Epilogue

brOOKLYNN

GAME DAY

ONE YEAR LATER

Blocked. Jumping to my feet, I throw my hands in the air and scream my head off. The horn blares and that's the end of the game. Forrest did it. He played in his first NHL game, and he did amazing.

Ayden and Karlie flank my sides, screaming and cheering as well. My parents are in a suite up above, no doubt enjoying the delicious snacks up there. But I had to be down here. I had to smell the ice, feel the cold, and watch my man absolutely kill this game.

And he did

I just hope it leads to his dream. He's worked so hard and poured everything he has inside of himself into his training, side jobs, and a newfound desire to succeed in life. I am so proud of him.

My heart races as the people around me, thousands of them, scream and cheer for the team. Although, in my heart, they're cheering for just Forrest. Because that's the only person I'm screaming for right now.

He turns toward me, his eyes find mine, and then he holds his stick in the air. Tears fill my eyes. This is it. He's made it. I don't know if it will lead to anything at all, but it is a step in the right direction, and now he has been seen.

And that is all he needs. He has the ability and drive. He just needs to be seen. Ayden reaches out, taking my hand in hers, and squeezes. "He did it," she whispers.

Turning to look at her, I give her a grin. "He did it," I agree.

I look down at my ring, and my lips curve up into a grin. In a few months, we're going to be married, and our lives will be forever intertwined. I can't wait. My mom and I have spent the past year planning that day.

It's going to be elegant and calm.

It's going to be intimate. Only sixty guests, mostly family and some friends. We decided to do it small but go all out. We're even going to have fireworks at the end of the evening. Forrest's parents were invited, but they've already sent their decline back in the mail.

Watching as the guys skate off the ice and head toward the locker room, I gather my purse, then head toward the suite where my parents are hanging out. Ayden, Karlie, and I make our way up to the top of the stadium.

My parents are waiting for us with glasses of champagne. I can't begin to describe how amazing they have been. They have accepted Forrest completely and wholly into our family. He and my dad even hang out together without me. They've truly become friends.

"That was wonderful," my mom calls out as soon as we walk into the room.

It was wonderful. Smiling, I hold the glass in the air. The others do the same. "To Forrest and his dreams coming true," I toast.

The glasses clink together, and we all take a sip, but then my dad clears his throat. Turning my head, I look at him, arching a brow as I watch him and wait for whatever it is that is clearly on his mind.

He shakes his head but doesn't speak right away. When he does, my breath hitches at his words. I know my dad loves Forrest. He's really enjoyed having another man around the house and in the family.

"That man's dreams came true the moment he met you. Don't you ever forget that. This," he says, lifting his hand, "it's a secondary pleasure, but the way he looks at you, I know you are the main dream."

Ayden sniffles behind me, but my dad doesn't even look at her. Instead, his gaze flicks to my mom's, and he holds her attention for a moment. "The same way my dreams came true the moment I met your mother," he murmurs.

God.

I want Forrest to look at me the exact way my father looks at my mother. There is a moment of silence in which we're all mesmerized by the way my parents are looking at one another. Then my mom breaks eye contact with my father, and her gaze finds mine.

"It's true," she says, her voice low and whispery. "Forrest adores you. This, the game, this world is without a doubt the icing on the cake."

Before I can say anything else, my phone rings in my hand. When I look down at the screen, my lips curve up into a smile. It's him. He's FaceTiming me. I slide my thumb across the screen, and then I'm looking into his beautiful face.

"We did it, honey," he calls out.

I almost ask why we ? But then he continues. "I couldn't have done any of this without you. Thank you, Brooklynn, for being by my side. Always."

"I love you," I hiccup.

He chuckles and sinks his white teeth into his bottom lip. "Yeah, honey. I love you more than words could ever say. You wanna go celebrate?"

I absolutely want to go celebrate… together… in bed. But my parents are standing a few feet away, so I don't say that, and before I can think of something parent appropriate to say, my dad chimes in.

"We're going out for drinks."

Forrest's eyes widen, and then his lips curve up into a smirk. "Drinks it is," he says.

That is exactly what we do. Karlie, Ayden, my parents, Forrest, and I all go out for drinks and food because playing hockey for several hours has made Forrest ravenous. Then we all head our separate ways, except for me and Forrest. We head straight to the little house we bought.

A small three-bedroom, two-bathroom, single-story place three blocks away from where we met. Three blocks away from our old roommates. A little place to start our lives together once we're married.

A perfect little dream come true.