“Almost, but not quite.”
We share a chuckle before my gaze returns to the diary.
I don’t believe in love at first sight like my parents always talk about. I don’t think that’s scientifically possible, sorry, no matter what they say about it happening to them. But if I did believe in it, which I don’t, then I’m sure I’d say I experienced it tonight with Romeo Montague. Would a rose by any other name smell just as sweet? Why yes, it definitely would! I know this for a fact now. Thank you, Romeo, for the best night of my life!! This Juliet will never forget you, as long as she lives!!!!!!
I look up from the diary again, smiling so big my cheeks hurt. “Do you believe in love at first sight now?”
“Hell no.” Chelsea laughs. “Do you?”
“Hell yeah. What else could it have been?”
Chelsea bats her eyelashes. “Extreme lust/acute like at first sight? Which then slowly morphed into passionate love that’s rocked my world, knocked me onto my ass, and made me believe that fairy tales can come true?”
“Works for me.” I place the diary onto the shelf and take Chelsea into my arms. “Thank you for showing me that. I love the diary entry even more than the medal, which is saying a lot.”
“Good, because I love you.”
“I love you, too, baby. I always have.” I’m this close to adding, “And I always will.” But since I’m not completely sure Chelsea would reciprocate that sentiment—not yet—and because I really don’t want to push my luck and ruin this amazingly magical moment, I nuzzle my nose against hers and say instead, “As a fellow mathlete, I can now report with mathematical certainty: The limit to my love for you, Chelsea Parker, truly does not exist.”
EPILOGUE
Chelsea
One year and a few months later
Fiji
“HAVE YOU EVERbeen in an ocean this warm? Wow.”
I’m asking the question while wearing the cutest pink bikini ever and hanging from Luca’s broad chest like a baby monkey, as my boyfriend—sorry,fiancé—stands in waist-deep water dressed in swim trunks the color of my eyes.
It’s day two in Fiji, and we’re surrounded by nothing but white sand, teal water, and our benefactor Roman’s all-time favorite people.
“The water’s this warm in Hawaii, too,” Luca says. “But I like Fiji’s ocean much better because I get to stand in it with you. My beautifulfiancée.” At that last word, he flashes me a wide, dimpled smile. He keeps calling me that, and always with a giddy grin, ever since he popped the question to me last month.
“Aw.” I squeeze my arms and legs around him even more tightly. “That’s so sweet of you to say, but Fiji and Hawaii are in the exact same ocean.”
“Really?” He cracks up. “Okay, then thiscornerof the ocean is way better, thanks to myfiancéebeing here with me.”
“Can’t argue with that.” I peck his lips. “Getting to be here with you is almost worth the pain of watching Satan win his second Super Bowl ring.” In celebration of Roman’s big win, my soon-to-be brother-in-law splurged on this vacation for everyone he loves the most—and lucky me, I’m now a part of that group.
“You should brace yourself for even more pain inflicted by Satan,” Luca teases. “He’s dead set on a three-peat.”
“Not on my watch. We’rethisclose.”
“Hell yeah, we are.”
Now that the Mastodons are no longer the worst team in football—we almost made the playoffs this season!—our hopes are sky-high. Some might say we’re delusional to think we’ve got a chance in hell of making a playoff run next season, let alone winning the Super Bowl. But what great things in this world have ever been achieved without a healthy dose of delusion?
With a happy sigh, Luca leans in and gives me an enthusiastic kiss, and we make out for a while as the mai tais we drank earlier at lunch combine with the glorious sunshine beating down to elicit a perfect mixture of joy, relaxation, and horniness.
When we pull away from kissing, I dreamily raise my left hand behind Luca’s wet neck to look at my pretty engagement ring and gasp loudly when it’s not there.
“What? A shark?”
I roll my eyes at myself. “For a split second, I forgot I took off my ring before coming out here.”
“Jesus, Chelsea. Don’t gasp like that when I’m standing in the ocean.”
