Epilogue

" Come live in my heart and pay no rent." —Samuel Lover

Five years later

Time Magazine

Fresh off his second Stanley Cup win, Denny Mellon has catapulted to an unprecedented level of fame, thanks to his talent on and off the ice. In fact, he's entered the single-moniker name status. Just Mellon will do.

Out Magazine

Mile High City's Number 11 is flying high! Even if you're not a hockey fan, you've probably heard of Mellon. The twenty-seven-year-old star famously came out as bisexual five years ago and is rumored to have secretly wed his partner, developer Hank Cunningham.

Travel + Leisure

The Four Forest area is Vermont's greatest secret. Quaint towns along the winding rounds through picturesque forests provide an enchanting backdrop. The newly revitalized Wood Hollow is a must see! Its transformation from mill town to vibrant community is thanks in part to mill owner Hank Cunningham and sponsorship from some of hockey's biggest stars.

People

Hockey star marries long-time partner! Exclusive pics coming!

Hank

The stalls had been cleaned, the horses fed and watered. There were no other chores, but I was itching to do something. I could pull another few bales of hay down, maybe take Denny's new colt out for a quick walk along the trail.

"Don't even think about it," Denny warned, stepping into the barn. "Everyone's waiting for us, including Grams and your dad. Let's not be late."

I tipped my hat back to deliver a proper scowl. "The guy wins the Stanley Cup again, and suddenly he's Mr. Bossy."

"You know it," Denny snorted. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pressed a chaste kiss on my cheek. "Hey, this is your moment. You did this, and you should be so fucking proud. I know I am."

I lifted his fingers to my lips and turned his palm up to trace the letters tattooed on his wrist—HCDM VI XXX—our initials and June 30, the day we'd secretly tied the knot. Well, okay, it wasn't a complete secret.

We'd invited our closest friends and family to the small party at the barn to celebrate Denver's epic Stanley Cup win in game seven against Ontario. It wasn't the only gathering in Elmwood to celebrate the exciting event. There'd been parades, block parties on Main Street in all four towns in the Four Forest area, and a semi-private party at the diner. But we'd wanted to host one of our own for a more intimate group and surprise them with a brief round of "I dos."

There was no press, no outside photographers or videographers. Just thirty of our favorite people. Was it really a surprise? Doubtful.

Denny came out officially at the beginning of his second season in the NHL. He didn't confirm that he was seeing anyone at the time, just that he was bi and wanted to be a role model for kids who might be struggling with their sexuality. In his words, it was his turn to step up and be present.

"I want to do this now, when I'm at the beginning of my career, playing great hockey. I want to be visible. I want kids to know they can literally be anything they set their minds to. Being bi isn't a weakness. It's just who I am. I'm driven, I'm competitive, I play hockey, and my goal is to win the cup at least twice before I'm thirty. And I'm going to do it. Any questions?"

Denver won the Stanley Cup that year and the next, so…it was safe to say, the hotshot meant business. Denny was Denver's franchise and one of the biggest stars in the league. His career trajectory was everything sports analysts, coaches, and hockey fans had predicted from the start. He read the ice like a book and seemingly scored at will, putting on a show in front of sold-out arenas across North America.

He'd been a guest on a medley of late-night talk shows, hosted SNL once, and had given commencement speeches at a few universities, as well as Elmwood High. The man who'd guarded his words like a miser now gave them freely. He spoke about his struggles with anxiety, depression, and grief in the hopes of helping others. That was his mantra: Give back. Be there for someone else. Pay it forward.

His energy and dedication were humbling. Watching him grow into a true superstar was an incredible honor. And to know I was the one he looked for in the crowd or signaled to after every interview with a reporter was…well, kind of fucking beautiful.

We'd split our time between Denver and Elmwood as evenly as possible over the past five years. I went to his games when I was in Denver and traveled to away games when I was able to, usually with friends. If a nosy reporter asked if he was dating anyone, Denny gave a standard, "My private life is private." And that was fine by me.

We didn't advertise our relationship, but most of the folks in Elmwood knew we were together. I mean, we shared a house, horses, and even went into business together. More about that in a second.

Getting married hadn't been on the agenda, but he'd come home to Elmwood after a series of games in Canada, worn out and sore. He'd been quieter than usual, pensive. We'd sat in front of the fireplace one night with our dog, George, curled at Denny's feet, and he'd blurted, "I want to marry you."

Romantic, right?

We discussed a quick trip to town hall, but ultimately, we wanted our favorite people to be there, especially Grams and my dad. Grams was ninety-two and showed no signs of slowing down, but my father wasn't doing as well. His trip here this week would probably be his last. But he'd insisted, and I was glad.

I kissed Denny and nodded. "You're right. Let's do this."

We drove up the hill, our truck hugging the curving road leading to Wood Hollow. The copse of hollowed out trees thinned as we approached Belvedere, giving a sweet view of the new homes built near the lake. We continued along the widened road past refurbished lamplights and the quaint fountain donated by Pinecrest. Crisp black awnings covered the colorful storefronts.

I smoothed my palm on my khakis, idly noting the line in front of the new Rise and Grind.

"Are you nervous?" Denny asked, reaching for my hand.

"Yes, and I don't know why. It's just a formality. A silly pat on the back with pictures."

He snorted. "I don't think anyone here would agree with you. Wow. Geez, Hank. This is amazing."

Denny parked the truck in my space at the mill and bumped my elbow as we headed toward the red ribbon draped across Main Street. I stopped at the sidewalk and gazed out at the sea of familiar faces who'd gathered for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the revitalized township of Wood Hollow.

This was the result of the efforts I'd spearheaded five years ago to raise money to rebuild Wood Hollow. Denny and I had started a foundation to revamp parks, schools, and infrastructure. There was a real market now, a yoga studio, a ceramics shop, a bakery, a diner, and a coffee shop. The new construction had brought a flood of new citizens, but the foundation gave the old-timers a say in the renovations.

Not everyone loved the influx of visitors, but the majority agreed that this old town had new life, thanks to the mill…and maybe me. It hadn't been easy and this wasn't the project I'd set my sights on, but like Denny, I wanted to give back, so I'd rolled up my sleeves and gotten to work.

Denny linked his pinky with mine. "Hey, I have another proposition for you."

"Oh?"

"I'll let you hold my hand if you kiss me on Main Street."

I smiled at my man. "But someone might see, sweetheart."

"Let 'em. You in?" he taunted.

I brushed my mouth over his and kissed him. "I love you."

"I love you too."

My heart swelled in my chest as he slipped his hand in mine. Within twenty-four hours, I had a feeling the world would know their favorite hotshot hockey player was married to a guy. I didn't mind at all.

I was proud of us…the things we'd overcome, the life we'd built. This was our truth, our big love story.

Our forever.

Thank you for reading Denny and Hank's story!