Epilogue

Chloe

I almost can't believe this is my life. Then I remember that I paid my dues and worked for something better. This isn't dumb luck or the result of someone handing me everything. I moved my whole life to Tampa, went out on a limb and created my own hockey league, and let a man back into my heart. That takes courage, and I like to think that fate smiles upon the courageous. Or fate just really loves love.

I stand by the rink and stretch before my private lesson, moving through the dynamic warm-ups that have become imperative for me before I head out on the ice. Just demonstrating the drills in practice and skating around helping the kiddos has led to a few minor injuries on my part. Kaitlyn told me all about her shoulder issues when she hit perimenopause, so you bet your ass I'm stretching.

Nikolai comes with me to practice quite a bit now and supports my league every way he can. Just thinking about the last month while I stretch has me smiling like a fool. Nikolai's made an effort to prioritize our relationship and my career, and like everything he puts his mind to, it's all flourishing. I spend the night with him when Ayana is with her mom, but head home to my duplex when she's staying with Nikolai. The two deserve alone time together and I don't mind having some of my own space too. I lived with one man for two decades. I think a solid year of living on my own is a healthy way to start something new.

"I didn't start it!"

I hear muffled voices coming from the nearby offices. That sounds suspiciously like Bobby, pleading innocence after he's caused a ruckus.

"He's a rookie, Rhodes!" I wince, recognizing the new coach's voice. He sounds pissed. "You're a veteran player and you haze a new guy? What the fuck? Did you honestly think that would help the team gel right before the season gets going? Oh, I get it. You didn't think at all."

"Coach, I swear I was just joking around with Mac and he got his panties in a bunch about it. I absolutely did not intend to turn it into a fist fight."

My heart starts racing. Bobby always skated on thin ice when my dad was the coach, but the two had a bit of an understanding. Bobby toned down the fighting as much as he could, and Dad spent a lot of time coaching Bobby about behavior. Coach Marsh doesn't sound like he's as understanding. Which sucks, because despite all his goofy behavior, Bobby's a good guy and I like him.

"I can't fucking babysit you, Rhodes. Get your shit together now, or you'll find yourself riding out your contract on the bench."

A door slams and I jolt. I sit down on the bleachers and grab my skates, pretending like I haven't heard a thing.

"Fuck!"

My head snaps over to see Bobby exiting the front of the coach's office, his hands in his hair. I look around, but don't see anyone else. Thankfully, the kiddo I have a private lesson with hasn't arrived yet to witness one of the Storm Chaser's star players cursing.

"You okay?" I call out.

Bobby drops his hands and looks over in my direction. He gives a head nod but doesn't answer. I look at my phone and see I have ten minutes. The poor guy looks more sad than angry, which accentuates his baby face. It tugs at my heart.

"Wanna talk about it?"

Bobby plods over and throws himself onto the bleacher next to me, his head tilted up to the rafters. "I don't suppose we can pretend you didn't hear that, can we?"

"I think people out on the street might have heard that," I say dryly, nudging his shoulder. "What'd you do this time?"

Bobby huffs and scrubs his hands over his face. "Teased Mac about the frilly towel he keeps in his locker. How was I supposed to know his mama sewed it for him right before she died? He shoved me and before I knew it, I was punching him in the face and rolling around the locker room floor."

I shake my head. "You gotta stop with the ‘roids, my man. They'll shrink your nuts."

Bobby gives me a grimace that forces me to roll my lips inward to stop from laughing. "I don't take that shit, Chloe. My balls are far too important. I just don't know when to stop. Something physical happens and I lash out, taking things way too far."

I sit with that for a bit, wishing I was a psychologist and not just a hockey coach. I know Bobby has four brothers, but I don't know anything else about his childhood. "Think he'll bench you?"

Bobby shrugs like he doesn't care, but I can see how tense he is. "Nah. I'll clean up my act. How hard can it be, right?"

I finish lacing up my skates and stand. "Not that hard. Get a house, maybe a dog or a cat, settle down with a partner who loves you like crazy. Might even invest in a sweater that buttons up the front. Like Mr. Rogers. Everyone trusted Mr. Rogers."

Bobby stares at me like I've grown another set of boobs and he's not sure if he's ecstatic or terrified. "That was all easy peasy until you got to the sweater. A manly man doesn't wear sweaters, Chloe."

I know he's just trying to lighten the mood with humor so I follow suit, even if it might be another knowledge bomb to his poor testosterone-soaked brain. "Actually, it might be a cardigan and a real man can rock a cardigan, no problem. Now, don't you have your first game tomorrow night? You should be getting home to eat your plain chicken breast and broccoli before crawling into bed–alone–so you get your beauty sleep."

Bobby stands and heaves a sigh. "I was going to meet the boys down at Gus's for a pre-game beer."

"Not if you're cleaning up your act, partner." I pat his shoulder and throw him a wink.

Bobby makes a face I saw all the time on my third graders, usually before I made them do their multiplication tables. "Fine." He huffs out of the rink as I shake my head.

I sure hope he gets his shit figured out. I'd hate to see him benched when Kaitlyn finally got him the long-term contract he's always wanted. I'd also hate to sit here a whole hour for a no-show. I check the time again and decide to leave at fifteen after if the kid hasn't shown up. There are eggs to be hard boiled so Nikolai is ready tomorrow with his game day routine. I can't wait to cheer him on from the stands. He even got me an official Drugov jersey to wear.

I step out onto the ice and practice some maneuvers on my own, figuring I might as well use my time wisely. Can't have these kids getting better than their coach. We've had such great interest in the league, Matt and I have decided to split the group into two. Ten and under will go in one group with Matt, and eleven and older will be with me.

A few minutes later, the sound of another pair of skates on the ice hits my ears. I twirl around and see Nikolai skating out toward me. His sandy hair has gotten longer, but he refuses to cut it, mostly because he says he likes it when I curl my fingers into it when he kisses me. He's in black sweatpants and a black T-shirt that hugs his muscles. I swear they've gotten bigger over the off season with him lifting so much.

"Hey!" I call out, delighted to see him, but also confused. "What are you doing here? I thought you had plans with Ayana?"

He stops right in front of me, his gaze drifting over me reverently before snagging on my signature red lips. "I do."

I blink, not understanding. A whispered "shh" comes from behind him. I look around his hulking body to see Ayana leading three older people and a young woman to the bleachers I just sat on with Bobby. My eyes nearly fall out of my head when I see Dad and my mom–together–pulling up the rear, a sight I haven't seen in decades. "Nikolai? What–"

He interrupts me, taking my hands in his and dropping down to one knee right there on the ice. My mouth drops open and everything around me fades as I stare into his icy blue eyes.

"Chloe, you and I have both been here before, so I will not try to say something eloquent. But I promise you that the life we will make together will be better than anything we could live apart. I want to spend the rest of my life making you smile. Watching you bake with my daughter. Seeing how you brighten up a room just by being there. I want to start every day by kissing you good morning and supporting whatever it is you choose to do. I simply love you and that will never stop." He reaches into the pocket of his sweatpants and pulls out a black velvet box, flipping open the lid and exposing the biggest diamond I've ever seen. My mouth's still hanging open and I can't seem to do anything about it.

"Ivan used to say, a husband without a wife is like a goose without water. I do not want to be a waterless goose any longer. Chloe Cooper, will you marry me?"

That does it. My mouth finally closes, only to stretch into a broad smile. My heart's pounding and even though, as Nikolai said, we've both been here before, this time feels right. Like Nikolai and Ayana were the missing pieces to light up my heart.

"Yes, I think I will," I say, nodding my head and feeling giddy with happiness. "I think we'll be very happy, two geese in water together."

Nikolai stands, his face transforming from a nervous frown to the kind of smile that still makes my stomach flip flop. My talented man pulls me to him and kisses me, then twirls us in a circle on the ice, never breaking the contact.

"Well? What'd she say?" Ayana's excited voice floats over the ice.

Nikolai finally breaks away, both of us smiling like idiots. He opens the box once again, pulls out the ring, and slides it on my finger. The square cut diamond catches every single light source in here and bounces it back in a kaleidoscope of color. I put my hand up in the air and holler back, "I said yes!"

We skate over to the side of the rink and I meet Nikolai's family with hugs all around. His mother, father, sister, and Katya follow us back to his house. Nikolai and Ayana come in my car. And my father and mother head over together as well. Perhaps thirty years divorced is the lucky number for finally getting along with your ex. Nikolai had food delivered, so we spend the whole evening talking, getting to know each other, and celebrating our engagement. His parents are delightful, and it warms my heart to see how much they love him. The whole night, Nikolai holds my hand or touches my waist, like he needs that constant contact to make this thing real. I'm only too happy to give it to him.

After everyone leaves for the night, Nikolai goes to Ayana's room to put her to bed. I sneak down the hallway and peer into her newly redecorated room. She's snug in her bed, covers up to her chin as Nikolai reads her their special book Hush, Little Bunny . He reads it every night and she never gets tired of it.

"If the other bunnies do not play fair, Daddy will growl at them like a bear," Nikolai reads, his voice dropped even lower as he acts out the book. Ayana giggles as my heart melts. If my ovaries were still fully functioning, they'd explode at the cuteness. It may be a line from a book, but I know the sentiment is real. Nikolai would do anything for his daughter and he'd do anything for me too.

When he slips out of the room some time later, I meet him in the hallway. I slide my hands up around his neck and into his hair. I'll forever be grateful I had the nerve to kiss the grumpy goalie in a bar in Toronto. When his lips meet mine, I know that everything we both went through in our prior lives to get to this exact moment was so, so worth it. I thought I couldn't count on anyone, that the only way to live for myself was to be alone, but Nikolai has proven me wrong. Everything is better together.