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epilogue
Evan
The gymnastics team made it to the final four of the NCAA championship, and even though they came in third, I am beyond proud of our girls. Callie and I did our handshake after her first and last event that day, when she hit four for four. Just us two and a handshake that has become part of our story.
We did our handshake at Vance’s second birthday, where Nico still hated me. And again, when Aviva and Nico’s second baby, Elliot, was born. Nico still doesn’t like me, but at least he acknowledges me.
We even did it in front of my parents when they convinced Callie to try singing a part in one of the songs they had planned for a family dinner. Callie was awful, but I loved that she tried, and I swear, I’ve never laughed so hard in my life.
We did a month in South Carolina and one in Nashville for the summer. When we decided to get an apartment together, I fully expected Nico to lose his shit, but he didn’t. When we moved at the beginning of August, we did our handshake on the patio, where we decided we’d have breakfast with each other every morning. When Nico helped us move in, he actually talked to me.
When the new school year started and we learned I was asked to come back as the girls’ athletic trainer, we not only did the handshake, but we kissed passionately in front of everyone. Since I moved to my own place, I wasn’t eligible to be an RA for the hockey house, but I’m still involved, giving advice and guidance to the guys. I’ve even found myself helping at the rink. I’m not skating, but I do go to games and help when I’m needed.
Above all, I’m deliriously happy, and I’m living.
It’s crazy to think that I wasn’t happy for so long, that only a year ago, I thought I wasn’t worth shit, a failure and a disgrace to my family. Now, I know none of that was true. I have worked so hard on myself, and I have dug deep to find the real me. I am making a difference in young hockey players’ lives. I am taping ankles like a pro for strong gymnasts, and I’m getting a degree to be able to help athletes in all sports know their worth. To never feel lost or fall into a hole the way I did.
I can’t believe how much has changed in a year, but I couldn’t ask for a better outcome. I don’t hate who I’m not anymore. I love and care for the person I am becoming. A man, worthy of so much. For so long, I was worried that I was ruining my parents’ legacy, but I’m not. Callie and I are building our own, and it’s looking brighter by the second.
As long as I have the girl who saved me with her love by my side.
Callie challenges me, she supports me, and she loves me more than I could ever ask for. She makes me laugh until I cry, she fights with me over the remote, and she doesn’t allow me to drive to see her family and Owen anymore. It’s okay. Aviva and I discuss the different Bigfoot documentaries I watch on the way. I cheer Callie on, both on and off the mat, and I fall for her daily. I know she wishes Nico would just fall in love with me the way she has—or, hell, even as Aviva has—which is why I fibbed when I told Callie I was going up to Boston with my mom to help move Quinn home.
Yeah, I’m here to do that, but I’m also here because Nico and Aviva are. Nico is being honored for his five hundredth NHL start, and it’s during a Bruins game. When Owen told me about it, I took it as a perfect opportunity to talk to them. Alone. Owen offered to come to dinner with us since he knows I’ve thrown up twice today and almost crapped my pants with nerves, but I knew I had to do this on my own.
As I sit at the table, I swallow back the bile in my throat as I tap my foot on the floor. In my pocket is Callie’s engagement ring, a two-carat rose-colored diamond that my dad gave my mom when I was born. Owen would have gotten it for Angie since he was born before me—by two fucking minutes, not that I’m butthurt about that—but Angie had actually asked him to marry her. So, they went and picked out rings together, one for him and one for her. Because they’re dorks. The smile on my face actually distracts me from my nerves, until I see Aviva and Nico walk into the restaurant.
I stand, my heart out of control as I fix my sport coat while they come toward me. Aviva is all smiles, beautiful as ever, while Nico looks like he is off to get a colonoscopy rather than have dinner with me. Maybe I should have just asked for drinks. Aviva comes right for me, hugging me tightly. As we part, I say, “Thank you for coming.”
“No problem,” she says as Nico pulls out her chair. “You’re here for Quinn? He’s moving home?”
“Yeah, finally,” I joke. “Stop mooching off my grandparents.”
I hold out my hand to Nico, and he takes it. “Thanks for coming.”
“Wasn’t really given the choice,” he says, and when he laughs, I realize he is joking.
I think.
Fuck me.
I chuckle along politely when Aviva gives him a death stare as we both sit. We order drinks and make small talk, mostly about the game tomorrow. I learn they hired Jean to babysit the boys so they could have a weekend to themselves. “What a great idea. I’m glad y’all got some time to yourselves.”
Aviva sighs. “We needed it.”
Nico grins, stroking his thumb over her hand that he’s holding. “Sure did.”
We order our dinner, and then we’re on the subject of Callie’s training. I reassure Aviva that Callie is doing great after a little hiccup on beam that ended with her having a sprained wrist and being out for two weeks. “I’ve never been so scared in my life,” I say, shaking my head. “I seriously almost shit my pants when she went one way and the wrist went the other.”
Aviva groans, covering her face. “I watched her snap her arm in half on bars when she was like nine. I cried for a week.”
“I bet,” I agree, shaking my head. “That sport is rough.”
“So damn rough.”
“But she loves it,” Nico says, and we both nod with him.
“Yeah. So, all we can do is support her,” I say, and I know it’s a low-key jab at Nico for not caring for me, but I don’t know if he took it that way.
The grin on Aviva’s face tells me she did, though.
When I finish, I push my plate forward and lean back, exhaling. “That was good.”
“Really good,” Aviva says, and she finishes just as I do. She leans back, crossing her legs, and then sets me with a wide grin. “So, listen, I’m about to burst. I know you’re going to ask us to marry Callie, so can we get to that?”
I laugh as she wiggles, and Nico says, “Well, if he wasn’t, this is about to be real awkward.”
I reach into my pocket and hand Aviva the ring box. She squeals when she opens it., “Oh, Evan, she will love it!”
“It was my mom’s,” I start, watching as she pulls it out to look closer at it. Nico looks at it with such disdain, but at least he’s not yelling. Or even upset. I guess. I clear my throat, trying not to lose my courage here. “I wanted to bring y’all here to ask to marry Callie, and before you say no, Nico, hear me out.”
Aviva rolls her eyes as she hands me back the ring, but I don’t take it, my eyes locked with Nico’s. “I love her,” I say softly. “Some days more than I do myself. I wake up excited to see what our day will include. For so long, I was desperately unhappy and felt unloved, that now, I don’t take a minute, a second, or even a moment with her for granted. I love her fully, just as she loves me.”
Aviva reaches out, cupping my wrist. “Evan, we know, honey. You two are gorgeous together. You have my blessing, a hundred times over.”
Nico says nothing, so I only nod as I say, “Thank you.” I take a deep breath in, letting it out in a whoosh before I continue. “I’m not asking her until after Owen and Angie’s wedding this winter, and the only reason I’m asking you guys now is because I want to give you time, Nico, to adjust and to welcome the idea of Callie and me getting married. Because we’re going to get married.”
Damn, I sound confident as fuck.
