Page 156 of Wicked Serve

Her mouth drops open. “Shh! You can’t talk about your own wedding at someone else’s.”

“So you agree, then?” I press her against one of the dogwood trunks, kissing her soundly. “We’re having a wedding?”

“I don’t recall a proposal.”

“When the time’s right, solnishko.”

She bites her lip as she smiles. “What did you want to tell me?”

“You go first.”

“I didn’t say I had anything to share.”

“I’m sure there’s something I missed.”

She pretends to think as she plays with my tie. “I’m playing setter in the fall.”

Cooper had hinted that she had volleyball news, but I figured that’d be too much to hope for. “No way.”

“And I’m talking with my parents about putting together a volleyball scholarship for McKee through the foundation.”

“Holy shit.” My heart pounds with pride. I squeeze her, lifting her off the ground in my excitement. “That’s incredible.”

“Also, your mother is very interested in expanding her business to the West Coast.” She tugs me into a kiss by the tie. “I told her I’d be happy to explore the idea after I graduate.”

“Come back with me tomorrow.” I brush a lock of hair behind her ear. This early evening light makes her look unfairly tempting. “At least for the game. Meet Tempest. See the apartment.”

“Who’s Tempest?”

“Our dog.”

“Our dog,” she repeats. “She doesn’t even know who I am.”

“Sweetheart, all I’ve done is talk to her about you. She knows your name better than she knows her own.”

The band starts a new song, perfect for slow dancing. She shakes her head again, eyes sparkling.

“Is that enough of a forever for you?”

“Dance with me,” she whispers.

I can’t change my past, but I can shape my own future. She’s the only one I want by my side. My partner. My future wife. My home. I sweep her into my arms, my heart settling at the way she smiles. “Always, Isabelle.”

Epilogue

Izzy

Five Years Later

I pull the hockey sweater out of my jeans and re-tuck it, chewing on my lip all the while. On the ice, Nikolai and Cooper and the rest of their teammates are warming up, but they look tiny from this angle. The team practically tripped over itself to offer us a box for opening night; they wanted the whole family together for Nik and Cooper’s first NHL game as brothers-in-law.

The box is still filling up, but as I look around, I spot Katherine and her fiancé chatting with Mom and Dad. Cricket and her wife walking arm-in-arm. Bex, laughing at something Penny just said while she wipes Charlie’s face with a napkin. Penny holding her son, Lukas, on her lap. He’s wearing those adorable baby headphones, which highlight his mop of gingery hair.

I give Joseph a nod as he enters. I’ve never forgiven him for what he tried to do to Nik, but we’ve reached an understanding. We both love him. We both want him to succeed. And considering the fact that Nik has led all defensemen in the league in points the past two seasons, I’d say he made the right career choice.

James walks over, holding his younger daughter, Harper, on his hip. When she sees me—her favorite aunt, of course—she reaches her arms out. The little Rangers jersey she’s wearing looks unfairly cute on her.

“Oof,” I say as James sets her on my lap. “You’re getting so big!”

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