Epilogue

EPILOGUE

THREE YEARS LATER

RIPLEY

I puke my guts out in the locker room bathroom for the third day in a row. I mumble to myself in my best deep Quincy voice, "Get your IUD out now. It takes a few months. We want to start trying right after the Olympics. I'll use a condom." Quincy Abbott and his damn condom-repellant super sperm.

I haven't taken a test, but I have zero doubt that I'm pregnant. I'm late, and this is exactly how I felt when I was pregnant with Kaya.

Somehow, I'm pregnant at the Olympics, just like my mother was with me. This kid better be well-behaved. After Kaya, we're owed a good one. That child is the devil incarnate, getting into trouble at every turn, with Thor being her willing accomplice in most of it .

I haven't told Quincy about the likely pregnancy yet, wanting to find a perfect time to do so.

I flush the toilet just as I hear a puking noise in the stall next to me. As I'm washing my hands, Arizona walks out. She wipes her mouth and freezes as she sees me. It's a bit of déjà vu.

I narrow my eyes at her. "Are you—"

At the same time, she asks, "Are you—"

We both nod and then start laughing. "I'm pretty sure I am. I haven't taken a test, but I know."

She smiles. "We found out two weeks ago. We were going to start trying right after the Olympics, but I guess you can't plan these things."

"Us too. How did we get through our teen years without ending up on an episode of Teen Mom ?"

Laughing, she answers, "Yep. Wow. Pregnant together." She squeezes my hand. "This is going to be so much fun."

"It is. I hope my kid is just like…Ryan."

She giggles. Arizona and Layton's daughter, Ryan, is significantly easier than Kaya. She's like a mini adult. I have no doubt she's sitting calmly in the stands with Layton while Kaya is running around like a lunatic, driving Quincy nuts as he chases her.

We walk out of the dugout and onto the field with our hands locked together and tears in our eyes. I turn my head to my best friend. My sister. Technically my sister-in-law, but she's always been a sister to me. "This is the day we've dreamed about together for twenty-seven years. The gold medal game of the Olympics."

She shakes her head in disbelief, looking down at her USA Softball jersey. "I can't believe this is real."

"It is." I blow out a breath. "We have one more game to win. "

She pulls me into her arms. "I love you so much, Rip. I wouldn't be here without you."

I squeeze her back. "Neither of us would be here without the other. Every day for twenty-seven years, we've pushed each other to be better."

She nods. "Let's fucking do this."

"Fuck yes."

As we run out onto the field, I see my mom in the front row, wearing my jersey. Mom smiles as she points to the USA on her jersey. Her running joke for years about switching from a Canadian to a USA jersey for me runs through my mind.

In the row behind her are Layton, Ryan, my in-laws, and two empty seats. I toggle my eyes around until I see Quincy chasing Kaya up and down the stairs. I can't help but giggle. I've done that plenty of times at Quincy's games.

Quincy is still playing ball. He thinks he has a few years left in him, and I agree. Because his wife is in the Olympics, the team agreed to a one-week leave of absence for him to be here. They were able to work things out so that he's only missing one start. He threatened retirement if they didn't allow it.

The Anacondas' season ended a few weeks ago with our fourth straight championship. All the league owners agreed to an earlier season this year with so many of us being on the Olympic team.

It's tied at zero going into the sixth inning. I'm exhausted. The grueling schedule and the pregnancy are catching up with me.

Arizona knows me well. "Six more outs. Muscle up. You've got this. "

I nod. "Doing the best I can. I need the bats to come alive."

As a pitcher, I haven't batted since middle school. My job is to focus on pitching. I leave it to my teammates to provide the offense.

She nods. "I'll take care of business."

I know she will. She's never let me down in twenty-seven years.

After a seeing-eye single up the middle, our left fielder goes all out for a humpback liner down the line, and it gets by her. The run scores. Shit. We're down by one going into the bottom of the sixth.

Arizona leads off the half-inning with a bunt single. We're standing in the dugout cheering for her. Kam is up now. I see the coach give Arizona the sign to steal. That's ballsy and risky, but no one is faster than Arizona Abbott. I love it.

Kam watches the first pitch and Arizona takes off. She dives headfirst into second base just ahead of the tag. We're all going nuts as she expertly wipes the dirt off her uniform.

Kam executes a perfect sacrifice bunt, sending Arizona to third base. We have to plate this run, so we can at least tie the game.

The next batter steps into the box. We need a hit, a sacrifice fly, or a weak groundball to the right side. Either would score her. She has to put the ball in play though.

Unfortunately, she strikes out. We've got two outs now. The only way to bring in Arizona now is if the next batter gets a hit.

Bailey is up. She had a long road to get back into playing shape. I'm so happy she's here. I'm truly happy I get to experience this with all my best friends, but now that we've gotten this far, I can smell the gold medal. It's something my mother wasn't able to accomplish. I want to do this for her as much as I want it for me. And, of course, for all the budding softball players around the world who look up to us.

Bails watches the first two pitches, one being a called strike and one being a ball. She looks cool as a cucumber in there.

Digging her cleats into the dirt, she takes a small practice swing. She gets set for the pitch. We all watch as the pitcher releases the ball. It comes in…and bam ! It's a rocket over the left field wall. Way over the left field wall.

We all start jumping up and down screaming in excitement. Bailey is holding her hands on her helmet in shock as she practically dances around the bases. The crowd is going nuts. We all greet her at home plate, jumping on top of her.

I'm so happy for her. What an epic moment.

After the next batter grounds out, we head to the seventh inning. Three more outs until paydirt. Until we get to fulfill our lifetime goal of winning a gold medal.

Arizona fist-bumps me. "Let's finish this bitch so we can celebrate." She mumbles, "With non-alcoholic beverages."

I giggle as I make my way to the mound. Mom gives me our universal sign to stick with my rise ball and curveball. Always coaching me, even when she's not.

Mom now runs the biggest softball facility on the East Coast. She's turned a small warehouse operation into a successful business that has a mile-long waiting list. She has instructors, strength and conditioning trainers, and several hitting and pitching tunnels. You name it, she does it. Both the Cougars and Anacondas help out when they can. It also gives some of the lesser-known players on the Anacondas a place to work in the off-season. Arizona, Kam, and I are the faces of the team, and we get endorsement offers, but most others don't. I love that they don't have to take odd jobs to make ends meet. They get to work with the next generation of softball players .

Dutton couldn't be here because of the Cougars' schedule, but he and my mom are still going strong. His kids have become like siblings to me. I may not have gained Pierre and Colette Beaumont, but I gained Anderson and Sage Steel.

I see Quincy now sitting next to his dad. Their relationship has grown so much in the past few years. Paul and Pamela make much more of an effort to spend time with Kaya and Ryan, constantly flying back and forth. They're considering retiring and moving to Philly to be near the grandkids. I love Quincy's changed attitude toward them. He's doing his best to understand them, and in turn, they're devoting more time to all of us.

As for Quincy and me, we've never been stronger. My husband has lived up to every promise he made me, showering me with more love, affection, and respect than I could have ever dreamed possible. I'm living my fantasy life.

Kaya is sitting on his lap with a giant lollipop. Oh man, that might keep her still for a bit, but we're going to pay for it later. Her big red curls are more wild than usual. Quincy can't manage them quite as well on his own, but I certainly never mention it.

He whispers something in Kaya's ear, and she giggles. For a man who didn't think he was cut out to be a father, he's just about the best one I've ever seen. I think he's managed to achieve a good balance. While he does have to travel for road games, when he's home, he's truly with us. Kaya wants for absolutely nothing in the father department.

We make eye contact, and he mouths, "Love you," as I make my way to the mound, possibly for the last time.

I subtly blow him a kiss before getting back to the business at hand. I strike out the first two batters. The atmosphere here is electric. We can all smell the gold medal .

Arizona gives me the signal for an outside curveball. I nod and secure the proper grip on the ball. The second I release it, I realize that it's not going to hit the target. It's going to catch too much plate.

The batter swings and connects hard. It's a shot into the five-six hole. Crap. That's going to be a hit.

But it's not.

Kamryn fucking Hart dives and stops the ball from going into the outfield. She gets up on her knees and fires a damn missile to first base.

It's a bang-bang play. All eyes are on the umpire. As if it's in slow motion, he lifts his right fist and signals that she's out.

Arizona and I immediately make eye contact. I think we're in shock that this happened. We did it. The moment we've dreamed of since we were little girls playing in the park together.

She then takes off in a dead sprint toward me with her hands raised in the air and the bigger-than-life Arizona smile. She leaps into my arms, and I catch her.

"We did it, Rip!"

I laugh as the rest of our teammates pile on top of us in celebration.

Once the madness dies down, Arizona heads straight for Layton and Ryan. I'll find Quincy and Kaya in a minute, but there's one stop I need to make first.

I walk toward June St. James, whose face is covered in tears. She holds out her arms for me and I fall into them, my tears matching hers.

I whisper, "Thank you, Mom. I wouldn't be here without you."

"You did it. I'm so proud of you."

" We did it. "

I look up and see Quincy anxiously waiting for me. I pull away from Mom and move toward my husband, who kisses the shit out of me. He has a tendency to do that quite often.

I mumble into his mouth, "I've missed you this week."

We had to stay in the Olympic Village. No spouses allowed. It's been a long week without him. I missed him so much.

He mumbles back, "Congrats on achieving your dream. I can't wait to achieve mine. I'm going to do you tonight with you wearing nothing but your gold medal."

I smile as my body shivers in anticipation. "Can we do it on the field?"

He gives me his sexy crooked smile and subtly nods.

I see that Arizona brought Ryan onto the field, so I reach for Kaya. I notice lollipop bits stuck in her hair. Quincy chuckles. "Your kid is a handful."

I pull him close to me again until his ear is by my lips. "We've got another one on the way."

His eyes meet mine and his whole face lights up. "You are?"

I nod. " We are. I'm almost certain."

"I'm not missing a single day this time."

I smile. "I know."

Kaya and Ryan run around the field with the team in celebration. Happy and carefree. I see Quincy and Layton snapping a million pictures. I hope the girls will one day truly cherish this memory.

I'm posing for pictures when I see Kaya pick up my glove and Ryan pick up Arizona's. Kaya winds up and fires a pitch at Ryan. Oh my god. She threw it hard. She's going to hurt Ryan. But Ryan catches it and then they imitate mine and Arizona's exact celebration, with Ryan jumping into Kaya's arms.

Arizona and I smile at each other. And the cycle begins again.

THE END