47. Epilogue - Lola

"Oh, this is perfect!" I gasp, grabbing a onesie from the shelf and holding it up to Alec, who rolls his eyes and glances over at Levi. Levi, who already has a basket full of clothes for the baby, merely shrugs.

"Levi," Alec says, gesturing at the onesie in my hand. "You're not even going to try and stop her?"

Despite his protests, Levi has fallen head over heels in love with Alec and is living out his own love story back in Las Vegas while I've been living mine here.

"No," he replies, barely glancing up at me as he places the basket on the floor and holds a pink shirt in one hand and a blue shirt in the other. "There are way too many cute outfits to put together and not enough time."

After winning the Stanley Cup, Devon took me away for a week. We spent our time in a cabin in the mountains, just talking and planning out our future. Devon was clear that he wanted to be a dad but would respect whatever decision I made.

I haven't always wanted to be a mother, but I felt the desire rise up in me the more I talked to Devon. Part of growing up with less-than-attentive parents means you struggle to picture yourself in that role, but I have plenty of good role models now. I can watch Ellie and Grey or any of the other hockey girls.

"What time are you meeting Devon?" Alec asks, taking another sip of his drink.

"Oh, shit," I curse, tossing the onesie in my hand into the basket and checking my phone. If I don't leave soon, I'm going to be late. "I have to go. See you guys for dinner later?"

"Of course," Alec says, smiling and planting a kiss on my cheek before I wave at them, grab the basket, and head for the register.

Alec and Levi have been staying in Burlington for a few weeks, spending the summer and off-season with us. It's been tons of barbecues and picnics with the other players and their families. Burlington is beautiful in the summer, and it was an easy choice to move here from New York City. Devon and I agreed it's the perfect place to raise a kid.

Our kid.

When I reach Stratton Stadium, the sun is shining brightly overhead, and the streets are bustling with people exploring the city, dipping into each shop for a brief air-conditioned respite before heading back out to the street.

A local cafe advertises a triple berry lemonade, and I make a note to try it before the end of the summer. There's another baby clothes boutique on this road, and I snap a photo of it, sending a picture to Levi and Alec.

When I get to the arena, the security guard outside grants me access, smiling at me and asking how my day has been. Even though I'm already late to meet Devon, I make a point to stop and chat with the security guard, making conversation for a few minutes.

Once I'm inside, I find Devon quickly as he's engulfed in several young kids climbing up and down his body and hanging from his arms and legs.

"Oh, hey, darling," he says, his face lighting up when he sees me.

"Hi," I say, unable to ignore the joy that bursts in my chest when I see him like this, surrounded by kids and in his element.

After our reunion at the Stanley Cup, the owner of the Vipers personally called Devon to congratulate him on the win. When Devon mentioned losing the right to use the stadium over the summer, the owner was appalled at the management team's choices and said Devon could rent it whenever he wanted for the free youth camps. Now Devon has a beer with the guy once a week, and they chat about new ideas for serving the youth in Burlington.

Seeing Devon achieve his dream, I'd decided I wasn't done, either, so I asked Penelope to come on as my agent, and she helped me reach out to other publishers. One of them—one even bigger than Harlot—offered me a substantial deal. I practically screamed when Penelope told me. Looks like my career isn't over. Not by a long shot.

When Devon and I head out of the stadium, walking arm-in-arm, someone squeals before making her way over to me nervously.

"Hi, um, sorry—are you Lola Burke?"

"I am," I say, turning to her and smiling. She looks young, maybe in her early twenties, and her smile is infectious. "And you are…?"

"Daisy," she answers excitedly. "Would you be willing to sign my book, please?"

She holds out a copy of Cheap Shot , my latest romance, which features a best friend who betrays the main character by ripping off her idea for a TV show. Of course, the main romance is between a scriptwriter and a hockey player when she has to scramble and come up with a new idea—one featuring a hockey team.

"Of course," I answer, trying to keep tears from coming to my eyes. A fan asking for an autograph is usually enough to make me emotional, but even more so now with the hormones coursing through my body. "To Daisy?"

"Right!" she says, bouncing a bit with her excitement. "I can't wait for the next one."

"Me, either," I reply, winking at her. "I hope you like it."

She thanks me, then squeals again when she returns to her group of friends, who are all huddled outside the little bookshop I visited the first time I came to Burlington. They carry me on their Local Authors shelf now, and I stop in regularly to sign books for them.

"So," Devon says when we're walking down the street to his car. "Did you get anything good while you were out shopping today?"

"Well, Levi got some stuff he would like you to grill," I say, grinning up at him. "But other than that, I just got a onesie."

"Oh yeah?" he says, eyes shining. "Let's see it."

When we reach the car, I set the bag in the backseat and reach in, pulling out the onesie and holding it up to him. Devon bursts out laughing, and I grin down at the St. Louis Blues logo at the center of it.

"Why would they even sell that here?" Devon comments, rolling his eyes.

"They probably updated their stock when I moved to town," I say, grinning as he rounds the car, hooks an arm around my back, and kisses me until I back up against the car.

"I'd better keep an eye on the nursery," Devon murmurs when he finally pulls back, his eyes searching my face.

"Oh, don't worry about that," I tell him with a laugh. "It's going to be pink, of course."

"Of course," he says, smiling before leaning down and pressing his lips to mine again.

The sun is shining over Burlington, and our baby is on the way. I make a mental note to send Melissa a thank-you note for her fake dating scheme because, without it, I wouldn't be getting these kisses from Devon for the rest of my life.

THE END.