I can see how much our support means to him. He’s loose and playful, but still sharp on his feet. Skates. Whatever. And even from the bleachers, I can feel the grin behind his mask.
“Thanks again for arranging the team buses on such short notice,” I say to Scottie.
“Just doing my job,” she says as she claps for Sean. “But Clementine’s the one who made all the signs and banners. That girl is like a walking Pinterest board.”
“With an encyclopedic knowledge of late 2000’s rap …” I add.
Scottie laughs. And we watch Sean play like he was made for it.
After the final whistle blows, the players tap their sticks, and Otto claps his gloves together once.
“That’s a wrap, boys,” he calls. “Final evaluations in twenty. O’Shannan—go kiss your wife before we meet.”
I run down the stairs to the break in the glass near the tunnel, and Sean grabs me under the arms and pulls me to him like I weigh nothing. I wrap my legs around his waist. His gloves are still on, and they press clumsily against my back, but I don’t care.
Sean’s lips part, and he devours me like he’s starving and I’m the only thing that can sustain him.
I know the feeling.
His face is sweaty and his lips are hotter than I expected. Mine are still sticky from the lip gloss I shouldn’t have worn. It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters but this.
But then Sean pulls back, breathless, searching my eyes with a look that pricks my heart. “What happened with the town?”
“Cap!” I laugh, dragging my nails through his beard, wanting his mouth back on mine. “Who cares?”
“I do!”
“The team’s mine. But honestly, I wouldn’t have cared if it wasn’t. I’ve found where I belong.”
“Mullet Ridge feels like home, does it?”
“You do.”
We kiss again—longer this time. No more speeches or doubts. The steadiness of his hands is a promise. The warmth of his lips is a vow.
“I can’t believe you came for me,” he says, his voice rough yet reverent.
“It’s like I told Eunice and Loretta,” I whisper, my words puffing against his mouth. “No matter where you are, I’ll be on the sidelines cheering you on.”
He places one more soft kiss on my lips before setting me down with aching gentleness. “I love you. Thank you for coming.”
I put my hands on either side of his cheeks. “I choose you, Sean. Always.”
His eyes crinkle as he smiles. “And forever.”
My family is talking to Sean’s, and our friends all wait in the stands, but when I turn around, I spot Fletch standing several rows down, away from the rest of the crowd.
I walk across the rows to join him, dropping into the seat next to his.
“How you doing, Coach?”
“Not as good as you, Owner.”
I elbow him. “Seriously. You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Right. You don’t look wrecked at all,” I say.
