Epilogue

Bennett

One year later…

Sixteen years of professional hockey, and here I was, on home ice in Newark for the final game of The Cup playoffs. It had been a year of change; I'd said "yes" to a life with Xander. We"d moved in together, our lives intertwining as easily as our fingers did when we held hands. The move from Tridents to Eagles had been smoother than expected too.

The sea of Eagles fans in the arena was overwhelming. My eyes searched for familiar faces in vain – my parents, Connor and Chloe. They"d finished their exams and were enjoying a break before summer classes so their regular semester course load would be lighter. Yes, two years ago Connor was able to start college along with his sister, since my contract with the Tridents had come just in time for me to foot the bill. Life had fallen in place for the twins, and I was happy to help to make that happen.

And you know what was a huge surprise? Many of my old teammates from the PHL team where I'd spent most of my career, including Jester, Maestro, and Tank, were there too, watching the game to support Xander and me. My entire hockey family was united in this moment.

The tension hung heavy in the air as we faced off against the Tucson Cardinals. Every cheer from the crowd electrified me, reminding me of what was at stake. Xander caught my eye across the ice; no words were needed.

It was a grind out there – every puck fought over like it was the last one on earth. We ended regulation tied at 2-2, staring down sudden death overtime.

The first 20-minute OT came and went without a winner. Another 20 minutes were added, the tension rising with each second.

Then, with seconds left in the second OT, Xander pulled off a beauty of a pass. Time slowed just enough for me to snag the puck. I took the shot and buried it in the net – goal! The buzzer sounded, and we walked away with the win over Tucson.

The arena erupted into euphoria; fans roared our names while teammates mobbed us on the ice. Amidst this chaos, Xander found me – his eyes mirroring my own joy and relief. With reporters converging on us like iron filings on a magnet, he pulled me close for a kiss that tasted like victory.

The crowd"s reaction was instantaneous. A wave of cheers and applause swept through the arena, louder than ever. Some fans held up signs celebrating not just our win, but our love. Our teammates, already ecstatic from the victory, clapped and cheered us on, some even whistling in approval. It was a moment of pure acceptance and joy

"We did it," I whispered against his lips.

Winning The Cup? Incredible! But having Xander by my side? That was perfection. The arena transformed into a carnival of celebration – the Eagles had won The Cup!

As the team passed around our hard-earned trophy, I stole another moment with Xander. My heart was full; this was everything I"d ever dreamed of and more.

Forty-eight hours after our exhilarating Cup victory, Xander and I were seated on a plane, seatbelts fastened securely. The cabin was a hive of activity, each passenger"s excitement crackling in the air like static electricity. The low rumble of the engines filled the air.

A flight attendant was making her way down the aisle when she caught sight of us and stopped abruptly at our row. Her eyes widened with recognition and she let out an excited gasp before rushing to grab the intercom.

"Ladies and gentlemen," she announced with unmistakable excitement, "we have the honor of flying with Ryan Bennett and Xander Harrison from the Eagles, our newly crowned Cup champions!"

The cabin erupted in cheers and applause. A grin spread across my face. Xander shot me a look, his eyes shining.

As the plane ascended and leveled off, I turned to Ry. My heart felt like it could burst at any moment. Taking home The Cup was a dream come true... but this? This was everything.

Xander's eyes sparkled as he reached for my hand, his touch grounding me in the moment. "We're going to start our next adventure. Are you ready for it?"

"Sunshine," I countered while giving his hand a gentle squeeze, "I"ve been ready since the first day you were mine."

He glanced at his phone then flashed that smile that always made my heart skip a beat. "In less than five hours, we"ll be soaking up the sun in Antigua."

I leaned in closer so only he could hear my words over the hum of engines and chatter around us: "And in less than nine... you"ll be my husband."