mostly willing to oblige.
The constant judging has at least slowed down.
“What did you get Devin for Christmas?” Jeff’s barely asked the question before he has to shout at the ice again. “Finish your checks!”
I bite into a smile. “This and that. Nothing really special.”
If I tell him about the big present, I might not be able to stop talking, and then I’ll spoil it. For as many friends as I’ve made in Portsmouth and on Pine Island, only Niall knows about what’s hidden in my underwear drawer at home. The velvet box sits there, tucked beneath rolled socks, waiting.
The buzzer goes off amid shouts and cheers.
The game is over, our team the losing one by two goals.
The players skate through the gate, a bumping whirlwind of sticks, padding, and sweaty faces.
Their energy hasn’t dimmed despite the loss—they’re already laughing, shoving each other, voices overlapping.
Devin is already making her way to me, our friends behind her.
Everyone has shown up to the final game—Niall and Sophie, Hannah and Michael with his daughter Katie, Noah and Alexis, Flick and Sebastian, and Maya.
The group forms a loose cluster near the boards, winter coats in various colors, scarves and hats making them look bundled and festive.
“Nice game!” Noah, his baby girl Sterling in his arms, claps me on the shoulder.
“I didn’t really know what was going on,” Maya adds, “but I liked it.”
Hannah laughs. “Same.”
“You’ll have to come to more then.” Devin loops her arm around me, and I pull her in close and kiss the side of her head. Her hat is soft beneath my lips, and I catch the familiar warmth of her even through all the layers.
“So,” Flick says. “Are we getting pizza? I’m starving.”
There’s a chorus of agreements, with everyone throwing out their preferences.
An argument over which pizza place is the best—Get Stuffed on Pine Island, or the bigger place in Portsmouth—quickly erupts.
Voices rise and fall, opinions fired back and forth with the kind of passion usually reserved for actual important topics.
Sebastian insists the crust at Get Stuffed is superior.
Hannah counters that the Portsmouth place has better toppings variety.
I take the opportunity to draw Devin away from everyone, finding us a semi-private spot close to the wall. The concrete is cold at my back when I lean against it, but I barely notice. She comes willingly, her eyes bright, cheeks pink from the chill of the arena.
“Great game, coach,” she says, face tipped up to mine.
I softly run my thumb down her cheek, feeling the slight coolness of her skin. “Thanks.”
Her smile is flirty. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?” I ask, well aware that I’m staring at her.
“I dunno.” She wraps her arms around my waist, closing what little distance remains between us. “Like you can’t believe I’m here.”
“I can’t,” I breathe. “You mean the world to me, Devin.”
“Oh, yeah?” Her dark lashes flutter. “And what are you going to do about it?”
She’s still being playful, with no idea that I intend to do something big about it.
After I go into the locker room and tell the team they did a great job, after we have pizza with our friends, after we trim our tree, after we wake up on Christmas morning, I’m going to pull that little box wrapped in glossy red paper out of my underwear drawer and I’m going to have her take out the ring that’s inside of it and I’m going to ask her to be my wife.
For now, though, I’ll just grin and pretend I’m also being playful.
I’ll keep the promise of what’s to come tucked away in my heart, a flame that’s been burning since the day I set eyes on her eleven years ago.
It’ll keep me warm through each moment to come, a reminder of what’s really important in life.
And then, when the time is right, I’ll share the flame with her and we’ll stoke it together, helping it grow into a roaring fire.
Dropping my hand from her face, I take a step back. The space between us feels like too much already. “I need to talk to the team. Wait for me?”
“Forever,” she promises.
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Thank you for reading WE CAN BELIEVE.