Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
EPILOGUE
Harris
Eight months later…
Itake a deep breath and step onto the stage. I scan the room, looking for the few friendly faces among the sea of sports reporters.
I smile when I spot my new friends, Arthur and Chris. I kept in touch with both of them after I visited Chris in the hospital.
He’s been through the wringer with surgery after surgery, but he’s making an amazing recovery after being hit by that car. The doctors said he’d never walk again, but he’s a tough old bastard and he took his first steps last month. I’m thrilled to see him here with only crutches. Another few months and he’ll be without those too.
His incredible son, Arthur is standing proudly by his side. I give him a nod and take my seat.
I remember feeling so envious of their relationship back then. Little did I know, I had my own amazing son out there waiting for me.
A big smile spreads across my face when I spot Fiona in the front row with Lucas on her lap.
We got married as soon as the hockey season ended. It was a small ceremony in my backyard, but it was perfect. Fiona’s family drove down from Kansas City and I housed them all. It was a blast having the house so full of life.
My house is on the market now and as soon as I’m done packing everything, I’m moving to Kansas City to be with my wife and son.
We’re going to start over in a new house that has enough rooms to grow our little family. We’ve been talking more and more about having another child. I’m fully on board, but Fiona says she’d like to get settled into the new house first.
The cameras start rolling, so I pull the microphone close to my face and take another deep breath.
“Thank you all for coming today,” I say to the packed room. “After ten wonderful years in the league, I’m officially announcing my retirement.”
The crowd looks shocked. It couldn’t be too much of a surprise, but after we finished the season so strong, I bet that most of them thought I’d squeeze out another year.
I could have, but I have more important things waiting for me. I have a new life to start and I don’t want hockey getting in the way.
“I feel very blessed to have played in the league with some of the greatest players in hockey history,” I continue, pushing forward despite getting choked up. “Greats I’ve played against like Nikita Panarin, Jesper Hughes, and Martin Byfield. And to have some of the best teammates by my side in my final season like Austin Gambill, Tucker McKinstry, Edvard Svensson, Nolan Barlowe, and the greatest player in the league, Sebastian Kemp, has truly been a wonderful experience.”
Fiona is smiling at me and it makes the shred of reluctance I’m feeling disappear. All I want to do is spend every moment with her. We’ve already missed so much time together. I don’t want to miss another second.
“I also want to thank everyone in the Hyenas corporate office, our genius coach Finn Moss, our owner Brantley Van Morgan who brought us all together, all of you in sports media, and of course, the phenomenal hockey fans of San Antonio. If I could hug each one of you, I would. You’ve made the past ten years of my life so special and I can’t thank you all enough.”
My eyes get hot as I turn to Fiona and Lucas. “Most of all, I’d like to thank my family. My lovely wife Fiona and my amazing son Lucas. I’m so happy to have you both.”
Fiona blows me a kiss.
“What do you have planned for the future?” one of the louder reporters shouts out. “Coaching? Media?”
I smile widely as I stare at my beautiful wife. “I’m going to be a husband and a father,” I tell them. “And I can’t wait.”
The doors burst open. I whip my head around and laugh when I see all of my teammates entering the room with a huge cake.
“Happy retirement to you,” they sing loudly and off-key. “Happy retirement to you…”
Tucker is carrying the cake with ten lit candles as they all come crowding around me, slapping me on the shoulders and ruffling my hair.
He puts the cake in front of me as they finish singing.
“Congrats, Sutton,” Sebastian says as he slaps my back.
“Amazing career,” Austin says, nodding his head.
They all have kind words as they crowd around.
I catch Fiona’s eye and she tilts her head, smiling proudly at me.
“Flamethrower,” the boys start chanting together. “Flamethrower! Flamethrower!”
“Lucas come up here and help out your old man,” I say as I wave him over.
He jumps off of Fiona’s lap and races onto the stage. I grab him and put him on my lap as the reporters start joining in, chanting “Flamethrower! Flamethrower!” as well.