Page 99 of Wrap Around

Who would have thought that two repressed church boys would not only find love, but find their way through every seemingly impossible obstacle. Sure, we lost our nerve and our patience a few times along the way, and we definitely didn’t always make it easy on ourselves. And we lost people along the way, including leaving our families behind completely.

But families aren't necessarily who you were born with. Sometimes the strongest bonds are with the people you surround yourself with. Those who make you happy and support you no matter what.

CHAPTER 36

EPILOGUE TWO – GIDEON

The Calgary Flames showers are steamy, loud, and honestly kind of echoey, but I barely notice.

I’m looking at Silas.

Water slides down his back in perfect sheets, trailing over muscles I could trace in the dark. He’s got one hand pressed to the tile, the other running through his soaked hair, and it hits me all at once how far we’ve come.

It’s been over seven years since I ran away from home, from him. Four years since he found me in a locker room much like this one. Three since we packed up and moved our lives to Calgary. Eighteen months since I asked him to marry me, a year since I took his name.

After everything, we find ourselves here. On the same NHL team. Playing together again.

Silas turns and catches me staring. His lips quirk and he winks before he turns back into the spray. God, but I love that man.

Someone shouts from the locker room, breaking me out of mythoughts. "Caldwells! Both of your phones are blowing up in here!”

We make eye contact. His brows lift. Mine do too, eyes bulging. Then we bolt.

I almost eat shit trying to round the corner too fast, slipping on the wet tile and nearly taking out three other guys and breaking my dick in the process.

There’s a message waiting for me:

Lily: IT'S TIME.

Oh shit. It’s time.It’s time.

Oh shit!

“The baby’s coming!” I shout, voice cracking with excitement, and, okay, terror. “Our baby girl is coming!”

Half the locker room erupts in cheers.

Silas claps a hand on my back. “Breathe. Pants first. We need pants.”

Oh. Right.

We yank on whatever clothes we can grab and rush out, Coach Ryan slapping both our backs and yelling, “Go get her, boys!”

“Good luck in the playoffs!” Silas shouts behind us as we run from the building in a dead sprint.

One frantic drive through insane traffic, one illegal parking job, and seven hours of labor later, and she’s here. In my arms.

She’s tiny. Soft. Pink. Perfect.

I don’t even realize I’m crying again until a tear lands on her blanket. It seems like all I’ve done today is blubber and try not to puke or pass out. After all, my little sister did all the hard work.

The door opens quietly.

Silas steps in, holding Addy’s hand. I hold a finger to my lips, letting them know the baby and mama are resting. And then I kneel down so Addy can see, and introduce her to her baby sister.

“Hi baby sister,” Addy whispers. Then she kisses the baby on the forehead.

Behind me, I hear a sniffle.

Lily’s awake, watching us. Tears in her eyes, soft and proud.

Silas sits beside her, pulls her into a gentle hug. “Thank you,” he murmurs against her hair. “For everything.”

For our perfect family.

Not a traditional family, by any means.

It’sourfamily.

And I wouldn’t trade it for the world.