Fake Dating the Defenseman Next Door (Soltero Beach Scorpions Hockey #1)

18. Epilogue

eighteen

Epilogue

Diego

T he entire team accompanies me to the grand re-opening of A-Glazing Grace’s Donuts on the morning of the season home opener.

The line of people eagerly waiting to try Angie’s new seasonal flavors and weekly specials winds around the block, which tickles Grandma Grace to no end. Her dark eyes are huge and round as I escort her up the path to the entry of the shop and show her what a spectacular job Angie’s done with revamping the place.

Everywhere we look, people take photos and selfies of everything — the donuts, the shop, the players who parade up and down the boardwalk pausing for pictures and serving trays of samples to an unsuspecting beach going public.

“She’s done so good, my Angie.” Grandma Grace beams with pride and her eyes shine with unshed tears.

“She really has,” I say, walking up to the window and peering in through the surfboard display showcasing the specials to the salivating masses.

“You know, she said she’s staying to help me with the shop.”

“Yes, I know.”

Grandma Grace peers up at me, one shrewd eye assessing me carefully. “It’s going to be hers. It was always meant to be hers.”

“I know that, too.”

“My Angie looks happy,” she says softly. “And so you do you. Finally.”

“Well, donuts will do that to you,” I quip as she purses her lips and lightly smacks my arm.

“So will love.”

“Yeah, I finally found someone I’m willing to make room in my life for apart from you, Grandma Grace.”

“Good. It was time you found someone your own age. And now you can stop bringing me guilty donuts.”

I laugh as I peer through the window and catch sight of Angie and her friends. They’re busily serving everyone, greeting patrons by name and calling out orders for those on the go. But when she looks up and sees me, a huge, warm smile spreads across her face and she says something to Nina before grabbing a couple of donuts and ducking out to see us.

“Hi,” she says, face beaming. “Halmeoni, do you want to have a seat inside? I reserved the corner table for you, if you want.”

“I’ll sit for a while,” she says, nodding at Tiffany who points out the space set aside for her. “Your friend said she wants to ask me questions for the internet.”

As Grandma Grace moves slowly through the throng, she points to the original black letterboard, money tree, and other touches throughout the space that Angie retained from the original shop.

But as she moves past the line, a man turns from the counter clutching an oversized pink box of donuts.

“Dad,” I say, shock rolling through me at the sight of him standing there with a strawberry cream filled donut stuffed into his mouth.

He bites down, pulls the remainder of the donut from his lips and lets out a muffled, “Diego.”

“What are you doing here?”

He chews and swallows hard while I hold Angie closer to my side.

“If you want the truth, I came for you. For years, you told me that this donut eating ritual you have helps you to play your best, so I came for them. I may not fully understand it, but who am I to judge, right? We all have our quirks and processes.”

“Okay, who are you and what have you done with Full Tilt Tony?”

“Well, as you kindly reminded me, my playing days are over. Which means Full Tilt Tony is retired. Just like Coach Tony. So, today, and from here on out, I’m just a dad who wants to cheer for his son.” He licks at the sugar and cream coating his lips and hands me the box like he hasn’t just given me the validation I’d wanted all my life. Then, he looks at Angie and the arm I’ve got slung around her shoulders. “You must be Diego’s girlfriend.”

“Hi, I’m Angela,” she says, extending her hand.

He takes it and raises the donut to shake it in her direction. “I’m Tony. These are divine. It’s nice to meet you. Will I see you at the game tonight?”

“I’ll be there,” she says, smiling.

“Good. We can get to know each other in-between periods.” Then he nods and strides out of the shop, leaving me standing there gawking at his back.

“Should I be worried?” Angie asks, snaking an arm around my waist. “You told me your dad is intense. Am I in for an interrogation?”

I shake my head. “More than likely, you’re in for a full run down of the game and maybe a critique of my ever move.”

“Oh good. I love watching your every move.” She digs her elbow into my ribs as I laugh.

“You know, I think that’s the first time I’ve ever seen my father eat a donut. And he did it with gusto and high praise. I’d say that makes you a runaway success.” I wrap my arms around her and plant a kiss on her mouth. “Not that there was any doubt.”

“I’m sure my success is thanks, in part, to you putting all those videos up of you taste testing every single donut I’ve made.”

“Well, I wanted to support my girl.”

She bands her arms around me and turns to survey the madness. “I think you did enough when you secured that new corporate sponsorship with the team and that concession stand deal. I can’t believe A-Glazing Graces is going to be all over the arena and available inside of it.”

I shrug. “We had an sudden opening and it seemed like a great retirement plan for Grandma Grace.”

“How can I ever properly thank you?”

“I have a few ideas,” I drop my voice suggestively and arch a brow.

“Yeah? I think they’ll have to wait until after your game.” Angela pulls away and taps the lid of the donut box my father handed to me. “You know what you need to do if you want me tonight, right?”

A new hunger twists low in my belly as I bite back a smile. “Win?”

“Ding, ding, ding….” she sings, dancing back to the counter to resume serving her customers. “Go, Scorpions!”

Later, after my game-day donut, I take to the ice alongside my team ready to battle it out for another long season grind.

But now, when I look up in the stands, I see the woman I love standing alongside the rest of my family. Her beaming face and air-blown kisses send a ripple of positive energy through me, the kind that comes from knowing I don’t need to rely on a crutch to inspire me.

All I need is her.