Epilogue

EPILOGUE

MIKAYLA

F ive months later…

"Come on, CK, wearing a Seattle Revenge jersey will not take away from your love of the Penguins, I promise. They're not even playing them, so no one will blame you for supporting your future brother-in-law. Plus, didn't Revenge coach play for your Pens?" I winked. Behind me, my bestie Delinda laughed, then covered her mouth with her hand.

Ryan snaked his arm around my waist and dragged me closer as we entered the arena. "Brother-in-law, huh? And yes, Max Vaughn was an All Star for the Pens. Five years straight."

"Even if you weren't incredibly addicted to me," I licked his ear with a pout, smirking when he growled in response, "I know that hockey is your third love, Bennington."

"Third?"

"Yep. Me, racing, then hockey."

His smirk melted my insides and had me searching for an abandoned hallway. But, alas, my little brother was in the playoffs, and cheering him on overrode any horny fantasies I had of public-ish sex. For now, anyway.

Delinda rolled her eyes. "Get a room. Or hallway. Maybe a pool house?"

"Ha ha," I quipped, and dragged Ryan behind me. Ray, at least that's what his name tag read, motioned for us to follow him to where our tickets were with the rest of the families. There was no way I was going to watch my little brother play in his first playoff from some stuffy suite. Mom and Harrison were in the suite, but they loved all that pomp and circumstance. Plus, country star Rhylan Morgan was supposed to make an appearance after singing the anthem, along with Skylar Coulson, and my mother might be his biggest fan. I knew she wouldn't pass up a chance to be in the same room with him.

Poor Harrison. I hoped the food was fabulous, at least.

"Montreal is going to be a tough opponent, especially with Shaw and Abernell. They've had a great season," Ryan said, as we stood for the anthem.

"Shh." I elbowed him to be quiet. After Skylar and Rhylan finished the most beautiful rendition of the anthem ever, I added, "Shaw is a dick. The guy gives me the ick."

Delinda nodded next to me, shoving a soft pretzel in her mouth as the team lined up for the puck drop. "I am so glad Mason LeCavalier never joined his ‘buddy' in Montreal. Guy needs an attitude adjustment, but no one will give it to him."

Two periods and nineteen minutes later, I jumped up and down, pulling Ryan's poor arm out of its socket. He grinned as Delinda and I screamed our heads off.

"That's my baby brother!!"

Ryan yanked me closer. "And my future brother-in-law. Because I need you to say yes, Starshine." He held up a bough of mistletoe in front of my face, a sparkling diamond nestled in its depths.

I grinned. "I need you to ask, CK."

"Marry me?"

The Naughty Elf high-fived Nice Elf as I jumped into his arms. I was too busy saying yes to notice anything until the entire arena fell quiet. I slid down Ryan's body, only to see my baby brother laid out on the ice.

Silent and still.

A single scream filled the air as my heart fell into my stomach, and my knees gave out.