Epilogue

Tanner

Funny how fast the time goes when you're in love.

Sure, the same could be said about time slipping by because you're getting older, but since I was trying not to focus on my creaky joints or that new odd thing where I needed to hold the remote at arm's length to find the volume button, I'd say it was love.

"You good?" I nodded at the man who held my heart. Key's smile warmed me inside and out, not that I was chilly. Sure, it was now late September, and the trees were showing signs that fall was just around the bend. The leaves here on the running path that the group had chosen for the weekly seniors' run were just starting to turn scarlet or yellow. Yes, I was taking my debut after-surgery jog with the old folks. No, I did not need to hear Greck commenting about Geritol in my Gatorade bottle again. The man was a pest. But, as they say, he was our pest.

"I'm good." I'd progressed well in my PT, exceedingly well to be honest, and the team trainers were slowly letting me get back to running. Skating? Well, that was probably a ways off yet. Maybe January they cautiously said. I said October. I'd been given a one-year extension by the Gladiators, probably because they'd felt bad for me missing out on the championship run in June. Whatever the reason, I planned to make the most out of this final year on ice. Key and I, well, we had plans of a sort. Plans that included my farmhouse, his moving in someday, and the purchase of a few goats. Maybe even tying the knot. I'd seen how happy Liam was with his hubby and I kind of thought that looked real nice. Together forever. Yeah, I could see that for me and Key. But that was in the future. He was busy with being a mogul, and I was busy trying to squeeze one final year out of my battered body. "It's just a two-mile course."

"Yep, two miles. You got this. I saw you do four on the treadmill yesterday."

He was right. I had done four. I'd not told the trainer about that. I wasn't supposed to be cranking out that kind of distance yet, but if I didn't push myself, I'd never get back to the game.

I tugged down my Captain America shield tee, worn just for Uncle Devon. He had yet to call me Tanner, or Fossie. It was always Cap since that first day in yoga class. So, to make sure he had lots of chances to be an imp, I may have bought a few more tees with that famous design on them.

"I feel those four miles today," I confessed as I stretched.

"Good thing you had me there to rub those sore muscles," Key whispered with a randy wink that made me feel a little lightheaded. The man always made my blood flow south. All it took was seeing him and my dick was perking up. Not exactly what I wanted to take place here with the gray-haired runners.

"You need to stop talking that way," I softly replied. "You know what you do to me."

"I do, and I love that I do that to you." He pecked my cheek before turning to address the runners. "Okay, listen up. We're doing this small run today because so many of us are planning to attend the fall festival and kite extravaganza up at the Gaudion Winery. We'll stay on the main paths today. No veering off like the last time we were here."

"I thought I saw a deer," one of the old gals called out.

"It was a cow, Beatrice. How do you mistake a cow for a deer?" Millicent questioned her sister-in-law.

"I saw a white butt," Beatrice fired back.

"Okay, well, deer and cow are lovely but no diversions off the running path. Now, let's get moving. I have a kite at home that is going to whip the competition!" Key led the seniors out of the parking area. I fell in behind Key, the pace slow and easy to start. My knee felt good, solid. No pain or twinges. Yeah, I was for sure going to be skating by October.

"On your left!" I heard just as Uncle Devon jogged past.

Key could be heard laughing up ahead, his pace smooth and steady. "Uh-oh, looks like Cap just got left in the dust," he called over his shoulder.

"Both of you are too funny," I shouted, huffing a little now as the path began to snake uphill. Nothing that I couldn't handle. Key and Devon shared a chuckle, at my expense I was sure, but it was nice to see. A few weeks ago, Key had confronted his uncle at a cookout for Devon's birthday. My man had been polite, always, but he came right out and asked his mother and Devon if they were involved. Both said yes, they were, and they would appreciate no comments from the peanut gallery unless they were congratulations.

I sat at the picnic table with Lionel with my mouth closed. Sure, we were partners of Williams' siblings, but that did not give us leeway to voice thoughts. I personally felt that the two older folks looked amazing together. Devon doted on Key's mother and she on him. If they were happy, then that was all that mattered. Key, Etta, and Ornell needed to digest things for a bit, but by the time the burgers were cooked and the potato salad was brought out, the kids were hugging the lovebirds. It had all worked out well even if one of the baby boys—I could not tell the twins apart—puked all over himself and the person who had been holding him, which was me. I was growing accustomed to being spit up on.

"Hey, baby, you okay back there?" Key asked, falling back, pulling me from the fog of memories to the present. "Your knee good?"

"I'm keeping up with Beatrice," I replied, which got me a thumbs up from the octogenarian at my side.

Key nodded. "Okay, as long as you're feeling fine, we'll keep going. I don't want you to go lame and miss flying kites with me."

I stopped jogging. Key did as well, waving the others on with Uncle Devon leading.

"Your knee?" Key asked as we stood in the middle of a wooded running path, sweaty and out of breath.

"Is fine. I just wanted to let you know that I don't want that either." His eyebrow arched. "To miss flying kites with you even though kite season is in the spring, but no one wanted to ruin Henri's joy about a kite festival. One reason I don't want to miss it is because I have the coolest kite ever kited and will whoop you soundly in our fighter kite category."

"Dream on."

"Secondly, because I never want to miss a single minute being with you, you wonderful man, that I am so entirely and rapturously in love with."

"I think all the nights watching Ms. Austen's movies are rubbing off." He cradled my head and kissed me thoroughly. I leaned into the kiss, my arms circling him. "That wasn't too bad of a proclamation of devotion from an old Gladiators D-man."

"You bring out the romantic in me."

"Aw, my own big, burly bear of a Mr. Darcy. Now all you need is a cravat and a posh British accent."

"Not sure about that. I think you might be stuck with me in a hockey sweater with a Canadian accent."

"Sexiest romance hero ever."

Now he was just being giddy. As if a banged-up hockey player in the minor leagues could ever be romance hero material.

THE END