Page 110 of Lucky Puck

“For any other couple, it would be.”

He laughs, and I capture his joy with my mouth as we kiss, letting the giddy feeling take over without second-guessing and knowing he matches the way I feel.

Knowing we’re going to give ourselves a chance to be a couple in love and see where the future takes us.

First Epilogue

BRODY

TWO WEEKS LATER

“Surprise!”

The chorus of what sounds like a hundred people shout as soon as I step inside my door. Before I have a chance to look around or register what the fuck is going on, Bianca—or I should say Honey Pants because it’s her favorite name even though she protests when I suggest we change it officially—launches herself at me, landing in my arms with a hug so forceful that I’m knocked back a step.

She kisses me as the shouting goes on wishing me happy 21st birthday.

“What the fuck is this?” I say into her mouth while a laugh surfaces, ending the kiss.

“It’s a surprise birthday and everyone is here to wish you well. It’s a landmark year so I couldn’t very well just bake a cake and call it a day. So I⁠—”

“Okay, I get it.” My smile might match hers in size, but probably not in wattage and I feel like I need to hold her in place or she’ll float to the ceiling.

She throws her arms around me again before mom and dad come forward and drag us the rest of the way inside to the zealously decorated space that used to be my condo. Now it’s our condo—not officially of course—but in every other way.

Kara and my brothers are here and I do a double-take because Nora’s here too. “Now that’s a true surprise,” I lean in and whisper in HP’s ear.

She looks confused for a second, an endearing expression that I enjoy creating every chance I get, before I nod in the direction of Nora.

She shrugs apologetically. “I’m not one to hold grudges.”

I pull her to my side where she fits like magic and kiss the top of her head as we’re drawn into the crowded living room to greet most of my team, her family, Kat and Jett and his wife with their baby.

“Where are your glasses?” I whisper. “You know it’s one of my favorite things to take them off you.”

She blushes and then elbows me. “Not now, Brody.” She looks up into my eyes and my breath disappears like it does every time I come home to her or she walks in the door as if I’m seeing an impossibly beautiful mirage and I tell her to pinch me because it feels like I’m living a dream.

Maybe I am. But if so, I have no intentions of waking up. Ever.

“Come over here you lucky S.O.B.” Ax says and he and Sabien steal me away from my girl to slap me on the back and hand me a drink.

Coach Nash says, “No morning skate,” as he raises his glass and cheers go up. People laugh and I down half my beer.

“No whiskey?” I ask.

Ax whispers, “Coach Logan got wind of the party⁠—”

“Because I invited him,” Brooks puts in.

“And he said nothing stronger than beer since you’re a virgin drinker.” Ax laughs and I’m pretty sure he’s making that up—the part about coach saying I’m a virgin drinker. Coach couldn’t possibly have that good a sense of humor.

Coach Logan finally gets to me and shakes my hand with a nod and his serious as a Bishop face confirms my opinion of his sense of humor.

Then he says, “I’m proud of you, Brody. You’ve made a good choice here and seem to have matured years in a matter of months.”

Shock has me nodding without saying a word. Brooks circles her arms around me and leans in, tilting her head up to treat me to that adoring expression that makes my heart double-up for a beat.

She whispers, “He’s all grown up now, isn’t he?”