Strictly for Now by Carrie Elks

EPILOGUE

MACKENZIE

I sneak into the stadium just as everybody is leaving. I should have been here earlier – to watch the game itself – but my flight was canceled and I had to scramble to get on the next one. I know the result though – I was following the game the whole way on my phone. Even if I hadn’t, it’s clear we won from the smiles on the faces of our supporters as they leave the building.

I still have my security pass and I flash it at the guard who knows me and nods me in. “You missed a good one,” he tells me.

“I know.” I grimace because I’m sad I wasn’t here to see the Mavericks make it through to the Calder Cup.

It’s a big moment for Eli. At the beginning of the season, nobody thought the Mavericks would finish anywhere but in the bottom two. But the team is coming into their own. With each game they play they’re getting stronger.

I’m so proud of them all I could burst.

In the past few months I’ve managed to get to a few games, sitting with Gramps in the staff box now that he’s more mobile and able to walk around. He comes into the stadium a few hours a week to make sure things are ticking over, but Brian has stepped up and become General Manager.

He’s doing great. I’m proud of him, too.

Heading toward the staff area, I use my pass to unlock the door, stepping into the hallway that leads to the locker room.

“Mac!” I look around to see Goran walking toward me, his hair damp and a fresh pair of dress pants and shirt on.

“Hey.” I hug him. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks. We’re just heading to the press conference. You coming?”

“I’ll be at the back,” I tell him. “But we’ll catch up tonight, right?”

Eli is hosting a party at a club in town for all the players. We probably won’t stay long, because he wants them to let their hair down, and that’s difficult with the coach around.

Before the playoffs begin and things get serious again.

The press conference has already begun by the time I sneak into the room. Eli is in the center, next to Gramps. The team surrounds them on either side.

But I only have eyes for him.

The best thing about having a long-distance relationship is how happy you are to see each other. How you make the most of each moment you’re together. Whether it’s Eli flying into New York or me flying here, when we’re together we’re focused on each other.

We have an app that we use to schedule our weekends, depending on whether they’re playing at home or away and whether I need to be in New York for meetings. Over the past few months I think we’ve only missed two weekends together.

So yeah, it’s working out well.

And I know over the next few months we’ll need to talk about the future. Because we both want to be together for good. And I’m not scared of that at all. I want it.

I want him.

Forever.

As he answers a question about a power play, his eyes flicker up and meet mine. He finishes his answer in a low voice, as a smile slowly curls his lips.

For a moment it’s like we’re the only two people in the room. That smile holds a promise I know he intends to keep. One that’ll involve him carrying me into his bedroom later and showing me just how much he’s missed me.

And then hopefully he’ll make me breakfast in bed the way he usually does, because he’s an early bird and I hate waking up.

Except to him.

“This question is for Eli,” a reporter says. “Have you spoken with Danny Hart since the exhibition match took place?”

Eli shakes his head. “No. And I don’t intend to.”

None of us have heard from Danny, thank God, but Dad tells me his contract hasn’t been renewed after this season. He messed with hockey royalty one too many times. Dad knows people and so does Gramps and I assume they have something to do with his career coming to a screaming halt.

The truth is, I don’t care. I have no interest in Danny Hart.

My family, though, is another matter. Since the exhibition match we’ve gotten together a few times. I went to L.A. to watch Isabella in the skate-off in the Ice Stars final, where she and Justin came in second.

And they all came to New York to see me last month. Eli and I took them out to dinner. There’s talk of us visiting them in L.A. over the summer.

Things are getting better. I have a family now and it feels good.

“What are your plans for when the season is over?” a reporter asks Eli.

A smile lingers on his lips. “Well first of all we’re going to win the Calder Cup,” he says, and the reporters laugh.

“And then I’m going to be spending some time in New York. With my girl.”

A blush steals across my face. A couple of reporters turn to look at me. But then they turn back, because they’re more interested in Eli than me.

And that’s how I like it. Because I feel exactly the same way.

“Will you be coming back to coach next year?” another reporter asks.

Eli leans into the microphone. “I will. I’ve signed a one year extension to my contract.”

“And then?”

His gaze locks on mine again. I’m smiling because we’ve talked about this. We’ve talked about everything.

About how we’re both willing to compromise our careers to be together. About how we don’t want kids of our own but want to adopt.

About how wherever we end up, as long as it’s together, we’ll be happy.

“And then,” he says, his voice thick, his eyes never leaving mine. “I’m going to live happily ever after with the woman I love.”

I press my hands to my chest and mouth “I love you,” to him.

“I love you, too,” he says, deliberately talking into the microphone, his voice echoing through the press room.

The team and the reporters laugh, and I’m smiling big.

Because I’m a born-again convert. A happily-ever-after believer.

And ours has already begun.

Thank you for reading!

If you’re not quite ready to let Eli and Mackenzie go, get a glimpse of their happily ever after in this exclusive bonus epilogue.

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And don’t forget to look out for the next book in the Salinger Brother’s series. STRICTLY NOT YOURS is Holden and Blair’s story.

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