“Little Queen wouldn’t answer your DMs,” Brooke says.
“Bet accepted.”Miles pulls out his phone and starts typing, and Brooke laughs.
We find our seats and grab drinks before the show starts.
The vibe is incredible.A wild landscape, thousands of fans.It’s the best of both nature and humanity at once.
More than anything, I’m relaxed for the first time in forever.None of this would’ve happened if Nova hadn’t come into my life.Hadn’t helped me see what was real and the limitations I’d put on myself.
Midway through the show, Jay looks over and nods.I nod back.
“This what you wanted?”he asks.
“Yeah.”
I grab Nova’s hips and shift her in front of me, wrapping my arms around her as she sways to the music.
I’m so fucking grateful for her, every day.
I love waking up next to her, making her coffee in the morning, making her sweat at night.
Thanks to her, I know what it means to be about more than basketball.I’m not ready to retire, but when I am, I’ll face it with her at my side.
I’ve been looking at some houses and want one with a next-level art studio for her, plus plenty of room to display her finished work.I’ve found something near Harlan and Mari’s.Not so close we’ll trip over each other, but close enough she could bike or walk over to see Emily.
For the summer, I’m planning to enjoy my girl and the downtime and my friends.I’ll give her everything, and we’ll do it all together.
Next year, my Kodiaks will try to run it back and win again.
We’ll be defending champs this time.The bull’s-eye is on our backs, and everyone—including LA and Boston—will be gunning to take us down.
As the show wraps after a couple encores and we head out, I hear noises in the dark beyond the parking lot.Howls, rustling.
Rookie jumps.“The fuck is that?”
“You scared?”Miles teases.“Maybe your purple-dino car will save you.”
I scan our friends before my gaze lands on Nova.Her expression softens with shared understanding.
“They’re a family.They’re going to protect their own,” Nova says, smiling.
I drag her against my side, tucking her under my arm as the crew of us heads toward our vehicles in the dark.
So will I.
EPILOGUE
NOVA
“Everything better be vegan this time,” I mutter, stirring the pot on the stove.
My feet ache from breaking in new shoes for tonight, and I chewed my lipstick off my mouth hours ago.
Clay and I are hosting dinner at our new house to celebrate Emily’s first birthday.
Harlan and Mari had a party for her, but this is for family.
I want tonight to be perfect.I still have memories of Mari’s bachelorette party when I messed up the cupcakes.
