Page 168 of Seal the Deal

Zoe snorts, catching his double meaning, still squirming in his arms. “Not a chance in hell.”

He finally sets her down, smile widening as she straightens her clothes and turns on her heel. “The offer’s still on the table, you know!” he calls after her, voice still teasing as she flicks her hair.

Zoe shoots him a look over her shoulder, but the curl of her lips deceives her. “Keep dreaming, bud!”

Chase watches her walk off, grinning like a fool, like he's just won something bigger than the Cup.

The world continues to spin around us with the cheers of my teammates, the flashing of cameras, but none of it matters. I stand there with my arms wrapped around the love of my life, surrounded by our family as the world celebrates around us. And in this moment, I know—this is the real win.

Not the Cup, not the fame.

This. Them. Us.

It’s everything.

Epilogue

I’m glad you said yes

Jake – 6 months later

“You ready?” I ask, crouching beside the kids. We're perched behind a tree, and their excitement is vibrating through the air.

Charlie’s down by the lake, collecting flat stones Noah asked her to help find for stone skipping. She’s oblivious, completely caught up in the moment of being back at this place.

Noah nods, his little face serious. “You think she’ll cry?”

“Probably,” I chuckle, ruffling his hair.

“Good,” he says firmly, like he’s decided this is the appropriate response. “But happy tears only, right?”

“Only the happiest,” I promise.

Meadow, clutching her unicorn, looks up at me with wide eyes. “Do I say the pinky thing now or later?”

“Later.” I brush a kiss to the top of her head. “When I kneel, you kneel. Just like we practiced.”

Her little feet bounce, too much excitement to hold still. “Mama’s gonna love this!”

“She will,” I say, the words catching in my throat. “Because we’re showing her just how much we all love her.”

I glance back at the hill, the blanket spread out right at the top where we stayed up all night talking thirteen years ago. The candles flicker in the dusk, and the peach-hued sunset stretches out over the horizon, painting everything in a golden light. It’s perfect.

“Should we go get her now?” Noah's all business.

“Give me a five-minute head start, then I’ll meet you guys at the top.”

They nod excitedly and rush off toward the lake, their laughter trailing behind them.

As I make my way back up the hill, heart hammering, my foot catches on a rock. “Shit,” I yelp, stumbling but managing to catch myself.

I pause at the top, taking a deep breath, letting the view wash over me. The camp hasn’t changed much, but the weight of time feels heavy. This is it. This is everything I’ve ever wanted, everything I didn’t think I’d get to have. Charlie, the kids, this messy, chaotic, beautiful life we’ve built. It’s not just that I love her—it’s that I can’t imagine a life without her.

The crunch of footsteps on the trail pulls me from my thoughts. Meadow skips ahead, twirling as she reaches the top, while Noah drags Charlie along, her voice floating up in protest.

“Noah, slow down! What’s the rush?”

“Come on, Mum!” Noah says, his hand tugging hers insistently.

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