Epilogue

EPILOGUE

SUTTON

TWO YEARS LATER

The crowd was deafening as we walked into the arena. I’d never get used to that feeling, the way the chants and cheers vibrated your whole body and not just your ears. Luca lived for it. He didn’t miss a single home game if he could help it.

We’d found our balance over the past two years. The Mix Up had firmly established a home in both Seattle and Sparrow Falls. And thanks to an incredible managerial staff, I was thinking of adding a third bakery in Portland. As for the three of us, we spent school years in Seattle and summers and as many vacations as possible back home in Sparrow Falls. Because that’s what it would always be. Home.

In the house Cope had built with his family in mind, but the one he had made ours. As my hand drifted to my still-flat belly, I couldn’t help but wonder which room we’d put the little one in. Just thinking about it sent a fresh wave of nerves swimming through me.

But the timing couldn’t have been better. Because win or lose in this last game of the finals, Cope was retiring. He’d done exactly what he’d vowed to do. He’d made hockey his. He’d rediscovered the love of the game. And through that, he was playing the best he ever had.

Some of his teammates jokingly called him Gramps, but I also knew they were sad to be losing their team captain, the one who’d brought them back after the revelations about Marcus had almost ripped them apart. While Marcus was serving life in prison without the possibility of parole, the Sparks had begun to rebuild. And now, they were tighter than ever.

I glanced up at the box where half the Colson crew was positioned. Fallon waved wildly, doing a dance in the window that made me laugh. I spotted Kye behind her, keeping a close eye—like always. Keely was near the window, too, taking in all the action, and I knew Trace had to be close by. Just like I knew Arden and Linc were in there somewhere, along with the others.

Linc had given Cope the hard sell, wanting him to come coach for the Sparks. But Cope had other plans in mind. He’d bought the rink in Roxbury from Arnie and planned to be the coach of Luca’s team and others right at home. There would be no more crazy travel or endless interviews.

It would just be…us. As it was always meant to be.

“Wooooo, doggy,” Lolli hollered as the rink came into view. “I’m ready to see my guys demolish the Lions.”

Luca laughed. “Bloodthirsty, Supergran. I like it.”

He’d taken on Keely’s nickname for her great-grandmother, just like he called Nora Grams. It brought them both great joy, but nothing compared to how Cope’s eyes lit up when Luca called him Dad.

Nora’s hand slid into mine. “You’ve got the poster?”

I held it up in its rolled form, more nerves settling in. “Is this a horrible idea? Maybe I should tell him at home.”

“No way,” Thea said, cutting in behind me. “Win or lose, this is going to be the best prize of the night.”

“Win, Thorn,” Shep corrected her. “They’re going to win.”

Thea rolled her eyes. “I’m pretty sure Shep has gotten more superstitious than the entire team. ”

“For the love of God, please tell me you’re washing your drawers,” Anson muttered.

Shep flipped him off. “Yes, I am. But I sure as hell made sure I had my lucky hat for tonight.”

I glanced over at his Sparks hat with Cope’s number in bold font.

“I prefer the one Kye made me,” Rhodes chimed in, adjusting the brim of her ballcap that read, I KNEW REAPER WHEN HE WAS TERRIFIED ET WAS GOING TO KIDNAP HIM .

I chuckled as I slid into the first row of seats. “It’s good to make sure his ego is in check.”

“You sure you’re good down here?” Anson asked.

I appreciated his concern. The crowd was definitely rowdier tonight, but there was only one place I wanted to watch Cope play, and that was from as close as possible.

“Mom can hang, Uncle Anson, don’t worry,” Luca assured him.

Anson waited for my nod of assurance. After everything that had happened with the Petrovs and Marcus, all the Colson crew had become protective of me and Luca. Anson especially. His gruff care meant the world.

“I’m good,” I told him. “Ready to watch Cope win.”

“Dang straight,” Lolli called from down the row. “I promised the team some of my special brownies if they win.”

“Please, do not get the entire team suspended because they failed their drug tests,” Shep chastised.

“You sound like Trace,” Lolli harumphed.

I just shook my head. There was no family like this one. And no other I’d want as mine.

The overhead lights dimmed, and music erupted, along with a light show. Luca grabbed my hand, something he didn’t do as often these days, and tugged me down to his level. “Dad knows we love him no matter what, right?”

My heart squeezed. “He knows, baby. We tell him every single game, and I think we told him triple this time.”

Luca bobbed his head in a nod. “More than bees love honey? ”

“More than bees love honey,” I echoed, fingering the locket at my neck, the one I rarely took off.

His eyes reddened. “He’s the best dad I could’ve hoped for.”

My eyes filled. Damn these hormones . “I know.”

The clock counted down in a threatening staccato beat. Eight seconds. Seven. Six.

Cope slid between two players, slipping the puck between the legs of one of them. He caught it on the other side, and I held my breath. My ears rang as deafening screams sounded around me. But there was only Cope, the puck, and the ice.

He faked left, then skated right. No one remained between him and the goalie.

Five seconds. Four.

Cope was only feet away.

Three seconds. Two.

Cope shifted his weight, his stick moving in a combination of movements I could now identify as a wrist shot. The goalie didn’t have a prayer. It hit the top left corner of the net, and the siren sounded. The crowd lost it. Screaming, jumping, hugging.

The Sparks poured onto the ice, collapsing around Cope in one giant pile-on hug. Tears streamed down my face as I felt their joy, the culmination of all their hard work, of Cope’s dream coming true.

It only took a minute or two for Cope to extricate himself from the team. He instantly skated toward us.

“Mom! The poster!” Luca shouted.

I grabbed it from where it rested at my feet and unrolled it. Luca helped me press it to the glass. We’d drawn it together—with Arden’s help since she was the true artist. Big bubble letters read, HOW ABOUT ADDING ONE MORE JERSEY TO THE TEAM, DADDY COLSON ? And we’d drawn a jersey for Cope, me, Luca, and a tiny one for Baby Colson.

I watched as Cope slowed, taking in the poster. His jaw dropped, his gaze instantly cutting to me. “ You’re sure? ”

The words weren’t audible, but I read them clear as day. We’d been trying for the past year with no luck. Even had an appointment scheduled with a specialist for next week. But then, a few days ago, I’d realized I was late. More than two months late. After a quick trip to the doctor, I knew for certain. But I’d wanted to save the reveal for this moment.

“ I’m sure, ” I mouthed back.

Cope shot forward as I lowered the poster. He tugged his gloves free and dropped them to the ice, then pressed his hands against the glass. I mirrored one, while Luca mirrored the other, just like we always did.

“I love you,” he yelled as loudly as he could.

I grinned through the tears. My whole life was in this arena. And we’d all gotten to watch Cope get two dreams, the Cup and a baby. There’d never been anything sweeter.

Looking for more of Cope and Sutton? Get an exclusive bonus scene by TAPPING HERE.

Be sure to keep reading for an excerpt of Arden and Lincoln’s story, Beautiful Exile , a brother’s best friend, billionaire, small town romance. Curious about Holt? Get his and Wren’s story, Whispers of You by tapping HERE.

Want to get to know the rest of the Colson Crew? Get Rhodes and Shep’s stories by tapping the links below!

Sparrow Falls

Fragile Sanctuary

Delicate Escape

Broken Harbor

Beautiful Exile

Chasing Shelter

Secret Haven