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“I love you, Mae. I’ve always loved you, and I only want the best for you.” He looks over at Dallas and sighs. “And if Lansfield is the best, then I’ll have to accept that.”
“You’ll be seeing me at Thanksgiving every year, Coach. How does that make you feel?” Dallas asks, and I laugh when Shawn groans.
“Let’s get through the Super Bowl first,” he says. “Then we’ll talk about Thanksgivings.”
I kiss his cheek and walk to Dallas. I rest my head on his chest and smile. “Thank you, Shawn.”
“Love you kid,” he says.
“Love you more,” I tell him.
“I love you the most, Coach,” Dallas adds, and I drag him toward the door.
“We’re leaving now. See you soon!” I wave and lead him to the hallway.
“That went well,” Dallas says. “Right?”
“Yeah.” I nod and lace our hands together. “As well as it could. I know it’s going to take some time for him to come around, but he’ll get there.”
“I hope so. I wasn’t kidding about the Thanksgivings, and he lookedpissed.”
“One day at a time.”
“Ready to head home?” he asks, and he kisses the top of my head. “Reid is with June, and when I left them, she was putting beads in his hair. He might need some rescuing.”
“Home,” I repeat with the biggest grin on my face. “There’s no place I’d rather be.”
FIFTY
DALLAS
“Do I have to go inside?”I ask. I stop outside the door to Maven’s dad’s apartment and clutch the wine bottle to my chest like it’s somehow going to protect me. “Maybe I should head home. Maverick might need help with June and?—”
“Dallas.” Maven tugs on my sleeve and gently guides me forward. “You’ve met these people before. Tons of times. You spent Thanksgiving here two months ago, and you gave Shawn shit about spending every Thanksgiving with him going forward. What’s going on?”
“They didn’t know about us then. Now there’s an opportunity for someone to use those knives you mentioned, and I think I’m going to be sick. This is a lot of pressure.”
“You play football in front of millions of people every week, andnowyou’re worried about pressure?” She loops her arm through mine and keeps us moving. “You’re the king of being cool.”
“That’s football, not the family of the woman I love. I want to make a good impression not only because they’re important to you, but because they’re going to be in our lives for a long time. I want them to know I’m serious about you. That my intentionsare good. I’m going to marry you one day, Mae, and I don’t want there to be any resentment toward me.”
“Hey.” She stands on her toes and touches my neck. “I love you. Andtheyare going to love Dallas, my boyfriend, even more than they love Dallas, the football player. Do you know why?”
“Why?” I ask, and I run my fingers through her hair. I feel grounded when I’m touching her, and if I had it my way, I’d sew myself to her so we’d never have to be apart. “Tell me.”
“Because you make me happy. All anyone wants for someone they love is for them to be happy. I haven’t felt this way before, and it’s because ofyou, sweetheart.” She kisses my cheek, and I melt at the endearment. “I found a job I’m good at. I’m slowly getting back into the sport I adore. I have a little family who is so special to me, and sometimes I have to pinch myself because it feels like I’m dreaming. You are worth every risk, Dallas, and I’d choose you and June every single time.”
“Fuck, I love you.” I move my hand to her chin and tilt her head back so I can look in her eyes. “I love you so very much, Maven.”
Her palm drops to my chest and her thumb rubs across my shirt before settling over my heart. “We’re one of those obnoxious couples, aren’t we? We’re going to end up being the psychopaths who sit on the same side of the booth and hold hands everywhere.”
“God, I fucking hate those people. But I think you might be right.”
The door flies open and we spring apart like we’ve been caught doing something we shouldn’t.
“Are you two going to keep doing this whole cheesy love confession thing, or are you going to come inside?” Lacey asks. She leans against the doorframe with a sly grin, and I’ve never blushed so hard in my life. “You know, Dal, if you were going toreplace me as the number two woman in your life behind June, Maven is the only one I’d concede to.”
I bark out a laugh and release a breath. I feel the tension unravel from my spine as Maven slips her hand in mine and tugs me toward the door.
