Epilogue

EPILOGUE

SAWYER

The entire last week has been absolutely wild. Winning the Stanley Cup is a much bigger deal than winning any ordinary game—as I'm sure anyone would imagine. The locker room was covered with champagne and the smell of predetermined bad decisions right after our victory, the after party that night had an energy like none I'd ever seen before, and don't even get me started on the fucking parade. Having Leah by my side through it all only made it that much sweeter. I'd thought we'd have everyone over for a celebratory dinner the night after we won, but I severely underestimated the celebrations that would be had this week.

So tonight, the dinner table at our house is packed with our family and closest friends, to finally celebrate the Badgers win at the Stanley Cup. It just so happens it was my night to have the cup, so it's currently full of ice to keep our champagne cool.

"Umm, Moose, hey," Taylor whispers, bending down next to me as everyone around the dinner table mingles. I chose to hire caterers for tonight since there are so many people, that way we're all able to enjoy the evening without having to serve ourselves.

"What is it, Tot?" I whisper back.

"Not that I'm not loving the black-tie attire—and the caterers were a super nice touch so your victory dinner isn't potluck style, but—" She smiles and begins talking through her teeth. "Who's the rando sitting by Mom and Dad?" I glance over and smile.

"A friend."

"I mean, as long as we're not about to turn into a massive breaking news article, I'm good with it."

"I'm confident there are at least three people here who would drop Hank before that happened."

"Riiight." She looks down the table where Tucker, Max, and Tank are sitting. "As you were." With her evening gown floating behind her, she makes her way back down to her seat and Leah leans over and squeezes my thigh.

"Better get to it before someone asks Hank what he does for a living." She lifts her brows and nods me along.

"I suppose you're right." I stand and raise my water glass, tapping it with my fork.

"Can I have your attention please?" I clear my throat when all eyes turn towards me.

"You've had it since you made that winning shot, son." My dad says, easing some of my nerves as laughs spread across the table.

"It's no secret that I achieved one of my lifelong dreams of winning the Stanley Cup last week. I've been playing hockey since I was old enough to hold a stick and the time, effort, and sacrifices made by both of my parents will not go unnoticed. Mom and Dad, thank you. For taking me to practice, for not getting too mad at me when I busted a window…or two, while slapping biscuits around the yard, and for never letting me give up on my dreams. Any of them." My dad gives me a sly smile and I tip my glass to him.

"But winning a game is simply that. One win. One game. One moment—that I will, of course, be proud of and remember for the rest of my life—but in the end, it is fleeting. Something else happened this season, something much bigger than winning a game. I finally got my girl. I would have never ended up in Nashville, playing for the Badgers if it wasn't for this woman right here and my undeniable need to be where she was. As many of you know, I asked Leah to marry me recently—and she accepted." I smile down at her, and her cheeks grow rosy as people yell and clap around the table.

"Dove, I know I let too many years pass before growing a pair and telling you how crazy I was about you, but I will be grateful for the rest of my life that you finally gave me a chance to apologize and prove to you just how much you mean to me—how much you've always meant to me." I take a deep breath and face our guests again. "So, thank you all for coming tonight, for what you thought would be a celebratory dinner for the Badgers' victory." The room goes quiet and people look around to see if the other knows what the hell I'm talking about. Then I grab Leah's hand and motion for her to stand.

"Leah and I are getting married— tonight ."

"WHAT?!" Taylor and my mom scream at the same time as the other girls gasp and the guys' faces are full of supportive surprise.

"Hank, thank you for coming to officiate. Dove, I'll let you and the girls have a moment and I'll meet you at the altar." I kiss her hand and she looks at me with such love in her eyes I'm almost tempted to give her a five minute clock to be ready to walk down the aisle. "If everyone else would follow me, I'll show you to your seats for the ceremony."

"I'm gonna strangle you with your own jockstrap," Taylor growls at me and I bark out a laugh.

"How about you just go on your long ass honeymoon tomorrow instead and leave me the hell alone?" I smirk at her and watch as she breaks, unable to hold back her smile.

"I love you so much, Moose. I am so so happy for you."

Taylor and I haven't had many moments like this since high school. We've always been there for each other, but Taylor is the kind of girl that is going to take care of herself more times than not. Once she became an adult and really came into her don't fuck with me attitude, there wasn't much need for a scary big brother anymore. She was the scary one.

But ever since I've been back and mended things with Leah—and she found out why I had avoided her for so long in the first place—I've seen the softer, more vulnerable side of Taylor again. So instead of pulling away first, I hold onto her until she's ready to let go. Embracing every moment I get to hug my sister, silently reminding her that I'll always be here when she needs me.

"Tay, come on!" Lauren shouts from the stairwell. Then they disappear upstairs to help Leah get ready. She spent the entire day yesterday with her mom, shopping for a wedding dress to suit our last-minute timeframe, and by the way she was absolutely glowing when she got home, I can't wait to see what she's picked.

Twenty minutes later I'm told they're ready to get things started and my palms begin to sweat. At the last minute one of the servers' ushers Matty and Lyssa to their seats and the music begins to play.

"Wildest Dreams" by Taylor Swift played by violin actually kills.

Tank stands next to me, followed by Max, Tucker, and Hendrix. It's crazy how these people already feel like family to me—plus you know, now they actually are family. Shane and Cece walk out first, followed by Taylor then Lauren and I know she's not far behind. My heart beats so hard in my chest it feels like it's fighting against my ribs to get to her.

"Breathe dude," Tank mumbles from beside me, prompting me to take as much air into my lungs as I can. Thank God I do, because when I see her descending the small steps on our back porch, it takes every bit of my remaining breath away. Everyone stands to watch her walk down the small aisle and I can't take my eyes off her.

Her hair is in its natural curls—I wonder if she wears it like that so often now because she knows how much I love it—pulled into a low bun with her veil tucked into it, and the dress . It's strapless, fitting her like a second skin around the bodice with a full tulle skirt that looks like it's made from the softest cloud known to man. The necklace I gave her is around her neck and small pearl earrings are in her ears.

Simple.

Stunning.

Timeless.

Just like the bride that wears it.

Tears fill my eyes, and my throat feels tight as I fight back the emotion that is daring to pour out of me. Her mom kisses her cheek and I step beside her, taking her hand in mine.

"Hey, Dove," I whisper as the music begins to fade.

"Hey, Moose." She smiles at me and it takes everything in me to not lean over and kiss her.

"You may be seated." The officiant goes through his part of the service—Leah and I repeating what he tells us when he tells us to—but all I can do is stare into her eyes as golden hour illuminates my favorite color of green, grounding me into this moment.

"Have you prepared your own vows?" Hank asks and Leah smiles and nods. "Whenever you're ready." He nods and Lauren hands her the paper she was carrying with her small bouquet.

LEAH'S VOWS

Sawyer,

Eighteen years ago, I was put in a study group that landed me in the Clark household. I met some of my very best friends during a class project and little did I know, the middle schooler that waltzed through the kitchen yelling about a bag of bar-b-q chips would come to be one of those best friends too—and even more, my soulmate. You understood me more than most people, you never hesitated to protect not only me, but the rest of the spice girls as well, and you were the reason I started to love hockey. If I'm being honest, I only loved hockey because it gave me a reason to talk to you. My feelings for you grew every time we were together and what was nothing more than a crush for so many years, soon turned into a friendship you could build a life around. You became the one person I could see myself happy with for the rest of my life, and then I lost you. Don't worry, this story has a happily ever after. Because I never again loved someone the way I have always loved you. I tried to hate you, for many of our years apart, but the moment you walked back into my life, I knew I was only fooling myself. You have had more of my heart than you ever realized for much longer than even I knew. Today, in front of our friends and family, I promise to never walk away from you or the life we are starting together, no matter what life throws at us. I promise to cling to you and allow you to help me through the hard things and to always be there for you to cling to as well. I promise to always remember our game day rituals and to never stop dancing with you. I promise to be by your side, supporting you in any and all new adventures you see us going on in the future and I promise that no matter how deeply we fall in love, that you will always be my best friend. From the moment you first called me Dove, I have been yours, and yours I will remain. Only, always and forever. I love you.

SAWYER'S VOWS

Leah,

My bride, my best friend, my soul mate, and in a few short moments, my wife, standing here today, committing the rest of my life to loving you is the only ending I ever saw for us. I have loved you more years than I haven't and knowing that I get to spend the rest of my life falling more in love with you, with your mind, your smile, those eyes…it is the greatest honor to be the man you wish to call your husband. I have felt many things in my life—the adrenaline from winning my first hockey game, relief in knowing I would be playing for the Badgers when it was time to trade, and the gut-wrenching despair of thinking I'd lost my best friend due to my own horrible decision making. But the things I have felt that are now seared into my memory—falling in love, kissing my soul mate, knowing the exact moment my soul became tethered to another—are all things that I have experienced because of you, Dove. My heart beats for you, and only you. I would give up every other accomplishment I've ever made in life if I still got to marry you at the end of it all. So, today, I promise to love you through every heartache that you may endure, and order take out for lazy days in bed when we need to recharge. I promise to keep you grounded when you feel as though you may lose touch with reality and show you that for as long as there is breath in our lungs, that we have a life worth living to the fullest. I promise to always come home to you and dance you around our kitchen. And to never miss an opportunity to remind you that you are all of the very best parts of me. My heart, my soul and my happiness are at their best when I am with you, as they always have been and will remain to be. Only, always and forever, I am yours, LeighAnn Clark.

"By the power vested in me by the state of Tennessee, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." And boy do I kiss the hell out of my wife.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, for the first time ever, Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer Clark." I hold our hands up in the air as we run down the aisle, hearing the photographer snapping away when we stop at the end for one more kiss.

"What do you want to do now, wife ?" I smirk as Leah bites down on her bottom lip.

"Have my babies, Thirteen." She smiles so bright that the setting sun pales in comparison to her.

My only. My always. My forever.

My Dove.

THE END.