Page 38 of Summer with a Player

"I love you too, my gypsy girl," he replies, his voice a low rumble that vibrates through me. His arm tightens around my waist.

I let out a sigh of contentment as my eyelids grow heavy.

"Goodnight, Elle," he whispers, his breath warm against my neck.

"Goodnight, Asher," I breathe out, closing my eyes and allowing the night to take me.

Epilogue

Asher

Elle and I sit at our kitchen table, enjoying a leisurely breakfast together and watch the sunrise through the picture window. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the salty sea breeze drifting in from the open sliding door. With hockey season over for now, time feels like an abundant luxury, and I smile as I soak it all in.

Our new house is perfect – nestled midway between my old place in Pawleys Island and Elle's former tiny home community. It's a cozy blend of our two worlds, with eclectic décor that reflects both her bohemian spirit and my love for the sport that brought us together. The walls are adorned with vintage prints ofhockey legends, while potted plants add vibrant bursts of green to every corner.

"Ash," Elle says, taking a sip of her coffee, her crystal blue eyes meeting mine, "I got my acceptance letter in the mail yesterday for nursing school," she reveals, playing with the edge of her napkin.

"Elle, that's amazing!" I exclaim, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand. "I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks," she replies, her cheeks flushing pink with pleasure. "It means a lot to hear you say that. You know I quit both of my jobs to focus on this next chapter. So I sure was hoping that I would be accepted. And, uh, speaking of which... there's something else I should probably come clean about with one of those jobs."

"Go ahead, you can tell me anything," I assure her, giving her hand another reassuring squeeze.

"Okay, so... when we first met, you know how you’d pay for a psychic phone line reading from yours truly?

“Yeah, what about it?” I ask, now curious to see where this is going.

“Well, the truth is, I was never really one. I just made it sound good to the clients who called in based on what they would tell me. Since I was raised around that stuff, I knew what to say and how to make it sound," she confesses, biting her thumb's nail nervously.

"Hey, really? I want a refund," I respond, chuckling lightly.

"Yeah, try to call Miss Tusaine and let’s see if she gives you one," Elle says with a laugh.

We finish up our breakfast with great conversation and laughter.

"Alright, we should get going if we want to enjoy a full day at Love Beach with the guys," I say as we finish our breakfast and start clearing the table.

"Sounds like a plan!" she replies enthusiastically, helping me clean up before we head outside to load up my Jeep.

The sun shines bright on our skin as we gather up our beach essentials. We grab towels, sunscreen, and a cooler filled with drinks and snacks, making sure we're well-prepared for a day of relaxation and fun.

"Think we've got everything?" Elle asks after we've loaded up the Jeep.

"Looks like it," I nod, giving the back of the vehicle a quick once-over. "Let's hit the road!"

We make our way towards Love Beach. I love this area. The unique blend of small-town charm and coastal beauty has always been one of my favorite things about this place, and I'm grateful that I can share it with Elle now.

As we pull into the parking lot near our designated spot on the beach, I spot Kaleb, Dakota, and Ryder already setting up beach chairs and umbrellas. Their laughter carries over the sound of the crashing waves, and I feel a surge of happiness in my chest at the sight of my friends enjoying themselves.

"Hey, look who's finally here!" Ryder calls out, grinning as he spots us approaching. "Thought you two lovebirds might've gotten lost on the way."

"Ha, funny guy," I retort, playfully rolling my eyes. "We just wanted to make sure we had everything we needed."

"Speaking of which, let me help you with that," Kaleb offers, striding over to lend a hand as we unload the Jeep.

"Thanks, man," I say gratefully, passing him the cooler. "You guys got a good spot here."

"Of course we did," Dakota chimes in, his hazel eyes twinkling with amusement. "We're professionals at this beach thing."

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