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I can’t help but notice the wandering eyes in front of me—all of which hone in on Delaney’s stomach before they peer back up into our eyes with sheer excitement.
Oh no.
Here it comes.
“Coach!” Wilks is the first to speak with a look of pure shock, a hand dramatically placed over his chest. “You dirty devil! We didn’t think you had it in you.”
And there it is.
Some things never change.
I look down at Delaney, watching as the realization comes over her. She frantically shakes her head, waving her hands in front of her face. “Um, excuse me? I’m not pregnant! Don’t you all know not ever to assume that?”
Their smiles fade into sheepish nods, forcing me to suppress a laugh as I squeeze her waist proudly.
“Never mind the news now.” She blows the whistle herself. “You’ve all earned yourself some drills. Get on with it!”
The lads jolt up in surprise, dispersing themselves onto the field as they begin their warm-up drills. It’s evident Delaney is proud of herself, too, as she meets my eyes.
“What are you smirking about over there?” She places her hands on her hips expectantly.
I lean down, whispering into her ear. “Just that I can’t wait to change that one day.”
Her cheeks turn bright red as she playfully smacks my chest, rolling her eyes until she redirects her attention back onto the field.
A moment of silence passes between us as we observe the team before she speaks up. “So…” She peers up at me. “How does it feel?”
I raise a brow in question. “How does what feel?”
“Being the owner of Crawfield Football Club.”
The revelation still hasn’t sunk in. I wanted to deny her offer. Herverygenerous offer. It didn’t feel right, taking something so grand from her. Especially when I knew just how much this team means to her, as it does to me.
So, despite her insistence and, most of all, persistence, we found a compromise.
50/50.
Delaney Matthews and Warren Park—co-owners of Crawfield Football Club.
From the moment I first walked into this stadium, I’ve thought of this team as being mine. But now, as I look at her by my side, I know it was always meant to beours.
I nudge her playfully. “I could ask you the same thing.
EPILOGUE
D E L A N E Y
EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER
“Get stuck in there,lads! C’mon! We’ve got two minutes left. You can do this.”
“Take it easy, Parker.” Alf places a hand on Warren’s shoulder. “We’ve got this in the bag.”
Warren starts to bite along the tips of his nails, watching the field intently—the nerves of the final game of the season are visibly eating away at him despite the fact that this has been Crawfield’s best season to date. The team has held their own in the top three, fighting against some of the best in the league.
“See that, girls?” I peer over at the PR interns to my right. “Thatis perfect social media content. Crawfield Football Club…” I raise my hands theatrically into the air. “We’ll leave you biting your nails for ninety minutes of high-intensity football fun.”
They chuckle, flashing a few pictures of Warren until he flashes me an unamused stare.
