Epilogue

Emma

Three months later

I wake up sandwiched between warm bodies, limbs tangled together in a cosy mess. Sunlight streams through the gaps in the curtains, painting golden stripes across our king-sized bed. As I blink away the last vestiges of sleep, I smile to myself. Who would have thought that this is where I'd end up when I first moved back to Inverness to take over Dad's hockey team?

Certainly not me.

Carefully extricating myself from the pile of sleeping hockey players, I slip out of bed and pad to the bathroom. My reflection in the mirror shows tousled red hair and eyes bright with contentment. There are some faint bruises on my neck and collarbone - evidence of last night's enthusiastic activities. Heat rises to my cheeks as I remember Lachlan's mouth on my skin, Keir's strong hands gripping my hips, Taran's husky voice in my ear...

I shake my head, splashing some cold water on my face. There's work to be done today. It's Taran's first real game for the Warriors, and the atmosphere is going to be killer. It's the event of the year, and there will be press coverage of it all over the country.

After a quick shower, I throw on some comfy clothes and head downstairs to start the coffee. Our kitchen is my favourite room in this big old house we bought together. The previous owners were eager for a rush deal, and we got it way cheaper than what we expected to pay. Talk about the right place, right time. Last night was our first night in here, and there are boxes everywhere, but it already feels like home. It's an old farmhouse done up to a high spec, with plenty of space for all of us.

As the rich aroma of brewing coffee fills the air, I hear footsteps on the stairs. Keir appears in the doorway, hair sticking up adorably and eyes still heavy with sleep.

"Morning, Emmy," he mumbles, crossing the kitchen to wrap his arms around me from behind. His chest is warm against my back as he nuzzles into my neck.

"Good morning," I reply, leaning into his embrace. "Sleep well?"

He chuckles, the sound vibrating through me. "Eventually. Someone kept us up pretty late last night."

I smirk, turning in his arms to face him. "I didn't hear any complaints at the time."

Keir grins, bending down to capture my lips in a soft kiss. "And you never will," he murmurs against my mouth.

We're interrupted by Lachlan stumbling into the kitchen, looking grumpy and dishevelled. "Coffee," he grunts, making grabby hands at the pot.

I laugh, extricating myself from Keir's arms to pour Lachlan a mug. "Here you go, you big baby," I tease, pressing the steaming cup into his hands.

Lachlan takes a long sip, his eyes closing in bliss. "You're an angel," he sighs.

"That's not what you were calling me last night," I murmur.

He nearly chokes on his coffee, shooting me a heated look over the rim of his mug. "Minx," he growls.

Before things can escalate, Taran saunters in looking unfairly put-together for this early hour. "Morning, all," he greets cheerfully. "Ready for the big day?"

"As ready as we'll ever be," I reply, handing Taran his own mug of coffee. "You nervous?"

He shakes his head, taking a sip. "Nah. We've been training hard. The team's in top form. We've got this."

Lachlan nods in agreement. "Damn straight we do. Those Edinburgh Eagles won't know what hit them."

I can't help but smile at their confidence. It's well-earned, after all. The past few weeks have seen the Warriors go from strength to strength. With Lachlan as player-coach, Keir as our star enforcer, and Taran captaining the team, we've become a force to be reckoned with during pre-season. But now the real test begins.

"Right," I say, clapping my hands together. "You need to eat and then get your arses to the rink. I've got some work to finish up before the game, but I'll meet you there."

There's a chorus of groans at the mention of work, but I wave them off. "Hey, someone's got to keep this team running smoothly. Now eat!"

As they start moving towards the cupboards, asking incessantly where everything is, I retreat to my home office to tackle some last-minute paperwork.

Time flies as I lose myself in contracts and financial projections. Before I know it, my alarm is going off to remind me it's time to head to the arena.

The house is quiet. The boys left for their pre-game routines an hour ago. I grab my keys and hop into Minnie, ready to face this season as the first of many in which I will prove to everyone I can do this with my eyes closed.

When I arrive, the atmosphere at the arena is electric. Fans decked out in Warriors gear are streaming through the doors, their excitement as they wave the sexy calendar around after autograph hunting with the lads. I make my way to my office, thrilled that the calendar was so successful.

Once inside, I take a moment to breathe deeply, centring myself.

We've weathered our fair share of storms - both on and off the ice. Our unconventional relationship has faced scrutiny from the media and judgment from some less open-minded individuals.

But through it all, we've only grown stronger. The love I feel for each of my boys - and the love they have for me and for each other - has deepened in ways I never thought possible. We're a team in every sense of the word.

A knock at the door pulls me from my reminiscing. "Come in," I call out.

The door opens to reveal my dad, looking dapper in a Warriors jacket. "Hey, Ems," he greets with a warm smile. "How are you feeling?"

I stand to give him a hug. "Good. Excited. A little nervous," I admit.

He chuckles, squeezing me tight before releasing me. "That's my girl. You wouldn't be human if you weren't a little nervous on opening day."

We chat for a few minutes about the team's prospects for the season and how proud he is of everything I've accomplished. It means the world to me, having his support. We've come a long way from those early days when I felt like I was drowning in his legacy.

"I'd better head down to the locker room," I say, glancing at the clock. "See you out there."

Dad nods as I make my way down to the locker room. The energy is intense as I push open the door, the air thick with pre-game tension and the mingled scents of sweat and adrenaline.

Lachlan is in full coach mode, going over last-minute strategies with some of the younger players. Keir is methodically taping his stick, his face a mask of concentration. Taran paces near his locker, muttering what sounds like motivational phrases under his breath.

I clear my throat, and all eyes turn to me. "Just wanted to wish you all good luck," I say, my voice steady despite the butterflies in my stomach. "You've worked incredibly hard to get here. No matter what happens out there today, I'm proud of each and every one of you."

There are nods and murmurs of appreciation from the team. Lachlan steps forward, his game face softening as he looks at me. "Thanks, Em," he says quietly. "We couldn't have done any of this without you."

Keir and Taran join him, forming a protective circle around me. It's a familiar formation - one that never fails to make me feel safe and loved.

"Kick some arse out there," I tell them, my voice thick with emotion.

They each press a quick kiss to my cheek before I leave them to finish their preparations. As I shut the locker room door behind me, I take a deep breath. It's game time.

The next few hours pass in a blur of cheering fans, crunching hits, and nail-biting plays. I watch from the owner's box, barely breathing as the Warriors and the Eagles trade goals back and forth.

Keir is a powerhouse on defence, delivering bone-rattling checks that send Eagles players sprawling across the ice. Taran's lightning-fast skating and precise stick handling create scoring opportunities out of thin air, and Lachlan, never splitting his attention between playing and coaching, seems to be everywhere at once.

With less than a minute left in the third period, we're tied 3-3. The tension in the arena is thick enough to cut with a knife. I'm on my feet, hands pressed against the glass as I watch Taran win a face-off in our defensive zone.

He passes to Keir, who sends the puck sailing up the ice to Lachlan. The seconds tick down as Lachlan weaves through the Eagles' defence, looking for an opening. Five seconds left... four... three...

Lachlan winds up and lets loose a blistering slapshot just as the buzzer sounds. The puck rockets past the Eagles' goalie and into the back of the net. The goal light flashes red, and the arena erupts in deafening cheers.

I'm screaming and jumping up and down, hugging my dad and anyone else within reach. We did it!

"Start as we mean to go on!" I shout to Dad, who looks at me with such pride that I tear up.

The celebration on the ice is pure chaos as the team piles onto Lachlan. I can see Keir and Taran in the midst of it all, their faces alight with joy. Pride swells in my chest, threatening to overwhelm me. These are my boys. My team. My family.

I rush around to the locker room, where I can wait for my guys. Lachlan, Keir, and Taran, flushed with exertion and triumph, spot me and come over, all sweaty and hunky.

"There's our girl," Lachlan says, his voice warm with affection.

"That was one hell of a game, boys."

Keir reaches me first, wrapping me in a bear hug that lifts me off my feet. "Couldn't have done it without you, Emmy," he murmurs into my hair.

As soon as he sets me down, Taran is there, cupping my face. "You're amazing, you know that?" he says before pressing a tender kiss to my lips.

Lachlan completes the circle, his arm sliding around my waist. "I love you," he says simply, his eyes shining with emotion.

I look at each of them in turn, my heart so full it feels like it might burst. "I love you too," I reply. "All of you. So much."

We stand there for a long moment, basking in the glow of victory and the warmth of our connection. It's not always easy, balancing the demands of running a professional hockey team with the complexities of loving three very different men. But in moments like this, I know without a doubt that it's all worth it.

"So," Taran says eventually, a mischievous glint in his eye. "How should we celebrate?"

I pretend to consider for a moment. "Well, I suppose we could go out for a nice dinner..."

Lachlan snorts. "Or?"

"Or," I continue, my lips curving into a sly smile, "we could head home and have our own private celebration."

Keir's arms tighten around me. "I vote for option two," he growls, his voice low and full of promise.

"Seconded," Taran agrees quickly.

Lachlan grins, already reaching for his keys. "Motion carried. Let's get out of here."

" After you've had showers," I say with a snort.

Laughing, they agree and disappear while I wait outside, the happiest I've ever been.

Fifteen minutes later, as we make our way out of the arena, dodging well-wishers and autograph seekers, I marvel at how perfectly everything has fallen into place. Less than half a year ago, I was a lost London girl trying to find her footing back in her hometown. Now, I'm the successful owner of a thriving hockey team, surrounded by love and support I never dreamed possible.

We pile into Lachlan's brand new SUV, leaving Minnie to be picked up tomorrow, the boys still buzzing with post-game energy. As we pull out of the car park, I lean back in my seat and close my eyes, listening to their animated chatter about the game's highlights.

"You okay, Emmy?" Keir asks, his hand finding mine and giving it a gentle squeeze.

I open my eyes and smile at him. "Never better," I reply honestly.

And it's true. Life isn't perfect - it never is. There will always be challenges to face, both in our personal lives and in the cutthroat world of professional sports. But I know that whatever comes our way, we'll face it together.

Me and my three hockey-playing, arse-kicking, utterly devoted men. It's ours, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

As we pull into the driveway of our home, I feel a sense of rightness settle over me. This is where I belong. This is my happily ever after.

Lachlan kills the engine and turns to look at me, his eyes dark with desire. "Ready for that private celebration, Em?"

Keir and Taran lean in closer, their gazes equally intense. I feel a familiar heat building low in my belly as I meet each of their eyes in turn.

"Oh, yeah," I purr, reaching for the door handle. "I was born ready."

We tumble out of the car and race towards the house, laughing like teenagers. As Taran fumbles with the keys, Lachlan pulls me close, his lips finding that sensitive spot just below my ear.

"Fuck, I love you," he breathes against my skin.

Keir presses up behind me, his strong arms encircling us both. "We all do," he adds, his voice rough with emotion.

Taran finally gets the door open and turns to face us, his smile soft and full of promise. "More than anything in this world," he agrees.

I look at each of them - my coach, my enforcer, my captain. My lovers. My family. "I love you too," I whisper. "All of you. Always."

As we cross the threshold into our home, I know that whatever the future holds, we'll face it together. Because that's what families do. And this unconventional, beautiful, perfectly imperfect family? It's everything I never knew I always wanted.

The door closes behind us, shutting out the world and all its judgments. Here, in this space we've created together, we're free to love without limits. To be exactly who we are, messy and complicated and utterly devoted to each other.

I smile as clothes start hitting the floor, hands roaming and lips seeking familiar territories. Yeah, I think to myself as Keir scoops me up and carries me towards our bedroom. This is definitely my happily ever after.

And it's only just beginning.