Epilogue

Melanie

N ew Year's Eve:

"I want the biggest wine glass you have," Brighton says as she comes into the kitchen. I turn as she plunks herself down at the island, admiring all the trays of food Gina made for the party. She refused to take payment, because apparently that's what friends do.

Honestly, I've been wanting to have a get together with all my friends, but with the guys' schedule, it was near impossible. I only managed to snag everyone for this New Year's Eve celebration.

"Are you breastfeeding?" I ask and pick up the bottle of wine. I rub my tummy. There will be no wine for me.

"Yes, but I pumped a lot and once I'm done tonight, I'll pump and discard." Brighton winks at me. "Don't worry, I'll teach you all these tricks when your little one comes." I pour the wine and a happy little moan rises in her throat as she drinks. "I can't believe you still don't want to know what you're having."

"We know what we're having," Brady says, entering the kitchen. "A baby." He comes behind the counter, puts his arm around me and gives me a big kiss.

Brighton swirls the wine before taking another drink. "Funny, Brady. Actually, you should just give me the bottle."

I laugh and hand it to her. "You're going to regret this tomorrow."

She points the tip of the bottle at me. "It's your fault, because I'm drinking for you too. Taking one for the team. You're welcome."

Brady and I laugh as she walks into the other room. "Having fun?" he asks. "I know you've been wanting to have this housewarming party forever."

"I am having a blast." I go up on my tiptoes and kiss him, my heart full of love and happiness. The last couple of months have been nothing but a whirlwind of events, and even though I was exhausted and needing to run to the bathroom every five minutes because our baby loves to sit on my bladder, I have never been happier.

When Brady told me he could prove that the baby and I were what he wanted, he drove me straight to the gorgeous home I'm standing in, here in Beacon Hill. Apparently, sneaky guy that he is, he was in the process of buying this home for us, long before he knew about the baby.

He wanted to show me that he loved me, instead of telling me, and he certainly did that, and he's been doing it every day since. While this house is massive, much too big for the three of us, Brady assures me he wants to fill it with kids. We're planning a small wedding after the season is over, and when I say small, we'll likely be able to fill a hockey rink. His entire team and their friends and families are all invited, and I invited Gina, Tania and Trevor. We've all grown close over the last couple of months as well.

He also invited his family from Newfoundland, and it saddens me that none of them had even replied. I never wanted his family out of his life, I just wanted him to set boundaries, because they were taking horrible advantage of him, and he was too afraid to live life because of his responsibilities. He does still send his mother some money to help with repairs and things like that. It's ingrained in him, and he loves her despite everything. He's a good man, and he said it's what his father would have wanted. His uncle, aunts and cousins have all been cut off, and wouldn't you know it, they all found work at the plant. Like I once told him, people do find a way to go on.

"Shall we get in there?" Brady asks. "We have housewarming gifts to open."

"I told them not to bring gifts," I huff out.

He laughs and whacks my ass. "Yeah, but you're kind of glad they did, aren't you?"

I poke him. "Get out of my head, Brady."

"Fine, I'll stay out of your head if you let me in here later." He slides a hand between my legs, and lightly rubs me, which is pretty much all it takes to turn me on. All these hormones have turned me into a crazy nympho, and not only does Brady know it, he likes it. He told me a long time ago after he screeched me in that I was now his nympho. I had no idea that was going to come true.

"I'll have to think about it." He laughs, because I really am a sure thing. "Help me with these."

Dani comes into the kitchen and smiles when she sees us. She truly felt horrible for having to tell me about the bet. After all was said and done, I assured her she did the right thing and we also talked to his friends. They assured us they were just joking around and knew what was happening between us was serious. Heck, I bought them all a beer because Brady did get me to fall in love with him and that was the best thing that ever happened to me.

"Can I help with these?" Dani asks and there's a look of longing on her face as she glances at my growing belly. Did she and her husband plan a family before he died? I'm not sure, but if that's the case, I feel really bad for her. Hopefully someday she'll find love again, and can have the baby she so clearly wants.

"Grab the rolls," I tell her.

Brady reaches for the tray of cheese. "No soft cheese for you, Lanie." I smile, loving the way he takes care of me. I lift my chin to see his face, and the love and emotions in his eyes curl around my heart and squeeze tight.

"I guess you'll have to eat all the cheese, and take one for the team, like Brighton is doing for me."

"You know I'm a team player."

He is a team player, and he's gotten so much better at handling the losses and not thinking the entire responsibility is on his shoulders. He's a better player because of it and the bond with his teammates is even stronger now that he let's them in.

We carry the plates into the other room and set them down. The Christmas tree is still set up and all our housewarming presents are underneath it.

"Open mine first," Conner calls out, and I eye him.

Brady groans as Conner grins like the village idiot. "What did you do?"

"Here, this one." He reaches under the tree and pulls out a big box. He hands it to Brady.

"What is in here and why is it so heavy?"

"You'll have to open it to see."

I laugh because he looks like a kid on Christmas morning. I eye Dani, who whistles innocently. "Oh, you're in on this too?"

"Maybe."

Everyone makes room on the sofa, and Brady and I drop down. "Nothing better jump out at me, Conner," I warn.

"Just open it."

I tear into the paper, and Brady takes the lid off the box. We both glance in, and start laughing.

"Conner, what did you do?" Lanie asks.

Everyone leans toward us, trying to see what's in the box, when Brady pulls out a big codfish, mounted on a board with a plaque beneath. "I love it," Brady laughs.

"Is this the cod…from the night of my celebration?" I ask as I examine the gorgeous taxidermy work. It really is quite spectacular.

Conner looks so proud of himself. "The one and only. Read what it says."

I lean in and read the plaque. "She kissed the cod." I note the date below it. I burst out laughing. "Conner, I absolutely love it. I can't believe you did this."

"To my Newfoundland friends," he toasts and holds up his beer. Everyone salutes to that, and I take a drink of my cranberry juice.

Brady lightly nudges me. "That's the night I told you I loved you."

"Which makes this even more special."

"Are you going to kiss the cod?" Gunther asks.

I wink at Brady. "Yes. I definitely plan to kiss the cod." He grins because he knows exactly what I'm talking about. Brady puts his hand around my neck and pulls me to him, and my heart is so full I'm sure it's going to burst from my chest.

"Kiss the cod. Kiss the cod," Gunther begins to chant, but then stops abruptly. "Wait, are you talking about…"

The room breaks with laughter, and Gunther groans as I press my lips to the man I love, his eyes brimming with a bevy of unchecked emotions as we fall just a little more in love…

***

Thank you so much for reading, STICKING AROUND, book two in my Boston Bucks series. I hope you loved this story as much as I loved writing it. Be sure to check out, Sticking Out and Hook ‘em Hard (Bang Brother Books), and Stick .

The next books in the series, with more to come!