Bonus Epilogue

Mackenzie

Just when Ithought my life couldn't get any more perfect, it did.

Again.

And now, I'm standing in the hallway beneath the center field bleachers, knowing my entire family, all my friends, and the entire Fireballs organization is out on the field, waiting for me to walk out of here in my white dress, with my bouquet of Fireballs-red roses, to say I do to the man of my dreams on the field of my favorite place on earth.

No, second-favorite.

Wherever Brooks is has completely surpassed Duggan Field as my favorite place, though luckily, we both spend a lot of time here.

"I can't believe my baby's getting married." Dad's already sobbing in his handkerchief, and Papa's not doing much better.

Neither is Sarah, who has the special kind of glow that's making me highly suspicious about what she and Beck did on their third honeymoon last month.

Yes, third.

After eloping, they were subjected to the wedding reception to end all wedding receptions, and they needed multiple honeymoons to recover.

Me?

I'm getting an entire off-season of honeymoon.

"Who knew we'd be here now," Sarah says as she hugs me tight.

She, Parker, Dame Delilah, and Evianna are my attendants today. Brooks has his three brothers and his dad standing up beside him today, and I'm so ready to get this show on the road.

I'm more than ready to be Mrs. Brooks Elliott. "Is everyone here? Can we start?"

Lila bustles down the hallway in heels and a loose Fireball-red dress. "You're ready?"

"So ready."

"Good." She sticks her fingers in her mouth and whistles.

There's a scurry of feet, a very familiar scurry, and a moment later, Spike the Echidna steps into view.

I gasp. "You are not."

We're two days past the regular season, one day before the Fireballs leave for the first round of post-season play, and all of Copper Valley is waiting with bated breath to find out who won the mascot contest.

I might still be wearing a Fiery Forever button on my dress.

My dads might be appalled.

But I refuse to give up hope.

"No, we're not announcing the winner today. It's not after the season yet." She makes a come on gesture, and Glow pokes his head around the corner too. "But we are adding a few attendants to your wedding. It was in the fine print."

Firequacker dashes in and offers me his arm.

Lila gives him a look, and he hangs his head, then steps up to escort Glow.

Meaty lumbers around the corner, and he and Spike size each other up, then also link arms.

Lila throws open the doors to the outfield, and a cool breeze wafts in from the pleasant fall afternoon.

The speaker system blasts Elton John's "I'm Still Standing," and I start laughing, since my dads have made the song the Fireballs' new theme song this season.

"This is wedding goals," Dad declares.

The two mascot pairs traipse down the makeshift aisle, and I know I should be hiding out of sight, but I can't help peering out to watch Brooks do a double-take at the unexpected wedding guests.

His teammates all laugh and high-five each other. His family all turn their phones to snap pictures.

Except the babies, naturally.

And Brooks grins.

Of course he does.

Turns out all those grumpies he had were a result of being a little lost in his career and personal life.

It's been my utter joy to help turn his frown upside down, and I can't remember ever feeling more proud than I did the day the Fireballs clinched their division, and all of his teammates poured Gatorade on him first.

After getting Santiago, I mean.

The Skipper always goes first.

Parker squeezes me in a quick hug. "I'm so glad I'm getting another sister today. And thank you for ignoring what my phone said to you last night."

I squeeze her back, and she departs to walk down the aisle with Jack.

Dame Delilah strolls down the red runner with Rhett.

Evianna follows with Brooks's dad.

And Sarah gets in one last hug before pairing up with Gavin.

Butterflies swirl in my stomach, but not the nervous kind.

They're the excited kind.

"You ready for this, baby girl?" Dad asks.

He and Papa are both devastatingly handsome in suits today, which they chose so as to not outshine the bride.

I don't care how fancy they get in drag, they wouldn't outshine me today, but if this makes them happy, then it makes me happy too.

I nod to him.

He kisses my cheek. "Then we'll see you on the other side."

"Wait, what?"

He and Papa link elbows, and they take off down the aisle.

Without me.

I turn to give Lila a what the hell? look, and then I freeze.

Lila's not there.

Fiery is.

Fiery the Dragon.

All seven feet of him.

Standing there with a new white beard, and white ear hairs sticking out, in a tuxedo, leaning on a cane.

He offers me his free arm.

"You…you want to walk me down the aisle? And give me away?"

I almost can't get the words out, and I'm using every trick my dads ever taught me to not cry as he nods gravely.

I touch his beard. "They're not going to let you come back, are they?"

He shakes his head.

Then he wraps his arms around me and hugs me tight.

I hug him back, hard, knowing full well there's a grown person inside this suit who has to think I'm a nutcase for sobbing all over him on my wedding day, but I don't care.

This is both the best and worst wedding present I could've ever gotten.

He pats my back, and I realize we're not alone.

"Okay, Kenz?" Brooks asks softly.

I nod. Shake my head. Nod again.

He chuckles softly. "I figured."

People are stirring out in the outfield, probably wondering if I'm going to bolt.

As if.

I sniffle and straighten, then look at my soon-to-be-husband. "Thank you."

His easy grin comes back, and there go my panties, melting themselves off.

Or, I should say, my Fiery thong.

Wow.

This just got awkward.

"How about we share the privilege, Fiery?" Brooks says to the dragon.

Fiery nods.

He offers an elbow. Brooks does too.

And for his last act ever as the Fireballs mascot, Fiery escorts us to our happily ever after.

Want to extend the happily ever after? Click HERE to download the Jock Blocked bonus material or keep reading to find out what happens when the best hair in baseball and a jilted bride end up faking love!