"I love you," Sadie breathed, reaching up to touch my face. "I think I always have."
"I love you, too," I replied, leaning down to kiss her as our friends cheered and Casey made exaggerated gagging noises.
With the two most important women in my world in my arms, I knew this was it.
This was what winning felt like.
EPILOGUE
Easton
Two Years Later
"Dad! Watch this!"
Casey's voice carried across the backyard, and I turned from the grill just in time to see her wind up for a slap shot. Her form was textbook, with her back straight, weight transferring smoothly through her hips, stick following through in a perfect arc. The ball rocketed past one of the younger kids into the makeshift net we'd set up.
"Did you see? Did you see?" She was bouncing on her toes, her miniature captain's jersey complete with a tiny C riding up as she jumped.
"I saw, munchkin." The words came easily now, but they still hit me in the chest every single time. "Coach Jenkins is right. Best form in your age group."
"Better than yours was, I bet," Beck snickered, appearing beside me with two beers. He handed me one, then raised his own in my direction. The silent salute he'd been giving me since the day the team voted to reinstate my captaincy.
I touched my bottle to his, throat tight. Some things you didn't need words for.
"She's going to be better than me by the time she's a teenager," I said, watching Casey show one of the younger kids how to position his hands on the stick.
"Probably sooner." Beck took a pull from his beer. "She's already got better hockey sense than half our rookies. Must be genetic."
I adjusted the captain's C on my polo. "Or maybe she just has a better teacher than I did."
"Humble now, are we?" Beck laughed. "Marriage really changed you."
"Shut up." But I was grinning.
Moving into this house had been the right call. Our house sat right on Lake Chambeau with a backyard big enough for a proper practice net and a dock where Casey spent summer afternoons casting for bass. A fresh start in a place that already meant something to all of us.
Across the yard, Sadie knelt beside one of the younger kids, helping them tie their shoe. The late August sunlight caught her wedding band, and I stared, caught in that moment of silent admiration I'd held for her these past two years. Maybe longer.
"Earth to Cap," Beck said, waving a hand in front of my face. "Your burgers are about to become hockey pucks."
I quickly flipped the patties, grateful for the save.
"Married almost two years and you still look at her like you've never seen a woman before." Beck shook his head. "It's embarrassing."
"It's called being in love, Beck. You should try it sometime."
"Pass." But he was smiling. "Though speaking of love…" He nodded toward the edge of the gathering where Nathan stood awkwardly near the cooler, his eyes tracking Brenna from marketing as she laughed at something Aaron said.
"How long has that been going on?" I asked.
"Months. Nathan finds excuses to be wherever she is; she pretends not to notice, rinse and repeat." Beck sighed. "Someone needs to lock them in a closet."
"Don't look at me. I'm retired from matchmaking."
"Since when?"
"Since I nearly destroyed my life trying to avoid my feelings. I'm the last person who should give relationship advice."
