Page 182 of Scrum Heat

Epilogue

We won.

Alderbridge RFC justwonthe damn final.

The stadium’s still going nuts. People are crying, Rory tackled a coach and got tackled right back, and Harper screamed so loud I’m genuinely worried she popped a blood vessel. I managed to catch about half of it on video before she grabbed Ollie by the collar and kissed him like it was prom night and she had something to prove.

The crowd’s still roaring, smoke cannons are hissing, and I’m standing at the edge of the pitch, phone in hand, mascara halfway down my face, heart absolutely flying.

We did it. We beat Northport Harriers. The dirtiest, cockiest, most smug team in the entire league.

And not only did we beat them—westeamrolledthem.

Jax tackled someone so hard he left a dent in the turf. Theo intercepted a pass and ran the whole field like his life depended on it. (I got it in slow-mo.Obviously.) Finn dove for a try that was so dramatic therefactually fist-bumped him, and Rory didn’t crack a smile until the final whistle; but then he lifted theball over his head like a war trophy androared. Like, full-chest, primal sound.

I pan my phone across the chaos. Fans are losing their minds. Some kid is holding up a sign that saysFrankie’s Four Alphas > Northport’s Front Line,and I zoom in as I snap a photo of it.

Imayneed that printed on a hoodie.

“Oh, that’s 100% gonna be in the next OSC report,” I mutter.

Theo wraps his arms around me from behind, chin on my shoulder. “Worth it.”

We turn just as Jax jogs over, dried blood on his jersey and a blissed-out smile on his face. “They’re sending me for a concussion test.Again.”

“Did you tackle a player or a goalpost?” I ask.

“Hard to say,” he shrugs. “Felt good either way.”

Finn shows up next, shirtless and grinning. “Did we win?” he laughs. “I swear I blacked out after the second try.”

Rory follows behind him, somehow still holding four water bottles and his phone. “There’s already a video of you kissing the trophy.Twice.”

Finn throws his arms up. “Put it in the highlight reel!”

Tom’s pacing a few feet away, looking like his blood pressure’s never been higher, but he’s grinning anyway. Evie’s standing right next to him, clipboard in one hand, champagne in the other, andsmiling. Like, actual human joy.

It’s unsettling.

Theo nudges me. “They’redefinitelyhaving sex.”

“No way,” I say.

“Yes way,” he says. “How are you not seeing this? She just hit him with the clipboard and he blushed!”

“Oh my god,” I whisper. “Wait—why do I kind of ship them?!”

Harper pops back into frame, breathless and glittery. “Has anyone seen my bra?”

“Yeah, you tossed it at the ref,” Ollie laughs, wrapping his arms around her from behind.

“Oh! Right,” she shrugs, totally unbothered, and kisses him again.

Honestly, it’s amess. It’s loud and chaotic—and absolutelyperfect.

The scouts were here—regional reps, a couple of pro team guys. Rory’s pretending not to care and Theo’s acting relaxed, but I can feel them both buzzing through our bonds. Jax keeps saying he doesn’twantto be recruited, which means he definitely does, and Finn’s already planning our European summer.

“Picture it,” he says. “Pack villa in Italy. Or France. You’d looksogood in linen.”

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