Epilogue

TY

One Year Later

In all the years I attended comic book conventions, I never dreamed I'd be selling my own comics at one. Yet here I am.

Slater and I have a table at the very convention where I met Craig one year ago. The sea of people and the volume of noise and chaos is the same, but so much else is different compared to my life back then.

The table for the superhero foundation is beside ours. I've been going back and forth between the tables, telling people about the foundation when the other volunteers are occupied, and then coming back to my table and chatting about comic books with customers and Slater and Noah. It's been a whirlwind of a day, but I'm happy.

Noah's playing the part of proud boyfriend for Slater, talking about the books, about literacy, and being a pro at selling our merch. The brightly colored tees, hats, mugs, and bags are flying off the tables as fast as copies of the original superhero series and the special edition we created to raise money for the foundation .

My own boyfriend has been in New York City for the past four days with Cody, Patrick, and Devon, opening for The Fury. I'd have gone with them if we didn't have the convention. Falling Midnight's new album is climbing the charts. They worked so hard on it and I'm thrilled for the guys. I've kept my promise to Craig about being their number one super fan. He smiles so big whenever I wear one of the hats or tees with their logo.

Slater hands a bulging bag to a customer who purchased one of everything, then turns to me. "It's surreal being back here."

"I know." I straighten the display copies of our books. "Being on the other side of the table is a different perspective."

Noah steps around to the customer side then raises his phone. "Lean in, you two. Smile."

Leaning into Slater, I smile for the camera. "Watch out for random boxes doubling as tripping hazards."

"Oh, don't worry, I did. But I'll check again." He does an exaggerated survey of the floor around him before taking the photos. We moved the boxes to behind our chairs instead of under the table to make sure there's no way a customer could trip.

Though I love living here in LA with Craig and his crew, I've missed having these two guys down the hall from me. I'm glad we have an entire summer together. Standing, I hold out my hand for his phone. "Let me take one of you guys."

Noah passes the phone to me. I squeeze between the tables and take his place in front of it and wait for him to claim the chair I vacated. Once he's seated, Slater wraps an arm around his shoulders and they lean in so their temples are touching. It's very cute.

I take a few pictures. "You guys look great, so I hope the photos do too. Let me back up, get a wider angle so there's more of the convention in the shot."

Moving fast, I back up a few steps, and slam into something large and solid. In a split-second, last year's collision with the hard table and crashing into Craig's display flashes through my mind. Adrenaline spikes, and panic rolls through my gut.

Hands wrap around my shoulders from behind, stopping my fall, and steadying me.

"Careful, Ty." Craig's murmured voice hovers by my ear. Strong hands slip down to the bare skin below my T-shirt sleeve.

A thrill races through my body, sending my heart rate soaring and goosebumps dotting my skin.

I spin around.

Craig stands before me. As dashing as ever, clad in blue jeans, boots, and a T-shirt with my superhero's shield on his chest, he smiles. "Hi."

"You're back! You weren't supposed to be back until late tonight." I push into his arms and my whole being relaxes when they come around me, wrapping me in his strength and his cinnamon scent.

He presses kisses to my temple, cheek, then lips. "I missed you. So I hopped on an earlier flight."

"I'm happy you did. I'm not used to sleeping without you." My hands roam his back, and I pull him in, snuggling him closer to me. "How were the fans with the new song?"

"Enthusiastic." With his arm around me, he walks us to our table. "They loved it. Adding it to the set list was a good move."

We round the table and he greets Slater and Noah, then says hello to the foundation's volunteers. With our busy schedules, life often feels chaotic and like we're pulled in multiple directions. But once a month, we don costumes for the hospital visits. Craig's prediction several months ago was right, the kids love seeing Loki, and the other villains mixed in with the superheroes. In addition to playing the villains, I've been Robin to Craig's Batman twice, and Deadpool to his Wolverine.

Craig slips his arms around my waist and grins at Falling Midnight's logo on my chest. "How has today been?"

"Really good. We sold a lot of books. Slater and I were working on sketches for the new series yesterday and this morning. I'll show you later." I pet the tail of the dragon tattoo peeking out from beneath his short sleeve, something I've taken to doing whenever we stand like this. "I'll have plenty to keep me busy on the tour bus."

"Will I be on your list?" His gaze tender, he strokes his hand through my hair. "I plan on keeping you occupied. There are things we need to discuss."

"Such as?" I lean into the caresses.

"You and me and a vacation once the tour ends."

The tour kicks off next weekend with Falling Midnight playing several shows in California. Slater and Noah will be hanging out in Celek's beach house, which Cody and Devon still rent from the Bedlam captain, relaxing for a week before renting their own tour bus and joining us. There's a rumor Celek might come too. I'm not sure how Devon will react to that. The summer tour should be interesting.

Drawing in Craig's cinnamon scent, I hook my finger through his belt loop and rest my head on his shoulder. "I like the idea of a vacation. We've been working hard."

"So hard. Need to make sure we play hard too."

"I like that even more."

Slater thumps Craig on the shoulder. "For tomorrow's trip to the hospital with the foundation, are you sure you want Noah and me dressed as the hero and villain from our book instead of other superhero characters?"

"Definitely. I think the kids will enjoy it. They loved the book with them as the heroes."

Eyes twinkling, Noah picks up his discarded cup of tea. "I don't know how I get cast in the villain costumes when we do this. I think I'm a good guy."

"The best guy." Slater presses his hand to the center of Noah's chest, over his heart. At that spot beneath his shirt, is a heart tattoo with the couple's initials. I saw it a few times when he took his shirt off while I stayed with them. Noah got it as a grand gesture, public acknowledgement of his relationship and feelings for Slater, and thanks to the cameras recording post-game interviews while the players are halfway out of their gear, that tattoo is one of the most well known in the hockey world. "You're definitely superhero material."

They're sweet, gazing at each other with so much love. And when I look over at Craig and catch the curve of his gorgeous mouth as he gazes at me, like I'm the center of his world, I know anyone who sees us can feel our love. I wiggle my eyebrows at him and blow him a kiss. "I'm looking forward to being the Joker to your Batman again."

"I wanted to be Batman for sentimental reasons." Craig grabs me by the waist and tugs me to him. "I met you dressed as him a year ago, and you changed my life."

The image of Craig in the costume and then the two of us in the Batmobile flash into my mind. "Things like meeting you and driving in that tricked out car didn't happen to me. Not until you. Now, I never know what's coming, but I know we'll ride through it together." With a heady rush of anticipation for our future, I link my arms around his neck. "I love you."

Craig smiles and brushes his finger along my cheek. " Love you, too. You crashed into my life, into my heart, and every day you make me feel like I can do anything, because I have you by my side. You say I'm your superhero, and Ty, you're definitely mine."

"You always make me feel like one. Super fans of each other, superheroes to each other, whatever the label, I'll take it. And I'll take you. Forever." My body buzzing and my heart full, I pull him for a kiss.

Thank you for reading Ty and Craig's story! If you enjoyed it, I would be so grateful if you would leave a review. Reviews, even one line long, help other readers find my books.

For Slater and Noah's romance (Ty makes an appearance!), check out Scoring Slater , part of the Pride of the Bedlam series. It's also part of the multi-author Hockey Allies Bachelor Bid series.

Here's the blurb:

Slater Knox is known around the league as the tough enforcer for the Buffalo Bedlam. His popular social media accounts and open relationship with the fans have made him one of the most beloved players in hockey. They've also earned him a spot in the All-Star game, and an invitation to be a bachelor at a charity auction. For all his living in the spotlight, he's hiding a secret... He's in love with his best friend and keeping quiet grows harder each day .

Noah Alzado is the newest addition to the team, and has spent the last few months joined at the hip with his best friend Slater. Slater is everything Noah wants, but won't let himself have. They are best friends, roommates, and teammates, that's three complications too many. Plus, Noah guards his private life as fiercely as Slater shares his own. His best option is to keep his head down, help his team win, and not do anything stupid... like kissing Slater again.

Everything comes to a head during All-Star weekend, where the best in the league compete for ultimate bragging rights, and at the auction, where temptation is hot enough to melt the ice. The chemistry between Slater and Noah is scorching, but can they lower their defenses enough to make a play for love?