Page 51 of Charming Crosschecks

“See you at the wedding,” Coeur mumbled to Batiste, his voice soft but sincere.

“You are still myfamille,” Batiste grumbled, his thick accent adding weight to the sentiment as he reached out to shove Coeur’s head playfully, making his man-bun flop wildly. “Even if I want to disown you right now, tête de cochon…”

“I love you too, bro,” Coeur replied with a wry smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “And hey, just think—you can come visit your old stomping grounds, or maybe we’ll see each other on the ice.”

“It won’t be the same,” Lafreniere said quietly, his voice breaking with emotion. “And you know it.”

The three men nodded solemnly, their expressions grim as they shouldered their gear. They looked like they were stepping into an abyss, their lives uprooted and thrown into chaos with dizzying speed.

“Oh,” Coeur added suddenly, his eyes flickering to Gerry and Molly. “Congratulations, Thierry. Molly’s a real find, and I’m happy for you both.”

Every set of eyes turned toward the couple, the well-intentioned sentiment doing little to lift the somber mood. The congratulatory murmurs that followed were half-hearted, weighed down by the bleakness of the moment.

As the men emptied their lockers and filed out one by one, the silence in their wake was deafening. Molly’s heart clenched as she watched them go, the gravity of the situation sinking in fully.

“Wait here,” Coach Mike said grimly, his voice cutting through the stillness. Without another word, he strode out the door, leaving them with their thoughts and the lingering weight of everything unsaid. Returning back to the room, he hesitated and nodded. “I think we’ll skip practice today and focus on some gym time. I’ve got candidates to go through and a pile of work that just dumped onto my desk, courtesy of the Wolverines.”

“I’ll help,” Molly volunteered openly, her voice steady and full of warmth. Around her, heads nodded as several others stepped up, voices rising with offers of assistance. That was the thing about this team—it wasn’t just a collection of people. It was a family built on shared sweat, laughter, and tears. And like any real family, when the weight of loss pressed down on them, they didn’t fracture; they rallied. Even now, despite the pain of losing some of their own, they were leaning on one another, drawing strength from their shared bond, determined to rise again. The unspoken promise to stand tall, stronger than ever, echoed in every nod, every word of solidarity.

As the locker room began to clear, Molly caught sight of Gerry, standing apart from the others, his shoulders slumped as though he bore the weight of the world. His expression was distant, devastated, the grief etched into the lines of his face. She moved toward him with quiet purpose, her heart aching at the sight of him so lost in his thoughts.

“Gerry,” Molly said softly, tugging at his arm to draw him out of his reverie. He turned to her, his eyes shadowed, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through his usually stoic demeanor. “Look, you pulled a fast one this last weekend—let it be my turn now.”

“What do you mean?” he asked, his voice hoarse, tinged with confusion and something else—a faint spark of hope, perhaps.

Molly stepped closer, her tone dropping to a tender whisper meant just for him. “Clear your calendar, call Bob and decline the offer, and let’s get your mother down here within the next few weeks so your friends can be here to celebrate our wedding with us,” she said, her words a mix of practicality and affection. “I’ll call my mother shortly.”

Gerry’s throat worked, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he tried to speak. Instead, he stared at her, his gaze brimming with emotion: love, gratitude, and something deep and profound that words couldn’t quite capture. These people—they weren’t just teammates or coworkers. They were his brothers, his family, his inner circle.

And she understood that.

She saw how much it meant to him, how much they all meant to him. She wasn’t just making this day about them as a couple; she was weaving his family—his chosen family—into their shared future.

“You don’t mind?” he asked at last, his voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid the moment might shatter.

“Heck no,” Molly replied, her lips curving into a loving smile. “Let’s get married and have our family near us before they move away,” she added, her voice soft yet firm with determination. She cupped his hand in hers, grounding him in the moment. “Just because they’ll wear different colors and be in a different city doesn’t mean that they aren’t friends anymore. Our home will always be welcome to your ‘brothers.’ Now—go text those knuckleheads and get ahold of your mama. We’ve got work to do.”

Gerry blinked rapidly, his emotions bubbling to the surface. “Gosh, I love you…” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

Molly chuckled, the sound light and teasing as she reached up to brush a strand of his blond hair from his forehead. “Go, Blondie,” she teased, invoking the nickname her mother had affectionately given him, a nickname that always made him grin no matter what. And sure enough, a fragile yet tenacious smile broke across his face, one that lit up his features in a way that melted her heart.

“That’s right,” she added playfully, her voice brimming with affection and determination. “You’re mine, so let’s get to planning.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, his grin widening as he straightened, a renewed energy sparking in his eyes.

With that, he stepped away, already pulling out his phone, his steps lighter, his heart fuller. Molly watched him go, her own heart swelling with love. This was how they would face life’s challenges—together, hand in hand, surrounded by the people who mattered most.

EPILOGUE

One year later…

“Aimeeeee!”Molly hollered in excitement – and was nearly tackled as several women rushed her happily. They had all decided to fly in with the team to watch the game between the Wolverines and the Coyotes – with a surprise!

The goal: SportsCenter.

Grinning, she looked at their painted faces, laughing wildly at their cleverness. “Okay ladies, show of hands – who blabbed before the game?” and not one hand went up. She surveyed the faces, both close friends and new, and couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her at seeing the children also in their fan gear.

“Let’s line up…”

---