Epilogue

Asher

Elle and I sit at our kitchen table, enjoying a leisurely breakfast together and watch the sunrise through the picture window. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the salty sea breeze drifting in from the open sliding door. With hockey season over for now, time feels like an abundant luxury, and I smile as I soak it all in.

Our new house is perfect – nestled midway between my old place in Pawleys Island and Elle's former tiny home community. It's a cozy blend of our two worlds, with eclectic décor that reflects both her bohemian spirit and my love for the sport that brought us together. The walls are adorned with vintage prints of hockey legends, while potted plants add vibrant bursts of green to every corner.

"Ash," Elle says, taking a sip of her coffee, her crystal blue eyes meeting mine, "I got my acceptance letter in the mail yesterday for nursing school," she reveals, playing with the edge of her napkin.

"Elle, that's amazing!" I exclaim, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand. "I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks," she replies, her cheeks flushing pink with pleasure. "It means a lot to hear you say that. You know I quit both of my jobs to focus on this next chapter. So I sure was hoping that I would be accepted. And, uh, speaking of which... there's something else I should probably come clean about with one of those jobs."

"Go ahead, you can tell me anything," I assure her, giving her hand another reassuring squeeze.

"Okay, so... when we first met, you know how you’d pay for a psychic phone line reading from yours truly?

“Yeah, what about it?” I ask, now curious to see where this is going.

“Well, the truth is, I was never really one. I just made it sound good to the clients who called in based on what they would tell me. Since I was raised around that stuff, I knew what to say and how to make it sound," she confesses, biting her thumb's nail nervously.

"Hey, really? I want a refund," I respond, chuckling lightly.

"Yeah, try to call Miss Tusaine and let’s see if she gives you one," Elle says with a laugh.

We finish up our breakfast with great conversation and laughter.

"Alright, we should get going if we want to enjoy a full day at Love Beach with the guys," I say as we finish our breakfast and start clearing the table.

"Sounds like a plan!" she replies enthusiastically, helping me clean up before we head outside to load up my Jeep.

The sun shines bright on our skin as we gather up our beach essentials. We grab towels, sunscreen, and a cooler filled with drinks and snacks, making sure we're well-prepared for a day of relaxation and fun.

"Think we've got everything?" Elle asks after we've loaded up the Jeep.

"Looks like it," I nod, giving the back of the vehicle a quick once-over. "Let's hit the road!"

We make our way towards Love Beach. I love this area. The unique blend of small-town charm and coastal beauty has always been one of my favorite things about this place, and I'm grateful that I can share it with Elle now.

As we pull into the parking lot near our designated spot on the beach, I spot Kaleb, Dakota, and Ryder already setting up beach chairs and umbrellas. Their laughter carries over the sound of the crashing waves, and I feel a surge of happiness in my chest at the sight of my friends enjoying themselves.

"Hey, look who's finally here!" Ryder calls out, grinning as he spots us approaching. "Thought you two lovebirds might've gotten lost on the way."

"Ha, funny guy," I retort, playfully rolling my eyes. "We just wanted to make sure we had everything we needed."

"Speaking of which, let me help you with that," Kaleb offers, striding over to lend a hand as we unload the Jeep.

"Thanks, man," I say gratefully, passing him the cooler. "You guys got a good spot here."

"Of course we did," Dakota chimes in, his hazel eyes twinkling with amusement. "We're professionals at this beach thing."

"Seems like it," Elle agrees, smiling warmly as we all work to set up our little seaside paradise for the day.

We settle into our beach chairs and take in the beautiful view of Love Beach. Damn, I’m lucky to have such amazing friends – and, of course, Elle by my side.

I lean back in my beach chair, feeling the warm sand between my toes. Elle stretches out beside me with her head leaned back and her eyes closed, taking in the sun’s rays.

"Hey, did I ever tell you guys about the time Asher accidentally walked into the women's locker room?" Dakota asks, grinning mischievously.

"Wait, what?!" Elle exclaims, laughter bubbling up in her throat.

"Ugh, not this again," I groan, rubbing my temples. "It was an honest mistake, I swear."

"Sure, Jet, keep telling yourself that," Ryder smirks, playfully nudging me with his elbow.

"Alright, alright," I concede, throwing up my hands in surrender. "Maybe it wasn't so accidental, but can you blame a guy for trying?"

"Only if he gets caught," Kaleb chimes in, chuckling under his breath.

All our laughter mingles with the sound of crashing waves and distant seagulls. I’m grateful for these moments I get to spend with people I care about. It's easy to forget the pressures of the hockey world when we're all together like this, just enjoying each other's company and soaking up the sun.

"Hey, how about we get a game of beach volleyball going?" I suggest, ready to engage in some friendly competition.

"Sounds good to me," Dakota agrees, standing up and brushing the sand off his shorts. "I'm always ready to school you guys on the court."

"Bring it on," Elle says, her eyes sparkling with determination as she rises from her chair. "You might be surprised by what I can do."

"Is that a challenge, Levine?" I tease, raising an eyebrow.

"Consider it one," she replies, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Let's see if you can keep up with me."

We divide into teams, Elle and I on one side, while Dakota, Ryder, and Kaleb form the opposing trio. The game quickly becomes intense, our playful banter mixing with shouts of encouragement and friendly rivalries.

I steal a glance at Elle. Her cheeks are flushed, her hair wild and windswept. She catches my eye and grins, that carefree happiness shining through.

"Hey, Jet, focus!" Ryder calls from across the net, snapping me back to reality.

"Sorry, got distracted," I admit sheepishly, repositioning myself for the next serve.

"Can't say I blame you," Kaleb mutters under his breath, smirking knowingly. But despite his teasing, there's an undercurrent of loneliness in his gaze – one I know all too well from my own search for intimacy and connection.

"Alright, let's finish this," I declare, tossing the volleyball into the air and serving it with a powerful swing.

As we play on, the sun sinking ever lower toward the horizon, I'm reminded of the great moments with friends. I'm determined to hold onto them as tightly as I can, knowing they're what truly matters in the end.

The bonfire roars to life, as we gather around it. The smell of burning wood fills my nostrils, mingling with the salty sea air. I glance over at Elle, who's sitting beside me, her eyes reflecting the firelight like emerald jewels.

"Hey," she whispers, snuggling up against my side. I wrap an arm around her, pulling her close. "This is perfect."

"Yeah," I agree, pressing a soft kiss to her temple. "It really is."

As we roast marshmallows, laughter bubbles up around the fire, conversations mingling with the crackling of wood and the distant crash of waves. Dakota tells a particularly embarrassing story about Ryder, leaving us all in stitches.

"Okay, okay," Ryder interrupts, chuckling. "Enough with the past humiliations. Let's talk about something else."

"Like what?" I ask, popping a gooey marshmallow into my mouth.

Ryder hesitates, looking around at our expectant faces. There's a look in his eyes that I haven't seen before; it makes me curious, and a little concerned. "Well... I've been keeping something to myself for a while now. I think it's time I shared it with you guys."

"Go on," Dakota encourages, curiosity piqued.

"Alright," Ryder sighs, seemingly gathering his courage. "So, you all know how I've been pretty unlucky in love, right?"

"Of course," I reply, remembering that I haven’t seen him with the same woman more than once.

"Well," Ryder continues, his voice wavering slightly, "I've decided to try something new. Something... unconventional."

"Unconventional how?" Elle asks gently, already being the mother hen of the bunch as her hand rests on my thigh.

Ryder’s guitar is tucked under his arm while his gaze flicks to the fire, as if it holds the answers he's seeking. "I've enrolled in a unique matchmaking service. One that caters to... specific desires."

"Specific desires?" Kaleb echoes, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah," Ryder admits, his cheeks turning pink under the firelight. It’s not often that this strong, confident captain of a man gets embarrassed. "Look, I know it might sound strange, but I'm tired of pretending to be something I'm not. I want to find someone who understands me and won't judge me."

"Hey, man," I say, squeezing his shoulder reassuringly. "We're your friends. We'll support you."

"Thanks, Asher," Ryder murmurs, gratitude shining in his eyes. "I really appreciate that."

As we sit around the fire, a sense of contentment washes over me. The stars above glitter like diamonds against the ink-black sky, promising a world of infinite possibilities. I feel excited – for all of us – as we move to a new chapter of our lives.

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