Epilogue

Xander

Two years later…

In the quiet of my Newark apartment, the gnawing worry about Ry"s future clung to me like a shadow. Two years had slipped through our fingers like sand.

Our teams belonged to different divisions, limiting our face-offs to rare, electrifying occasions. Those games were etched into my memory; the ice beneath us crackling with tension as we clashed head-on. The Tridents had come out victorious more times than I cared to admit, but it wasn"t about winning or losing.

"Playing nice because we"re dating? Not a chance," I"d told him once, the echo of my words still ringing true. We"d never held back when competing against each other; if anything, we pushed harder. The thrill of competition was a fire that fueled us both, even if neither team had ever hoisted The Cup in victory.

I traced my fingers over an old Grizzlies team photo on the mantel, lingering over Ry"s image. His eyes sparkled with determination – a reflection of his unyielding spirit that made him the formidable opponent he was.

"What does your future hold, Berry?" I murmured to his frozen image. My heart tightened at the thought of Ry facing any challenges alone – hockey-related or otherwise.

Taking a sip of coffee, I reflected on the past two years since Ry started playing in the NAPH. He'd adjusted well. His stats were super impressive and he was still remarkably fit. Why the Tridents hadn't renewed his contract yet was a mystery to me.

With a sense of anticipation, I grasped my phone, thumb hovering over the screen. My heart yearned for a message from him about his contract predicament. The screen remained stubbornly empty, devoid of any updates. A sigh escaped me – an involuntary release of pent-up worry.

I tapped out a message to him, words of encouragement dancing across the digital screen. It was important to keep his spirits up; he needed that more than anything right now.

Me:Hey Berry, I want you to know that whatever comes with this contract, I"m here for you.

I smiled softly as I sent off the text. Tomorrow was going to be different – better. Ry had been forced into a short recovery break due to a minor muscle strain and it was our chance for some much-needed time together away from the demands and prying eyes of our teams.

The thought warmed me from the inside out. It was rare for us to get quality moments like these and I found myself eagerly looking forward to it. The idea of being there while Ry healed not only physically but also from the stress of his contract situation felt right.

My fingers tapped the screen again, adding one last note into the ether.

Me:This break isn"t just about healing your body but also about rejuvenating your spirit. Can"t wait to spend this time with you… just us without any pressure.

Fishing into my pocket, I found one of my trusty Ring Pops. The crinkly wrapper gave way under my fingers, revealing the candy treasure inside. With a quick pop, it was in my mouth and I savored the sweet rush that followed. Coffee and Ring Pops – an unlikely duo that only a guy like Brandt could have introduced me to.

"Xander," he"d said one day, an impish grin on his face as he held out the colorful candy. "Trust me on this."

I remember rolling my eyes at him then, but here I was now, hooked on the strange combination. Now there"s always a stash of them within reach – most often nestled in the depths of my pockets.

Brandt, I thought with an amused shake of my head. You"ve created a monster.

Looking back on my time with the Eagles, not everyone had welcomed me with open arms. Jake, in particular, seemed to have a bone to pick from the get-go. It wasn"t until later that I learned the real reason behind his hostility. Turns out, I was seen as a threat, swooping in as the new talent just as his position on the team was starting to wobble. Poor guy got shipped back to the Miami Stingrays, our affiliate team, and two years down the line, he"s still there, battling it out in the minors. It"s a tough break, but that"s the nature of the game sometimes.

I found myself wearing a path into the carpet of my living room, phone clutched tightly in my hand. Each tick of the clock amplified the waiting game that Ry and I were forced to play. The shrill ring of the phone startled me out of my thoughts.

"Hey, Sunshine," Ry"s voice crackled through the line, his nickname for me always managing to bring a smile to my face.

"Hey, Berry," I responded, trying to keep my tone light despite the worry gnawing at me. "Any news?"

"Still nothing." His voice was heavy with uncertainty.

I could almost see him there on the other end of the line – those expressive eyes clouded with worry.

"You"ve been phenomenal these past two years," I reassured him earnestly. "It'd be a crime if they don't renew your contract."

A sigh echoed from his end. "I wish I knew what was happening."

My heart clenched at his words; it wasn"t easy seeing Ry so anxious about his hockey career. He loved the game more than anything else – well, except maybe me.

"Can"t wait to see you tomorrow," I told him softly, hoping to offer some comfort.

When we ended the call I promised myself I'd keep him distracted during his visit here – but not by burying our worries under mindless activities or empty reassurances. Instead, I planned on sexing him up real good. He would be too full of cock to spend his time here fretting over what came next in his career. After all, no matter what happened, he"d always be a star player in my eyes.

An hour had passed and I was about to sink my teeth into a steaming pepperoni and mushroom pizza, its tantalizing aroma filling the room, when there was a knock on the door. Who could it be? I wasn't expecting any visitors.

As I swung open the door, my breath hitched in my throat. There he was – Ry, standing tall with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Before I could utter a word, his hand found its way behind my neck, pulling me closer while his foot kicked the door shut.

In that instant, my mind was stripped bare as Ry"s lips crashed onto mine in a primal exchange – raw, unfiltered, even while he backed me against the wall. His flavor invaded my senses; a potent blend of mint and an essence that was distinctly his. The rough stubble on his cheek grazed against mine as we fit together in our own private tango.

"God, you taste like sex and sin," I growled into his mouth, my hands making their way down to the bulge straining against his jeans. His answering moan vibrated through me as he pushed harder into my touch.

The wall behind me was cold and unforgiving, but it didn"t matter. Not when Ry"s hand found its way into my pants, gripping me firmly and matching the rhythm I had set on him. Our bodies moved in sync, hard and fast against the wall.

"Fuck, Xander," he panted out between kisses, "you feel so good."

His words sent a jolt of pleasure through me. My heart pounded in time with our movements; every nerve ending screamed for release. I could feel the heat radiating off him, could smell the intoxicating aroma of his arousal. It was all-consuming.

"Love you so fucking much," I managed to grit out before losing myself completely to sensation.

Our ragged breaths echoed off the walls around us as we chased our climax together – raw, passionate… and utterly perfect.

As we finally broke apart, I managed to gasp out between pants, "Come shower with me?"

Without saying a word, Ry carded his fingers in mine and led me to the bathroom.

Now that we had come down from the high of seeing each other and showered and dressed in shorts and t-shirts, I asked Ry, "Weren"t you supposed to be here tomorrow?" My mind raced trying to recall if I"d muddled up his flight schedule.

He simply grinned at me before responding with two words: "April Fools'?"

Laughter bubbled up between us. We were in the kitchen reheating the pizza. I hadn't remembered it was April Fools' Day but Ry had certainly made it memorable. He always knew how to keep me on my toes.

We began devouring slices of cheesy goodness. I took a swig of my ale. "I'm glad you're here a day early; it means I have you with me for an extra day." I bit into my slice.

He grinned at me, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "I pulled a few strings," he said nonchalantly. "Thought it would be fun to surprise you."

"And your flight? How was it?"

"You won"t believe what happened."

I leaned in, eager to hear what he was going to say. "Try me."

"So, I board the plane, and everything seems normal. I"m sitting next to this guy who's super friendly and chatty. He starts telling me all about his pet ferret. I"m nodding along, trying to be polite, when suddenly, I feel something crawling up my leg."

"No way!" I said, laughing.

"Yeah, turns out the guy had actually brought the ferret with him, hidden in his carry-on. The little critter escaped and was running loose under our seats."

I shook my head in disbelief. "That"s crazy. What happened next?"

"Well, the flight attendants are trying to stay calm, but you could tell they're freaking out. The guy is frantically trying to catch his ferret, which is now scurrying around, causing a mini-panic. People are lifting their feet and yelling."

I laughed. "Seriously? What did you do?"

Ry rolled his eyes, but there was a good-natured glint in them. "Well, you know how much I love ferrets," he said sarcastically. "I ended up helping the flight attendants catch it. Took us a good fifteen minutes. The guy was apologizing like crazy, and they had to find a small crate from storage to keep the ferret in for the rest of the flight."

"Bet you were thrilled," I said, smiling.

Ry laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, just what I needed. But, hey, it made the flight interesting. And it was worth it to get here early to surprise you."

Listening to him recount his journey filled me with an inexplicable warmth. His spontaneous arrival wasn"t just some April Fools' Day joke; it was a sweet reminder of the playful yet affectionate bond we shared and I was incredibly fortunate to have him in my life – unexpected arrival or not.

I slipped away from the table, casting a casual glance over my shoulder at Ry. "Just heading to the bathroom real quick." My destination wasn't there at all. My feet carried me to the bedroom, and my hand found its way inside the bedside drawer searching for something.

And there it was – just where I'd left it.

Returning to the kitchen, my heart pounded in sync with each step. With a swift movement, I retrieved the Ring Pop from my pocket and dropped to one knee before Ry. The playful glint in his eyes made me smile as I held it out.

"Berry," my voice echoed through the room, "will you marry me?"

His eyes widened like saucers. "Wait, what?!"

I couldn"t contain myself any longer; laughter bubbled up within me, spilling out into the room. "Gotcha! April Fools'!"

Ry shook his head in disbelief but joined me in laughter soon after. However, when our chuckles began to fade away, I found myself locked in his gaze – a tender warmth spreading between us.

"But... what if it wasn"t a prank?" The words hung heavy in the air.

His face fell slack with shock as realization dawned on him. "Wait... are you serious?"

I swallowed hard against the knot of nerves forming in my throat but managed to keep my voice steady. I took out a box bearing the real engagement ring from my pocket. "Completely serious. Ryan, I love you more than anything. Will you marry me for real?"

His eyes softened, and a slow smile spread across his face. "You"re not kidding?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

I shook my head, my own emotions threatening to overwhelm me. "No jokes this time. Just you and me. Forever."

Without a moment of hesitation, Ry reached for me, his arms wrapping around me tightly. "Yes," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "Yes, a thousand times yes!"

We embraced tightly then – letting go of everything else and simply holding onto each other while sharing a heartfelt kiss. The Ring Pop lay forgotten on the floor as I slipped the real engagement ring onto his finger, the diamond catching the light and casting tiny rainbows around the room. I'd picked it out weeks ago. A simple yet elegant platinum band, adorned with a single, brilliant-cut diamond that sparkled even in dim light.

Ry looked at me with shining eyes and said: "Looks like the joke"s on me this time." A grin spread across his face, even as tears of joy welled up in his eyes. "Best April Fools" prank ever."

The rest of the evening was a blur of laughing, crying and making love. We basked in the joy of our engagement, and planning our future together.

HOCKEY HERALD

***Breaking News***

Eagles Secure Star Forward Ryan Bennett with 3-Year No-Trade Contract

In a stunning turn of events, the Newark Eagles have signed forward Ryan Bennett to a three-year, no-trade contract. Bennett, previously with the Tallahassee Tridents, joins the Eagles just as the team is gearing up for another intense season. This move not only strengthens the Eagles" lineup but also reunites Bennett with his long-time partner and teammate, Alexander Harrison.

Bennett"s move to Newark has been the talk of the hockey world. After an impressive stint with the Tridents, where he demonstrated his prowess on the ice with a combination of speed, skill, and strategic play, Bennett is now set to bring his talents to a team eager for a championship. The Eagles have never clinched The Cup, but with Bennett and Harrison on the same roster, hopes are higher than ever.

Bennett, who is currently in Newark recovering from a minor injury, received the call from his agent with the life-changing news. The excitement is palpable not just among the fans but also within the team, as the chemistry between Bennett and Harrison is expected to elevate the Eagles" performance.

"It"s a dream come true," Bennett said in a recent press conference. "To be able to play on the same team as Xander is something we"ve always hoped for. We"ve faced challenges being in different leagues and on different teams, but now we have the opportunity to push for a championship together."

Harrison echoed his partner"s sentiments, expressing his excitement about the upcoming season. "Ryan is an incredible player, and having him here with the Eagles will be a huge boost for us. We"ve always pushed each other to be better, and now we get to do that every day on and off the ice."

The Eagles" management is equally thrilled about the acquisition. "Ryan Bennett brings a dynamic presence to our team," said Head Coach Phil Roberts. "His experience, combined with his chemistry with Xander, will be invaluable as we aim to bring The Cup to Newark."

Fans have also shown overwhelming support for Bennett"s move, flooding social media with messages of encouragement and excitement. The hashtag #BennettToNewark has been trending, with many fans expressing their belief that this is the year the Eagles will finally secure the championship.

However, the road to The Cup won"t be easy. The competition is fierce, and the team will need to maintain peak performance throughout the season. But with Bennett and Harrison leading the charge, the Eagles are poised to make a significant impact.

In addition to his on-ice contributions, Bennett"s presence in Newark is expected to have a positive impact on the community. Known for his charitable efforts and community involvement, Bennett has started to engage with local initiatives, further endearing himself to the fans.

As the new season approaches, all eyes will be on the Newark Eagles. The addition of Ryan Bennett has not only strengthened their lineup but also brought a renewed sense of hope and excitement. With a powerful roster and the dream team of Bennett and Harrison, the Eagles are ready to soar to new heights.

The puck drops soon, and the journey to The Cup begins. For now, the city of Newark celebrates the arrival of their new star and looks forward to what promises to be an unforgettable season.