I hugged him back and returned his smile, relieved to have my decision behind me. “Then I guess we’ll be going to college together in a couple of months.”
“This calls for a celebration.” He rolled me onto my back and proceeded to honor the occasion by giving me three orgasms—one each with his mouth, fingers, and dick. One of my best ideas ever had been the rule about celebrating everything, and I was looking forward to a lifetime filled with nights like this one.
Epilogue
Corby
The past six years had been full of ups and downs, but only one topped this moment. The only time I’d been happier was the day I’d made Emme my wife. We came back to Black Mountain often, but this was a special trip because we’d brought the Stanley Cup with us. Rubbing my hand over her rounded belly, I took in the family and friends who’d joined in our celebration. We were an interesting group, and everyone in the room was important to our little family in one way or another.
“Your mom would’ve been so fucking proud of you, son.” A hand clamped on my shoulder, and I twisted around to meet my dad’s gaze. The past six years had brought many changes for him, starting with his early parole when Jonathan, Emme’s dad, got involved in his case. It had shocked the fuck out of me when he’d taken me aside when we’d come back during our first summer break to tell me he’d been up to the prison to visit my dad a bunch of times. Then he’d blown my mind when he’d added that the team of lawyers his company used had filed an appeal and were pushing hard for a retrial due to judicial bias.
They hadn’t been able to pull it off, but their early parole petition had been granted. When we’d come back home again for winter break, he was out and living with the Cushings—which drove Emme’s mom up the fucking wall. Her dad refused to back down, though, and she’d eventually shut up about it because she didn't want him to divorce her.
Emme’s mom was the opposite of how mine had been. My happiness was the only thing that mattered to her, not money or success. “She wouldn’t have cared about the Cup.”
“She would’ve been happy you’d achieved your dream.” My dad jerked his chin in Emme’s direction. “But she would have done cartwheels over your wife and baby.”
It fucking sucked that my mom would never meet Emme or the baby girl we planned to name after her. But with all the good luck I’d had in the past six years, I couldn’t help but feel as though she’d been looking after me all this time and knew how great my life had turned out. “The greatest accomplishments in my life.”
“Damn straight,” he agreed before glancing over at the Stanley Cup. “But winning a championship isn’t too far behind.”
Emme shifted in her seat, and there was a gentle kick against the palm of my hand. “You did so good, hubby.”
“I’m at my best when my good luck charm is in the stands.” Even with her belly round with my baby, Emme had cheered me on from one of the private boxes at every play-off game. It had taken a lot of naps to stay up late some nights, but she’d been with me every step of the way—just as she always was.
She beamed a smile my way. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.” I leaned over and pressed a quick but firm kiss against her lips. Then I stood and gave her belly a gentle pat. “I’ll be back in a second, baby.”
I headed over to the table Jonathan had set up for the Stanley Cup, jerking my chin in acknowledgment of one member of the team who traveled with the piece of hockey history as my teammates and I got our days with it over the summer. William was standing less than a foot away from the thirty-five-pound trophy. He hadn’t been able to keep his eyes off the Cup since he’d gotten here. I squeezed his shoulder and said, “It feels damn good to be able to repay your generosity.”
I’d kept in touch with William sporadically throughout the years, and he’d come to see me play several times in college—where I’d stayed long enough to earn my bachelor’s in communications—and more often during my two years in the NHL. When we’d won the championship, he’d been in the stands. After the game, I’d reminded him of the request he’d made of me back when I was a senior in high school. His smile then was only slightly smaller than the one on his face now.
“I knew you had talent when I first saw you play in the state championships as a junior in high school, but you’ve surpassed my prediction of the player you could become one day. I’m happy to have had a small hand in helping you get here, Corby.”
“What you did for me wasn’t small, William.” I turned to stare at my pregnant wife. William’s marriage hadn’t been a happy one, and he’d finally wrapped up his bitter divorce from Eleanor a few months ago. From his perspective, the help he’d provided had led to my successful hockey career. But my gratitude was for an entirely different reason. “I never would have met Emme if I hadn’t come to Black Mountain. My life in the years before you fostered me were difficult, but I would gladly go through them again if that’s what it took to bring me to her.”
If you’re curious about how Faith and Dillon got together, their story is available in the Fortuity Duet.
Want to know more about the Chicago Cavaliers, the team who drafted Corby? Several of the players find love in my Bachelorette Party series, which starts with Sucked Into Love.
Or you can grab Push the Envelope, one of my college romances, for FREE!
PS: I borrowed the serial killer storyline from Ashley Jade. If you’d like to know who the murderer is, keep an eye out for the release of Hate Me.
Drama, angst, love, lust, and everything in-between. Light or dark, twisted or sweet, the BMA series has something for every reader!
Check out the Black Mountain Academy webpage to see all the books available.
Also by Rochelle Paige
BLYTHE COLLEGE SERIES
Push the Envelope
Hit the Wall
Push It Forward
Hold Your Horses
Outside the Box
Winter Wedding
FORTUITY DUET
Fortuity
Serenity
BACHELORETTE PARTY SERIES
Sucked Into Love
Mixed Into Love
Checked Into Love
Married Into Love
Slapped Into Love
Chased Into Love
Bounced Into Love
CRISIS SERIES
Identity Crisis
Protection Crisis
FATED MATES
Crying Wolf
Shoot for the Moon
Thrown to the Wolves
Bear the Consequences
Bear It All
Bear the Burden
Give Her the Moon
Bear Your Fate
Cards of Love:The Empress
BODY & SOUL SERIES
Bare Your Soul
Save Your Soul
Sell Your Soul
Feed Your Soul
Body Language
Body Heat
STANDALONES
Star Pupil
About the Author
I absolutely adore reading—always have and always will. When I was growing up, my friends used to tease me when I would trail after them, trying to read and walk at the same time. If I have downtime, odds are you will find me reading or writing.