Epilogue

CARTER

“Do you think Valerie will like our sign?” Andy asks self-consciously.

“She’s going to love it,” Abby reassures her brother even as she rolls her eyes. “Stop worrying so much.”

He looks down at the handpainted “Welcome Home” sign he spent hours working on and chews his bottom lip. “I don’t know. I’m not sure she’s going to like the colors. I should’ve used more green. That’s her favorite.”

Corey places a hand on Andy’s shoulder and squeezes. “It’s a great sign, little dude.”

“Yeah,” my sister seconds in an upbeat voice, leaning around her fiancee to smile at her nephew. “Valerie will be touched you made it for her.”

“You think so?”

“I know so,” Carlee replies.

The anxiety fades from my son’s expression, replaced by excitement that rivals his sisters.

The baggage claim conveyor belt buzzes. The screen above flashes “First Bag” and lists Valerie’s flight number.

Anticipation makes my chest tighten.

“Oh my god,” the gasp steals my attention. “It’s Carter Jones!”

I turn and see a group of teenagers gawking at me. Their eyes shift left and one cries, “And that’s Corey Johnson!”

My best friend grumbles under his breath, but he lifts a hand to wave.

I do the same and throw in a smile, “Hey, guys.”

“Can we get a picture?” A boy wearing a Rough Riders hat asks, looking starstruck.

“Sure.” I step away from my family, hitting Corey’s back as I walk by to make him come with me.

Carlee follows and offers to take the picture. The teenager practically throws his phone at her in excitement.

Corey and I pose with our arms on each other’s shoulders, then each link up with a kid on either side. Carlee takes a few shots. We say goodbye to the fans and rejoin our family.

The impromptu photoshoot drew attention, but no one else approaches us for a picture. Either they don’t recognize us, or they’re just respecting our privacy.

“Dang. That’s embarrassing,” Morgan tsks. “Those kids didn’t even recognize you.”

Dane scowls at Carlee’s best friend. “What are you even doing here?”

“Me? I’m friends with Valerie.”

It’s true. Valerie and I have been long-distance for months. Whenever she’s in town, we spend a lot of time just the two of us, but we also do things with family and friends. It didn’t take long for Morgan, Carlee, and Valerie to grow close.

“But what are you doing here?” Morgan continues her attack on Dane. “Don’t you have an ice skating competition to practice for?”

“Uncle Dane plays hockey,” Andy pipes up, unaware Morgan is intentionally insulting the professional hockey player.

“Oh, does he?” She says sweetly to my son, but her eyes sharpen into daggers when she looks back at the blond. “I had no idea. It’s not like he talks about it all the time.”

“Okay, okay,” I interrupt before Dane can say something snarky in response. “Knock it off, you two.”

I have no idea what’s happened between Dane and Morgan to make them despise each other. It used to be funny. Now, it’s in danger of making things awkward.

I need to ask Dane what’s going on.

But that can wait.

Because that’s Valerie walking through the terminal exit. Seeing us, her lips part into a wide smile, and the organ in my chest flips.

“Valerie!” Abby and Andy cry out. They race forward, each one holding one end of the “Welcome Home” sign.

“Hi, guys!” Her backpack bounces as she races forward to meet the twins.

The three of them crash into each other in an excited embrace.

“Well, that’s adorable,” Morgan observes with a small smile.

“Isn’t it?” Carlee sighs. My sister glances at me and nudges me with her shoulder. “You all right over there?”

“Yeah.” I wipe away the tear that leaks from the corner of my eye. “I’m fine.”

I get a little emotional every time I witness the affection the twins have for my girlfriend. And the affection she has for them.

I’m such a sap.

It’s been a little over a month since Valerie last came to Texas. Paxter’s been in negotiations to be bought out, and she’s been working hard to take care of the financial side of the potential deal.

When I first heard the news, I was conflicted.

I didn’t want Valerie to be forced out of her CFO position, but I can’t lie and say I wasn’t relieved at the possibility of her having a reason to move back to Texas without me needing to ask.

When we got back together, she’d asked me if I was okay with long distance. And I was. I am. But there’s no denying that things would be easier for us if we lived in the same time zone.

I thought Paxter’s buyout could be the catalyst that led Valerie to return to Texas.

And it was.

Just not in the way I expected.

As it turns out, the company buying Paxter is based out of Dallas. And while they don’t need a second CFO, they’re choosing to keep Paxter operating as a separate entity. As such, they’re going to need someone to be in charge of the financial department, independent of the parent company.

Valerie gladly accepted when they offered her the position. Though, she did ask for my opinion first.

That wasn’t something she needed to do by any means, but it did feel nice to be considered before she made such a big decision.

It’s nice to know Valerie cares about our future as much as I do.

I stride forward as the twins untangle themselves from their former nanny. Valerie oohs and ahhs over the sign, thanking them for making it for her. Andy puffs his chest out in pride.

“Hey, you,” I greet in a low voice.

Green eyes shine as they meet mine. “Hey, yourself. I missed you.”

“I missed you more.” I pull Valerie in for a chaste kiss. I want to do more, but it’ll have to wait until we’re not in front of my kids. “How was the flight?”

“Good.” She smiles. “But I’m glad to be home.”

Home.

Damn right.

I smile back. “Me, too.” I take her hand and lead her to the group.

Carlee and Morgan give her a joint hug. The women grin and laugh as they express how happy they are to have Valerie back in town.

Corey and Dane embrace her separately.

It’s nice that Valerie likes my friends. I like hers, too. We have plans to visit Megan in a couple of weeks so the two can catch up. I’m looking forward to hanging out with the woman who takes credit for me and Valerie being together.

If it wasn’t for her encouragement at that Caribbean resort, she swears Valerie would’ve never given me the time of day.

I’m happy to let Megan claim the credit. I don’t really care who is responsible for us being together. I’m just thankful it all worked out.

“Can we see your new apartment?” Abby looks up at Valerie with wide eyes. She stands beside my girlfriend as she waits for her bag to come around the conveyor belt.

“Sure, but I need to see my dad first.”

Coach Palmer would be here if not for the fact that he’s driving back from Galveston today. The middle-aged man took a well-deserved vacation and spent the last six days on a cruise around the Western Caribbean. Valerie, Abby, Andy, and I are going to meet him for dinner at Jerry’s Smoke Pit later today.

Coach Palmer’s support of Valerie and me dating hasn’t wavered since he gave his blessings after the Super Bowl. Though, he wasn’t too happy when he heard his daughter was thinking of moving back in with me.

The idea had been that Valerie would stay with us for a couple of weeks while she waited for her apartment to be ready, but when the twins started asking if Valerie and I would share a bedroom, I quickly realized it wouldn’t be appropriate.

I want to set a good example for my kids. And that doesn’t include shacking up with a girlfriend or boyfriend.

Jesus… I sound like my parents.

The fact Valerie won’t be moving in with us meant she stayed in California a little longer. The wait sucked. But it was all worth it now that she’s here.

“Oh… okay.” Abby’s shoulders slump.

“Hey, now. Don’t look so disappointed. Waiting will mean that we can go back to your house first and get your swimsuit.”

“Swimsuit?” Andy interjects, joining his sister at Valerie’s side. “Why would we get our swimsuits?”

“So we can go swimming at my apartment’s pool. It’s huge!”

The twins gasp in excitement. “What?” Abby perks up.

“Really?” Andy asks.

“Yes,” Valerie chuckles. “I mean, as long as your dad says it’s alright.”

The twins turn to me simultaneously. “Can we go swimming, Dad?” Andy begs.

“Please,” Abby adds, bouncing on her toes.

I huff a laugh. “Yeah, that’s fine. But only because it’s Valerie’s first day back.” I give my girlfriend a wink.

She winks back.

“Yeah, right.” Andy rolls his eyes. “You’d say yes even if it wasn’t her first day back.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “Oh, you think so?”

“Yes,” Abby speaks for her brother.

“And why is that?”

“Because you love her,” my daughter states without a hint of hesitation. “Duh.”

Breath lodges in my throat. My eyes snap to Valerie’s to gauge her reaction to Abby’s declaration.

We’ve been together for months, and I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I am in love with Valerie Palmer. But I haven’t found the moment to tell her how I feel. There just hasn’t been a good time.

She’s been so busy working in California, and I’ve been focusing on training in the off-season and caring for the twins. I didn’t want to tip the scales of our lives and risk disrupting the happy balance we’ve found by making such a serious declaration.

Just say you’re a coward. No reason for a long-winded explanation.

My subconscious is right.

I am a coward when it comes to Valerie.

But when I see amusement and affection gleaming in her eyes, I suddenly find all the courage I need.

“You’re right,” I tell Abby, but my gaze remains locked on Valerie. “I do love her.”

A pretty blush highlights her cheeks.

Her smile softens just before she utters words that make me feel like the luckiest man on the planet. “I love you too, Carter Jones. More than you’ll ever know.”