Page 100 of Draft Pick
The same place all of our family and friends are gathered at now.
A full circle moment for the two people who weren’t supposed to work.
We’ve got history and a bright future ahead.
That, I’m sure of.
EPILOGUE
JUNIPER
3 Months Later
“Go fish.”
“Who in the hell thought Go Fish would be an acceptable game to play?” Coach Leggins sneers, shooting daggers at my husband.
“The kids are finally asleep, Jack. It’s all we had. No complaints when kid-free time is sacred,” Kodi tells him, securing her new card.
“Yeah,Jack,” Gus enunciates his name. “Quit your bitchin’.”
“It was either this or Yahtzee,” Crew speaks up with his hands held high. For the first time this season, all of the wives, kids, and fiancés, have been able to make it to an away game at the same time.
Tonight, we’re in Savannah, Georgia.
It’s the end of summer, and the kids were dying to hit the resort pool after the game. We decided to make a night of it, us women figuring the guys would be exhausted after the afternoon game and ready to crash out.
That hasn’t been the case.
The whole gang has taken over the pool all afternoon until sundown, with endless water play, wearing the kids out. Perks of renting out a big section of resort rooms all close by, some with connecting room doors, making for the perfect excuse for the adults to stay up.
“Strikers win, and we celebrate with Go Fish,” Bodhi declares. “Make it make sense.”
“Nothing will ever make sense where all of us are concerned.” Tenley isn’t wrong. I’ve learned to always prepare for chaos, being a part of this group. But it’s my favorite kind of chaos, if I do say so myself.
We’re holed up in Jack’s suite, having bombarded him since we knew for certain he would try to be a hermit and avoid socializing. It seems like being forceful with our company is the only way that gets through to him.
I’ve come to really care about the reclusive and grieving coach. There’s much more to him than what meets the eye.
Since Crew and I have made things official, things have been more blissful than I ever thought possible. Our home renovations are finally complete, and now all that’s left to do is move ourselves out of Crew’s house and into mine—ours.
Addie already has her room colors picked out, no lie, requesting glitter on the ceiling and three-dimensional butterflies flying off the walls. I’m hopeful we can make that happen.
I expected getting into a groove with my work and Crew’s would be a bit of an obstacle to get used to at first, but it’s actually been great. While he’s traveling for away games, I alternate with Hilary picking Addie up from school and doing all the things. Dance, book club—my personal favorite to sit in on—and last I heard, Hilary enrolled her in a cooking class that starts next week.
I already know one-on-one pancake instruction is to come again in our near future. She’s a girl after my own heart.
I know I’ll never be to Addie what her mom is, nor would I ever want to interfere with that, but it’s a peculiar feeling loving a child as if she’s my own when she isn’t. In my heart of hearts, she feels like mine.
Just like her daddy does, too.
I’d lay down my life for the tiny queen of Emerald City and not think twice about it.
“Look at us…hanging out as friends,” King says, smiling wide and proud. “We never get to do this. It’s nice.”
“It is,” I add. “It’s hard to believe there was a time when I didn’t have any of you in my life.”
“That’s the farthest from a life I’d ever want,” Crew tells me with a kiss to my head as he sits. The coffee table is covered in cards, Solo cups, and random takeout we ordered.
