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Thierry

T hree years later...

The wedding went off without a hitch. I couldn’t believe we were in Tuscany, celebrating our fifth anniversary while Tabby celebrated her nuptials.

None of this seemed real. Some days I wanted to pinch myself.

I was so damn lucky. Grateful too. I stared at Pope, who stood off to the side with Rick talking about something engrossing while Tabby and her husband sat at the table of honor.

Tomorrow was our last day in Italy. When we returned home, I started a new adventure, as did Pope.

After we won the AHL trophy twice, Coach Alexander moved up to the NHL to take over the duties for the Las Vegas Vipers , a great team who needed a bit more guidance to shore up their weaknesses. And me, well, you’re looking at the new Head Coach of the Murfreesboro Mountaineers .

I didn’t know whether to puke or go blind after the announcement. The speed at which everything happened left me with whiplash, but I knew I could do the job and continue the tradition of cultivating a winning club.

Pope started smaller. After the incident with Derrick and showing up to court with me, inquiries began surfacing about him.

Seemed people remembered Pope Ellis as the kid with talent who had a tragic upbringing.

Although, they never should’ve said that out loud.

It was the truth. Not more than a year after we married, Pope’s father passed away from a massive heart attack.

To this day, I can’t say with certainty if the look in his obsidian eyes was relief or pain when he heard the news.

Maybe a combo of both? We started therapy that day.

Grief for him and couples for us, because he was right.

Sometimes our communication sucked. Over the years, we’d learned to ask for what we needed, and I also understood some of my insecurities came from previous relationships, too.

But I digress.

When the questions started flying about Pope, the youth hockey team in Murfreesboro, the same team who used our facilities, even, contacted him.

Seemed the team needed a coach, and who better than the one and only goalie to have six shutouts in his youth career than Pope Ellis?

That stirred some long-buried emotions for him.

If he chose not to take the job, I didn’t blame him.

The game for him was a distraction. Something his father and grandparents put him into to get over the loss of his mother or to cover his father’s drinking habits.

Either way, just because he excelled didn’t mean the right intentions were used to bring his talent out.

In the end, he agreed. Making him the new coach of the Murfreesboro Junior Hockey League Elks .

The way his chest puffed up with pride when the local paper did a small article on the announcement, and when sign-ups would take place, had me grinning like a fool.

He deserved to have his skills and accomplishments applauded.

“May I have this dance?” Lost in thought, I hadn’t seen my husband approach nor heard the music change.

I placed my hand in his. “Of course. Everything okay? Seemed like you were in a heated conversation with Rick.”

“Everything is fine,” Pope replied. “Working out a schedule. Jenner wants to play hockey and football. We’re strategizing.”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course he would. Look at who his dad and godfathers are.”

Pope’s gaze brightened. “I said the same. Anyway, we’re trying to come up with positions that might balance out together. So, when he isn’t on the ice, he can still take the skills he’s learning and apply them to football.”

We swayed to the music gliding around the dancefloor. “Sounds like he should be a winger then or a center forward.” Both skills would be useful on offense or defense. Speed would be the main thing to work on over time.

“I said the same. I think Rick is a little disappointed, though. I think he wanted Jenner to be a quarterback like him.”

“Isn’t Bentley doing that?” I asked.

Pope nodded. “He’s just being greedy is all.”

“Obviously,” I said with a little chuckle. “I’m so proud of you.”

“You keep saying that, and you’re going to inflate my ego,” he replied, giving me his cheesiest grin.

“Maybe I like you with a big ego.” I wiggled my brows.

Pope glanced around the winery where Tabby held her ceremony, and I gave him a questioning look. “I’m trying to find a place where I can show you how big my ego is, right now.”

I laughed out loud, drawing the attention of those who mingled around us. “You’re crazy.”

“About you? Always.”

I like that word. Always. It was ours and special.

It meant more than I love you. It meant our lives had intertwined the moment we’d met when we were kids.

It meant forever. I brushed a kiss across his cheek.

“I’m so happy, Pope. I’m glad you were so persistent.

I could have missed out on the best thing my life had to offer. You.”

He shook his head. “That’s where you’re wrong.

You gave me time and space and understanding.

Three things I never fully understood until you.

You gave me the strength to challenge my preconceived notions.

To discover myself organically. To love you uninhibited even when I didn’t believe I was worthy of you.

I’m honored to call you, my husband. My partner in forever. ”

Tears misted my eyes as I kissed him then.

Love expanded within my chest until I thought I would burst with the feelings I held for Pope.

He completed me. Made my world come to life in ways I couldn’t fathom.

There was no doubt in my mind I wouldn’t be here celebrating with my friends if it hadn’t been for him. “I love you, Pope Ellis-Thomas.”

“I love you, Thierry Thomas-Ellis.”

Pope

Seven years later...

I walked out onto the ice where the kids were fighting and pulled them apart by the back of their sweaters. Dahlia gave Jagger a mean mugging while holding up her sticks. I’d have laughed if it wasn’t the third time this week during practice. I suppose it was time to sit down with their parents.

“What have I told you two about fighting,” I said, staring at them. If I could shake the attitude out of the kids and get away with it, I would. Probably knock some sense into them.

“Jagger told Casper he’s my boyfriend, and I can’t be friends with him,” Dahlia said, holding her fist up. “I don’t have a boyfriend!”

“Can’t help what’s already intended,” Jagger said with a shrug. “I don’t make the rules. I just follow them.”

Fucking. Hell.

I scrubbed my face. “Jagger, I get it man. You like Dahlia. She’s a great person, stands up in the goal, and helps the team win games. But she’s not property, man. You have to respect that she's going to have friends, including Casper, who also helps you defend the goal with her.”

“But you don’t understand coach,” Jagger stated with an exhale. “You’re too old to understand what is going on here.”

I huffed out a chuckle then pointed to the stands where Thierry sat, watching the kids practice on his day off.

“I think I know a little bit more than you do son. Trust me, it’ll happen one day.

But you can’t forbid Dahlia from having friends.

Especially when the three of you are the best dang defenders and goalie I’ve got. ”

He rolled his eyes, “Fiiiiine. Be friends with Casper, Dahlia. I don’t care.”

She smirked, throwing her braid over her shoulder. “Didn’t need your permission anyway.” Then skated away.

“Jaggar,” I muttered, “Get some ice for that eye of yours so it doesn’t swell shut. I need you able to see for the game on Saturday.”

“Yes, Coach,” he said, skating off the ice to the tunnel.

When I blew the final whistle all the parents had arrived. Lily-Mae, Bentley and Jenner sat beside Thierry. Behind them sat Jagger’s father. It seemed I wouldn’t have to call the meeting at all. I could just go talk to them.

Once the kids went to grab their things, I climbed the stairs to where Thierry sat and dropped a kiss on his lips, then hugged Lily-Mae while high-fiving the boys. “Guys why don’t you help your sister. She could use the assist. Also, be nice to Casper.”

Lily-Mae looked at me in confusion while Thierry sniggered beside her. “What happened? Why does Jagger have an ice pack on his eye?”

“You want to join us?” I asked Jagger’s father, motioning to the bench Lily sat on.

He nodded, taking up position beside her. Grease marred his knuckles while small scars covered his hands. “Did something happen?”

“You can say that,” I said on an exhale.

“I’ve been trying to handle this in-house without involving the both of you.

Today I don’t think that’s possible, anymore.

” I glanced over my shoulder to where Dahlia stood with her brothers while they stared daggers at Jagger.

“Seems Jagger likes Dahlia and forbade her from being friends with Casper. They got into a fight and Dahlia won.”

Jagger’s dad chuckled. “Good for her.”

“Wait, she did that?” Lily-Mae said, pointing to the kids. “Crap. I’m sorry she hit your son. We teach the kids to use their words, not their fists in our home.”

Jagger’s father lifted his hands while shaking his head.

“He needed a wake-up call. He’s protective of his siblings and cousins, including his deaf cousin.

I’ve told that boy a million times the way he handles things would get him into trouble.

He learned that lesson the hard way today.

I’m sorry if he’s agitated your daughter.

His mother and I will put a stop to that tonight. ”

“I’m not jerking your chains when I tell you they’re the best I’ve seen. There was only one other combo better, and that was me and Thier. With that said, I think we can get the youth championship this year if we can nip this in the bud. But I need your help.”

Lily-Mae nodded. “I’ll talk to Rick tonight. Dahlia too. Thank you, Pope.” She glanced at her daughter. “You really think she’s good enough?”