Epilogue 9

Five years later

The island was a dream. White sand, turquoise water, and the kind of peace that felt too luxurious to be real. The resort, perched on the edge of a private stretch of French Polynesian paradise, had been entirely rented out for the event. Noah and Sterling’s wedding had turned into a week-long celebration, a reunion, and a reminder of just how far they’d all come.

Hockey players were everywhere, barefoot in linen shirts and swim trunks, lounging under umbrellas, throwing a football in the surf, or sneaking drinks from the open-air bar before noon. The staff had long since stopped being surprised by anything.

Caleb, now twelve, was in the water with Becker and Josh, working through goalie drills in the shallows using a pair of weighted training gloves Milo had modified for beach use. The kid had grown fast, taller than most boys his age, lean and wiry like his dad was at twelve, with a focus that made Ethan’s chest ache every time he watched him.

Caleb was still seriou