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Someone bumps my shoulder, and my eyes pop open.
“You ready to take this down the field?” Kenny stands next to me with the football in his hand.
I force a smile. “That’s why I’m here.”
“Good. That’s what I want to hear.” He laughs. “I guess we’re going to be hanging out.” I frown as he tosses the ball in the air and catches it. “My wife is over there making plans with your girlfriend.” He bumps my shoulder and steps away while I try to process what he just said. “I’m glad you’re here, Greyson.”
I don’t move, terrified to let myself hope…
I spin, looking along the roped-off edges of the endzone where family and friends wait, certain he’s mistaken. But then…I see her. In that instant, all the emotions swarming me let loose. My eyes blur, and I can’t make her out as I start jogging.
My body lightens with relief. My stomach no longer clenched tight with sickness, balloons with joy and excitement as my throat itches and burns.
I approach her, my helmet in hand, seeing the moment she notices me. Her sunglasses hide her eyes until she pushes them up on her head, holding back her mass of dark curls. She’s wearing a Kings shirt under her leather jacket, jeans that hug her perfect legs, and black lace-up boots. It’s my girl.
She takes her turn up to the rope, meeting me with Ax on her hip, who’s wearing a very tiny jersey with my number on it. It’s a declaration I wasn’t sure I’d ever see.
She smiles, but it’s filled with nerves, and it takes everything in me not to grab her and haul her to my side.
My throat is so thick I try to swallow, but it’s painful. “You…came. You’re here.”
She bites her bottom lip. I know how big of a step this is for her. She’s putting herself out there for me. What she might not understand yet is that we’re going to show the world what real love looks like.
“Yeah. I’m here.”
I want so badly to reach for her, pull her close, and breathe her in to be certain this is real.
I take a shaky breath. “Are you ready for this?” I need her to be sure. I already know the cameras all around us are snapping away.
She shakes her head, her eyes moving to the ground. “I don’t know.” Then, her chin tips up to meet my eyes as she steps closer. “But, if I’m going to do this, you’re the only one I want to do it with. Are we still not giving a shit?”
I can’t control my wide-ass grin. I move in, bringing my forehead to hers and my free hand up to cup her face. Breath enters my lungs for the first time since I left her standing on her porch.
“Always. You have no idea how happy I am to see you. You’re the only one I want here. The only one Ineedto be here.”
That itching sensation returns to my throat, along with some extra water in my eyes.
I know she sees it when she gives my chest a little shove. “Well, that’s good because I’m not going through some crazy public breakup.”
I frown. “No?”
“No. There’s no elevator, but I think you really are stuck with me now.”
I pull back, running my hand over Ax’s head. I’ve missed the little guy like crazy. “We’ll see how long I can stand you. It’ll be tough, but I’m willing to challenge myself.”
She grins this time. “I still don’t like you.”
“I know.”
She takes a small step forward, pushing into me just slightly as her eyes flick between mine. “Be careful, ok?”
“Ok,” I whisper, leaning my head down to brush my lips against the corner of her mouth. “I’ll do my best. I love you.”
I step back and turn around, giving her time to let that sink in. I’m so ready to play this game. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this kind of energy, and after we win, I’m going to find my girl and show her just how much I love her. Maybe there will be cameras. Maybe there won’t. I don’t give two shits.
“Hey, twenty-four.”
I hear that voice behind me, the one I want to hear for the rest of my life, and I turn in her direction.
