Roughing the Kicker (Austin Troopers)

Epilogue

One Year Later

I t was a beautiful December day in Austin, and with the Troopers’ playoff berth secured the day before, Cutter and Rye turned their attention to something else. Dinner with the family, celebrating another trip around the sun for the family matriarch.

The driveway was already full of cars, meaning they were the last to arrive. Cutter wasn’t surprised, given it had already been a momentous day and they’d gotten a little distracted while dressing for dinner. He parked his car on the street in front of his parents’ house and turned to face Rye. “Are you ready to face the firing squad?” He was joking, mostly, fully expecting it to be fine.

“Yes.” Rye answered without hesitation. “I’ve been looking forward to this for weeks.”

Cutter believed him, and he looked forward to it, too. More importantly, he knew his family was, too. Leticia’s impending wedding to Esteban finally had finally given him the courage he needed to come out to his family. He couldn’t possibly go to his sister’s wedding without a date. For one thing, she would pressure him endlessly to bring Rye as his plus one. Then there was the fact that Cutter didn’t want to go alone. He was tired of hiding. Tired of lying. His relationship with Rye was beautiful. It was something to be celebrated, not hidden.

That meant when his mother casually asked him if he would be bringing a date to his sister’s wedding, Cutter smiled and said, “Yes, Mami. My boyfriend. His name is Ryeland.”

“The one from the team?” she had asked. “The kicker?”

Cutter confirmed it, and his mother smiled and said simply, “Good for you. He’s very handsome. You two will look wonderful together.”

And just like that, he was out, and he had his mother’s approval.

His sister had been right. It was easier than he ever thought it could be, and now that it was done, Cutter felt as if a weight had been lifted from him.

His family wouldn’t meet Rye for the first time at the wedding, though. First, there was the matter of his abuela’s birthday. Every year, when the family gathered for the party, they feared it might be the last. But here they were again. Maria had faced a few health challenges, but she was a strong and feisty woman. If Cutter were a betting man, he’d take the odds of his beloved abuela having more birthdays in her.

“You’re very lucky to still have your grandmother in your life,” Rye said, as if reading his thoughts.

“I know that,” Cutter said. “I’m lucky to have you in my life, too.” He leaned over and kissed Rye’s lips.

“I’m the lucky one, but you better stop doing that,” Rye teased. “Unless you want me to meet your family for the first time with a raging hard on, because you know the effect you have on me.”

“That’s for sure.” Cutter loved that Rye had so fully and completely embraced his love of men, and of him in particular. Cutter could behave himself now, because they would have plenty of time to make love later. They’d have the rest of their lives. “All right. Let’s do this.”

He opened the door, and when they met outside the car, Cutter linked his hand through Rye’s. “Do you need me to quiz you on any names before we go in?”

Rye grinned. “Nope. I’ve got it. Your dad is Pablo. Mom is Juanita. I already know Leticia. Your older brother is Manny,” he said, rattling them off with ease. “And the star of the show, your beloved abuela, is Maria.”

“Damn, you’re good,” Cutter said. “I’m proud of you. And I love you.” Plenty of guys might have been scared off by the prospect of meeting his family, but instead Rye embraced it.

“I love you back.”

Holding hands, they walked to the door. Cutter was about to open it, when instead, his sister pulled it open. “It’s about time. We saw the car pull up minutes ago. Were you guys making out or something?”

“So what if they were?” Maria asked. “Love is a beautiful thing. Ceasar, introduce your old grandmother to your young man.”

“Yes, ma’am. Abuela , this Ryeland Lenhart.” Cutter paused. “My fiancé.”

“What? Jesus.” Letica squealed.

“Language, young lady,” Mami admonished. “Caesar, when did this happen?”

“This morning,” Cutter said. “Rye surprised me over breakfast. When he said he had a question, I thought he meant if I wanted more eggs.” He grinned. “I did, but becoming his husband appealed to me more.”

“At lease we have lots of wine, so we can have a double celebration,” Cutter’s brother said. “Congratulations, little brother.”

“Thanks, Manny.” Cutter looked at his sister. “Don’t worry. We’re not stealing your day from you. Let’s get you and Esteban married off first, then Rye and I can plan our wedding.”

As excited as he was to call Rye his husband, Cutter could wait a little bit. After all, they had plenty of time together.

They had the rest of their lives.