Epilogue

SIX MONTHS LATER

"It's really not that big of a deal, Chase." Summer's hands press on my shoulder blades as she finishes giving me a much needed massage.

"I fucking hate doing media. Coach even said he didn't want to do it, but since we haven't been featured at all in the last ten or so years, we were basically forced to participate."

Every off-season for the last couple of decades, a camera crew will choose a team to follow around for training camp leading up to the next season.

Fans love it, I'll admit it. But as a player it feels distracting.

We've been able to skirt by it on multiple occasions for numerous reasons, but this season our backs were against a wall. And even though Coach Aarons tried to have the film team go in a different direction, his swaying wasn't successful.

"Come on." Summer runs her nails in my hair as she moves off of me.

"Oh, but we were just getting to the good part," I pout, watching the strap of her nightgown hang from her shoulder.

She stares at me with those crystal blue eyes, a temptation I've been having a hard time ignoring for too many slow mornings now. Having Summer in my life and CeCe's life has been the biggest blessing we could've hoped for. She treats CeCe as her own and we make a damn good team when it comes to handling work and life balance, plus having a toddler. I know CeCe isn't her daughter, she knows that too. But damn, if she doesn't treat her like she is.

Summer doesn't miss a single gymnastics practice or meet. She makes CeCe's favorite breakfast when she's off from the hospital, takes her shopping, they even went and had her first nail appointment the other day. CeCe couldn't wait to show me her glittery pink fingers when she came barreling into the kitchen when they got home.

"We have forever for all the good parts," she whispers against my lips before pressing her lips to mine in a slow, steady kiss.

I study her body as she moves from the bed and into the bathroom. The swell of Summer's hips still sends my pulse into a frenzy and watching her move across my bedroom floor almost daily is a reminder that I never want her to leave. She leaves the bathroom door slightly ajar as she undresses to hop in the shower, but before she gets in, she looks back at me over her shoulder with a smile that has my heart aching in my chest. Praying that mornings like this, and nights like the last, never come to an end.

Summer doesn't live with CeCe and I yet, but it's something I'm hoping will change soon. This apartment has served us well. It's been our safe space, a space of comfort and familiarity. But I want more for CeCe. Maybe a big yard where she can have a swing set and kick around a soccer ball. With some space for a dog to run, because ever since my sister and Ford expanded their family by four legs when they adopted their puppy, Thor, she's been begging me for one. I knew that would happen, though. The first words from her mouth after she spent exactly three seconds with him were " I want one ." I made sure to thank Ford and Abby for that. They're still waiting for their time as parents to arrive and I think the addition of a dog was a long time coming and a needed companion for my sister.

As I pull myself from the bed, I can hear the faint sound of CeCe's voice coming from across the hall. Her sound machine automatically turns off at nine in the morning, making her morning solo singing sessions very clear.

Tapping my knuckle on the door, I call out to her.

"Is this a private concert for your stuffed animals or can I come in?" I ask, peeking my head in the door frame.

"Come in." She giggles, pulling her comforter from her and reaching for a stuffed animal before she hops out of bed.

"Should we make pancakes?"

Her head bobs up and down enthusiastically, and I ruffle the already tangled hair on her head as we head down the hall.

My calendar pops up when I walk into the kitchen and tap the screen, showing the team meeting I have this afternoon that will inevitably go over what is expected of us for this documentary series.

I turn the television on for CeCe and she plops herself on the couch, settling in as I pull out the ingredients to whip up some breakfast quickly. As I'm stirring the batter, Summer makes her way down the hall. She's wearing one of my old t-shirts that she made into a crop top and a pair of bright red leggings.

"Where are you going dressed so bright?" I tease.

"I was thinking we'd have a girls day at the zoo." She shifts her eyes to CeCe, who of course perks up immediately.

"Yes! Please!" She jumps from the couch and hugs Summer's leg before she runs back down the hall into her bedroom.

"You're going to melt. It's supposed to be over ninety today with a "feels like" temp of over one hundred and five."

"Lucky for me, I'm okay with getting a little sweaty." Her fingertips feather my forearm as she leans up toward me, kissing my bicep and looking down at the bowl of pancake batter filled with sprinkles and chocolate chips.

"Careful, Kincaid." I warn.

Turning to face her, I run my hand down her backside, spreading my hand out firmly against the curve of her ass.

"Not uh." She waves her index finger in my face. "Your growly warning tone isn't going to work on me right now."

"No?" My hand squeezes and she quietly gasps. "I'm betting if I checked, you'd be wet."

"Then I guess it's a good thing for me that you can't check." Her hand skims the outside of my shorts and she smirks when she feels how hard I am before she backs away.

For years Summer didn't phase me. Years went by where she could walk into a room, or touch me and nothing would happen. Nothing would ignite in me. But then we kissed and we spent time together. Real time. Just the two of us. And fuck if my entire world didn't flip upside down.

"Can I wear this?" CeCe shouts from down the hall before we both see her finally emerge from the hallway.

She's in a bright pink princess dress with one of her purses hanging from her shoulder and a pair of sandals in her hand before she drops them in front of her feet.

"Is that what you want to wear? Are you comfortable?" I ask.

She nods and takes a seat at the island in front of me and I glance over to Summer who is proudly staring at CeCe with a smile on her face.

"Well, I love it." Summer pulls a chair up next to her and starts taking last night's scrunchie from her hair. "Let's put this in a ponytail, eat some pancakes and go see some zebras!"

I quietly chuckle to myself as I flip the last few pancakes on the blackstone and plate them. Both of my girls are seated at the kitchen island as I inhale one myself in a handful of quick bites before heading back down the hall to get ready to gear up for another season.

A season I wasn't sure I'd be doing if you asked me at this time last year. I wasn't sure how much more time my body had in me or how I'd manage another season away from CeCe and having to find someone to watch her. But thankfully with the right recovery, my knees have felt great. Missing the playoffs last season blew, but my body fucking needed the break. And having Summer help out last year was something I didn't know I needed. She's someone I didn't know I needed.

"I have the stroller in my trunk," Summer says as I walk out of the bedroom and down the hall. "And I'll text you updates. Penguins, Parrots, all the birds of course." She elbows me as I walk by to grab my keys from the dish on the counter.

"Looking forward to it," I say, wrapping my arm around her chest from behind and kissing her cheek before I bend down and kiss CeCe goodbye, too.

"Have fun," I say. "Be good."

Summer's light laugh follows me as she walks with me toward the door.

"No promises on that last part," she whispers, giving me a wink as the door shuts behind me and I shake my head as I walk down the hall.

It was easy as a kid to look the other way when it came to Summer's crush on me. But when I look back now, there were so many moments I really did miss. Things that just went right over my head. I've never been someone who's had constant people in my life. Sure, my family. But when it came to friends, I made them based on my circumstances. Where I was going to school or what team I was playing for. I don't even talk to anyone from high school anymore and it's rare that I talk to any of my college buddies anymore. But Summer was always there. I know she's my sister's best friend, and regardless of what happens down the line with us, I know that'll never change between them.

But she's become mine, too.

I've known her over half my life and I only recently started getting to know her. I feel like I missed out on so much time with her, so many memories that could've been made. But if I would've done one thing differently, I wouldn't have CeCe. And even though I wish I would've noticed Summer sooner– I have to be glad that I didn't. Because having CeCe– being a dad, it's the greatest thing to ever happen to me. Summer simply amplifies my life. She makes everything I already have brighter, better. She's it– for both of us.

"What's got you in such a good mood this morning? I thought you also didn't want to do this bullshit?" I ask Liam.

He's already seated in the auditorium with a giant smile spread across his face, but he doesn't answer me.

Nate and Ford both walk in and take a seat in the front row next to Liam and I.

"Looks like we have an audience today," Ford says as he leans back in the seat beside me, pointing to the media staff against the far west wall.

Media is never in team meetings, but considering we're their next "team to highlight" for the off-season film, I'd expect nothing less.

"That explains why this one is so happy." I nudge Liam's arm as I glance to the double doors, seeing a familiar face about to walk in.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Liam sits himself up straighter in the chair as our coaches all walk in, followed by a tall brunette.

"Morning, Gentlemen," Demi Sanchez says as she walks by the four of us and toward the media staff.

I'd say I'm surprised she's here, given everything she's been publicly going through over the last six months, but she's a professional. And at the end of the day she's one of the best sports reporters out there.

Her heels click against the auditorium floor as she strides past us, walking tall and confident toward her crew.

"Morning, Demi." The four of us reply almost in unison.

I glance at Liam from the corner of my eye and can already see the smirk lined on his lips.

Here we go.