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“Welcome to parenthood,” Kodie mutters. “May the odds be in your favor.”

Did they win the cup?

EPILOGUE

COOPER

EIGHT YEARS LATER…

Asniffle comes from beside me, and when I glance over, I can’t help but smile.

“Are you crying already?” I ask.

“I’m not,” Garrett mutters, suspiciously lifting his hand to his eye and wiping something away.

“They haven’t even come out yet,” I tease, my grip on his hand tightening, my love for him growing even more, just like it does every single day.

“It’s just a bug, alright?” he hisses.

“Sure thing, baby.”

“Casey is crying,” Garrett points out, making me glance at the woman sitting on Ryker’s other side.

“Way to call me out,” Casey laughs.

“I’m pretty sure she woke up crying this morning,” Kodie teases.

“It’s a big day. Our babies are graduating high school.”

Casey meets my eyes as eight years of understanding passes between us. Neither of us is a biological parent to the kids who are about to find their seats in the stands before us, but that doesn’t matter. We love and support them as if they’re our own.

“How are you doing?” Kodie asks, turning back to the other emotional couple who are sitting behind us.

Reece and Fletch Ferguson are sitting with their daughter between them. Not long after Garrett and I took guardianship of my brothers, Fletch revealed to the team that he and Reece had been having fertility issues. I didn’t know Fletch all that well at that point, but I knew that many of the guys were worried about him, and that revelation explained a lot. I got to see firsthand the weight his confession lifted from his shoulders, allowing his teammates in on his troubles, and that was something I more than understood. It’s hard to remember what life was like before Garrett, Huxley, and Ryker became a permanent part of my life, and quite honestly, I don’t want to.

I glance back and take in Reece’s tear-stained cheeks, which only causes the lump in my throat to grow a little bit more.

I might be teasing Garrett for getting emotional, but it’s a distraction technique because I know the second Huxley steps out wearing his cap and gown, I’m gonna fucking lose it.

I’m so incredibly proud of that boy. He’s growing into the kindest, most caring, thoughtful young man. It’s been a privilege to have a front-row seat to his journey. And on top of all that, he’s a top-class hockey player who has managed to secure himself a full scholarship to his dream college. He’s literally living out the dream that I didn’t quite manage to secure. And not only that, but he’s going to do it with his best friends by his side.

Brooks Ferguson and Sutton Rivers.

Adrian is going elsewhere, and Sutton is really, really okay with that.

I don’t think Hux is so thrilled.

Despite Sutton’s warning from day one, Hux and Adrian became friends. It was kinda impossible not to. They’ve ended up in almost every class together and been on the same team ever since. Hux, Ryk, Brooks, and Adrian are a mighty foursome on the ice. It’s a shame to see their time together end. But I know Adrian will kill it next year, just like our boys will.

“Here they come,” someone says from the row in front of us. The chatter lessens, and all eyes turn on the seniors as they make their way to their seats.

The second Garrett spots Huxley, his grip on my hand turns painful.

“There’s our boy,” he mutters. “Look at him.”

Fuck.

I’m not sure I can.