Page 77

Epilogue

Jordan

Two years later…

“Are you nervous?” Austen asks as we walk down the street.

“Not as much as I should be.”

Spring is coming, and I like it better here when it’s warmer. New York winters suck. Alex and I visit often because of Austen and Cameron, and also because I’m looking around for a good spot to start my own rehab center.

Alex and I have still been living at my place for now, but we’re actively looking for a new place to live that isn’t necessarily in Ashbourne.

We’re ready to settle down. Get a big house, adopt some kids.

I talk about it casually because if I really think about it, it freaks me out.

It’s not that I don’t want to do this, I do, it’s just terrifying.

Me taking care of kids? That’s a crazy thought.

“That’s a good thing,” Austen says.

“Is it? I feel like it’s bad.”

“I think it means it’s the right decision.”

“Fucking hope so,” I comment, blowing out a breath.

Austen and I don’t say much else as we walk up to the Madison Square Garden doors.

He grabs the door, but doesn’t pull it open. He gives me a weird look, and I feel like he’s about to give me some bad news.

“I still can’t believe you’re fucking my brother.”

I huff out an annoyed sound, shove him out of the way, and open the door. He’s laughing behind me as we get inside.

I’ve been planning this for a few months now, and I hope things go perfectly. If they don’t, well, I know what the outcome will be, so I guess it doesn’t really matter.

Austen and I find the guy we need to talk to, make sure everything is set for tonight, and then we head out.

“You want to grab some food?” Austen asks.

“I don’t think I can eat.”

“You just said you weren’t nervous.”

“No, I said I wasn’t as nervous as I should be.”

“Well, I’m hungry, so we’re getting food.”

We stop at a small cafe and grab some sandwiches and coffee. Though I said I couldn’t eat, I end up eating it all. There’s one pink frosted donut left, so I grab it for Alex.

“How is it being married?” I ask Austen as we make our way down the street.

“Not much different than it was before, only cooler to say I have a husband.”

I huff out a laugh. I guess that makes sense. I mean… what really changes? Just legal stuff.

“So you’re saying it’s pointless?” I tease.

“Hell no. I love having a husband.”

Yeah, I think I’m going to feel the same way.

“Wait, hold on a second,” Austen says, putting his hand out to stop me. Someone nearly bumps into us, so we move out of the way. “Are you going to be a Brewer?”

I roll my eyes. “You nearly got me run over for that?”

“You’re like ten feet tall, Jordan, no one is running you over.”

I shake my head and shove him in the direction of where we need to go.

“We haven’t discussed it. But… maybe.”

“Damn,” Austen says with a shake of his head. “Never thought there’d be so many of them.”

Cameron ended up taking Austen’s name because he had so much tied to it. And because Cameron Brewer sounds better than Austen Scott.

It’s true that Alex and I haven’t talked about who would take which last name, and his rough relationship with his parents may play some part in that. Alex Mackenzie doesn’t sound terrible, but his name holds a lot of weight. He’s Alex Brewer, a successful, retired hockey player.

It’s the only reason I got away with what I wanted to do today.

When we reach the block where we split ways, I stop and glance at Austen.

“So, I’ll see you later?”

“No way in hell am I missing this. Yes, I’ll see you later.”

I keep my head down as I make it back to my hotel, where Alex is waiting for me—naked.

The Rangers are playing the Blue Jackets, which I’ve known for a long time because this plan has been in the works for a long time. I needed it to be perfect, and so I’ve spent a lot of time figuring out the logistics.

Neither the Rangers nor the Blue Jackets are Alex’s favorite team, but for the sake of his brother being with us, it’ll have to do. He loves hockey, and he was excited when I told him I got us tickets to the game. But it’s the after that’s going to be special .

Austen and Cameron meet us outside the doors, and we all go in together. We grab drinks and food before going to our seats right beside the penalty box. I love listening to the guys talk shit when they’re in here.

The game is great. It’s toward the end of the season and both teams are a wild card, so they’re fighting hard to get to the playoffs. There are more fights than I’ve ever seen in person, and I’ve been to a handful of hockey games. The penalty box almost always has someone in it.

Rangers end up winning, so of course the energy is high. When Alex gets up to leave, I grab his arm.

“Sit down,” I tell him.

He frowns at me, looking around. “Why?”

“Because I have a surprise for you.”

He narrows his eyes, looking to his brother, then back at me.

“Okay,” he says, drawing out the word and sitting down.

It doesn’t take long for most of the people to clear out, and when they do, I get up, feeling a little dizzy. I can’t fucking believe I’m about to do this.

“So… what’s this surprise?” Alex asks.

“You’ll see soon enough,” I say as we walk up the steps and out of the arena. I lead the way over to the security box, where the guy Austen and I were introduced to earlier is sitting. He grins at me knowingly, and I give him a nervous smile.

“Follow me, guys,” he says.

Alex hurries up to my side. “What the fuck is going on?”

“Stop trying to ruin the surprise,” Austen says, giving his brother a shove.

“So you know too? What the hell. Everyone knows but me?” His words are aimed at me, but when I don’t answer, he looks back at Austen and Cameron. “Even you, Cameron?”

“Sorry,” he says with a shrug, to which Alex complains.

The security guard leads us around the arena, where a ton of people are still trying to leave. He swipes a card and lets us through a door.

“Down the hall, and to the left. He’ll meet you there.” He winks at me as I walk by.

“Who is he ?” Alex asks. “What are we doing?”

“Jesus, Alex, calm down,” Austen says.

Alex huffs, but stops asking questions.

When we reach the next guy, he’s grinning too, then leads us into a small locker room with a few benches and four pairs of skates, all in our size. I’m not sure how I’m still standing because I don’t think I’ve been breathing since we met with the security guard .

“You guys have an hour, that’s the best I can do,” he says.

“Thank you,” I say, giving him a smile.

“Have fun.” He, too, winks at me.

I shake my head, turning to Alex. “Surprise?”

“What is going on?”

“We’re going to skate.”

His eyes go wide. “We’re going to skate on the ice at Madison Square Garden?”

“Yep,” I say, sitting on the bench.

I don’t even see him lunge for me, but I get knocked backwards, off the bench, with Alex on top of me.

“Fuck,” I groan when my back hits the floor.

“This is so fucking cool!”

“Just wait until he sees the rest of it,” Cameron comments under his breath.

“There’s more?!” Alex shouts, leaning down to kiss me.

When I finally get him off me, we put our skates on, go down the tunnel, and go out onto the ice.

It’s been a while since I’ve ice skated, but it’s like riding a bike. I’ve never been as comfortable on the ice as on the field, playing football, but I’m a sports guy. I can manage it all. Alex, of course, is like a fucking pro, skating around like he belongs here.

Austen is similar to me, not really liking the ice but comfortable enough that he can do it .

Cameron, on the other hand, looks like a baby deer who’s walking for the first time.

Austen stays with him, holding his hands and helping him keep his balance. He’s patient, and tries showing him the right way to move his feet and which way to point his toes.

“Just go,” Cameron says after about ten minutes. “I’m ruining your fun. I’ll stay here, where it’s safe.”

I bark out a laugh as I skate by, and a moment later, Austen is skating up after me. Alex zooms by, does a circle, and comes back, stopping quick to spray ice at Austen.

“I’ve been waiting to do that since we got on the ice!” he calls out, laughing.

“You asshole!” Austen shouts, picking up the pace to go after him.

Austen has spent more time on the ice than me, since he grew up with Alex. They skate around together for a while, chasing each other and trying to get the other to fall. I go stop by Cameron, needing a break. My legs hurt already.

“Nervous?” Cameron asks.

“Yep.”

He chuckles, shaking his head. “It’ll be worth it.”

I nod, then turn to face him. “For the record, I don’t hate you. ”

He smiles. “Thanks. That’s nice to hear after… ten years.”

Chuckling, I say, “No problem.”

“For the record, I don’t hate you either, though you are kind of an asshole.”

“Guilty.”

We stand there in silence, watching Alex and Austen skate. I go back for a little bit, but then end up stopping near Cameron again because my legs feel like jelly.

“I need more leg days,” I comment, and he barks out a laugh.

“At least you didn’t fall. I’m going to have a bruise on my ass the size of Canada.”

“I’m sure Austen will kiss it better.”

He smirks. “Yeah… you’re probably right.”

A glance at my watch tells me we have a little less than twenty minutes left, meaning… I need to get this done.

“Well, here goes nothing.” I blow out a sharp breath.

“Good luck.”

I skate to the center of the ice. Alex waves as he flies by me—backwards.

Austen catches my gaze and I nod. He shoves Alex to keep his attention, and so I drop to one knee, following Alex as he skates around.

Austen keeps fucking with Alex, and Alex has no idea what I’m doing because of it.

Austen is so fucking good at being a little brother, because he annoys Alex so much that he doesn’t realize that everything Austen is doing is purposeful, until he’s a few feet from me.

“Did you—” Alex starts, cutting off when he sees what’s in my hand. I hold it higher, offering it to him. “Fall?” he finishes, and I can’t help but smile, loving the set up.

“Only for you.”

“Fuck,” he breathes out.

I blink a few times, Alex’s gaze on the box. I pop it open and say, “Alex—”

“Yes! Fuck yes, I will marry you!”

“You didn’t even let me ask—”

“Don’t care. I want to marry you.” He reaches for the ring, but I pull it away. He frowns, then groans. “Fine. Ask. Hurry up!”

I huff out a laugh, not at all surprised about his reaction. He’s like a cat with a shiny new toy.

“Alex,” I say firmly. “You have changed my life in ways I can’t begin to thank you for. The last three-ish years of my life have been a wild roller coaster in the best possible way, and I have you to thank. I cannot wait to get the rest of our life started. Will you marry me?”

“Yes!” he shouts, diving for me. I fall onto my back, and he’s on top of me, kissing me as we slide a foot across the ice. I see the box slide away, too, but my fiance is kissing me, so I kiss him back.

“I love you, Alex,” I tell him. “I’m so happy you said yes.”

“Did you even for a second think I would say no?” he asks, his eyes shining with humor.

“Not at all.” We both laugh, and then we get up. Austen is there, holding up the box to Alex, who snatches it out of his hand, but then I snatch it out of his.

“Hey!”

“I am putting the ring on you,” I say firmly, grabbing his hand to slide the titanium ring on his finger.

Austen starts clapping, and so does Cameron, but then he almost falls so he grabs onto the edge again. Alex keeps kissing me, and we only stop because the whir of the Zamboni fills the room and a second later, it’s coming out on the ice.

“Time’s up!” Austen calls with a laugh.

Alex and I skate across the ice, hand in hand, his ring hot against my skin, and then we start down the tunnel to change back to our shoes.

Austen and Cameron were both right. Being nervous was worth it. Seeing the smile on Alex’s face and knowing he is my forever is the best thing that could ever have happened to me.