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epilogue

CAROLINE

Three Years Later

New York, NY, USA

I stare down at the email again just to be sure I haven’t imagined it. But no—it’s still there, the black-and-white words that feel too big for the screen. Too big for me.

We are thrilled to welcome you to the NHN national broadcast team alongside Tom Dunn for the upcoming season.

My fingers tremble around the phone as I set it down. I don’t know whether to laugh, cry, or throw up. Maybe all three.

“Everything okay over there, Cub?” Rhett asks from across the restaurant table, grinning at me over his gin and tonic. His eyes crinkle in the corners, and I know he knows. But he’d never take away the honor of letting me be the one to say.

I swallow, my mouth stretching into a stunned smile. “I got it,” I breathe.

Bennett, sitting next to him, raises his brows. “Got what? ”

“The job,” I say, my voice barely a whisper. Then louder: “I got the job.”

For a second, no one moves. Then Addie gasps next to me, grabbing my hands. Bennett swears under his breath, a huge grin taking over his face. Rhett is already standing, moving around the table to press a kiss to the top of my head.

“The NHN gig?” Bennett asks, eyes wide. “Next to Dunn?”

I nod, blinking fast, trying to catch up to reality.

“Holy shit, Care,” Addie laughs. “That’s incredible!”

The waiter chooses that exact moment to slide between us, balancing the two dozen oysters we ordered as an appetizer. “Special occasion?” he asks, setting the tray down.

“Very,” Rhett says, grinning. “She just made it to the big leagues.”

The waiter offers polite congratulations before disappearing again. Addie keeps her glass raised. “To Caroline. For chasing every single thing she set her mind to. And for actually?—”

But I don’t hear the rest. Because suddenly, the edges of the room tip sideways, my stomach twisting violently. I barely manage to shove my chair back before I’m on my feet, muttering, “Excuse me?—”

I hear Rhett’s voice call after me, but it’s distant. Everything feels distant except the cold tile of the restaurant bathroom and the sharp, searing wave of nausea that sends me to my knees.

I don’t know how long I’m in there before I hear the soft knock.

“Cub?”

When I push the door open, Rhett is standing there, concern etched in every line of his face.

“Are you okay?” he murmurs.

I open my mouth to answer, but no words come out. My hand instinctively flattens against my stomach. He watches me carefully, then his brow furrows.

“You still haven’t—” He breaks off, lowering his voice. “You still haven’t started?”

I swallow hard and shake my head, my whole body shaky now.

“Come on,” he says gently, taking my hand without another word.

I stay silent the entire way—to the pharmacy, through checkout, up the elevator to my apartment.

I’m still silent when I’m sitting on the bathroom counter, knees brushing against his chest, the little white test clutched in my fingers.

Rhett stands between my legs, hands resting on my thighs, steady and quiet.

I can’t look at it.

“Cub?” he murmurs. “It’s time.”

I close my eyes. When I open them, the second line is there. Clear as day.

Positive.

“Oh my God,” I whisper.

He stares at it, then at me. His eyes don’t leave mine for a long moment. And then he exhales, his forehead pressing lightly to mine as his hands come up to cradle my face.

“Hey,” he murmurs softly, his thumbs brushing my skin. “Hey. Look at me.”

I do. Barely breathing.

“I’m done after this season,” he says, his voice quiet, even. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while. Thirty-five. Plenty of guys retire around then.”

I blink, startled. “Rhett?—”

He cuts me off gently. “I’ve had my time.

My glory years. More money than I could ever need.

I’ve lived the dream. Now I want to live a new one.

” He swallows, brushing his nose against mine.

“With you. With this.” His hands slide down to rest over mine, still clutching the test. “Let me try to be the dad I never had. I want this. I want you. But only if you want it too. ”

Tears sting my eyes. “You’d follow me?”

He smiles faintly. “Baby, I’ve been following you from the minute I met you. And I’ll follow you anywhere.”

I laugh through the tears. “That’s not what I meant.”

He shakes his head, the faintest gleam of mischief in his eyes. “I’ll be on dad duty. I’ll follow you to every city if you’ll let me. Long-distance when we have to. Close-distance when we can. I want it all. With you.”

I swallow, my heart thudding against my ribs. “I want it too.”

We sit there for a moment, the weight of everything—everything we’ve survived—sinking in.

And then I smile through the haze of shock. And when he kisses me—slow and soft and deep—I know it, without question.

We’re going to be just fine.