Page 82 of I Wish He Would

My heart pounds in my chest at his admission. “So, it wasn’t for show?”

He moves closer, placing his hands on the side of the pool, trapping me between his arms. He leans in until his face is only inches from mine. “I meant what I said in the ocean. I just want you.”

Butterflies flood my stomach, hearing him repeat the words I wanted to believe were true. And now finding out they are, I can’t hold back my smile.

He kisses my cheek. “More than I’ve ever wanted anything.”

“I want that, too.” I wrap my arms around his neck and run my hands through the ends of his hair. “But when we first met, you said you wanted to focus on your career. And with you potentially getting traded, where does that leave us?”

Austin hesitates, like he wants to make sure he says the right thing. “I was attracted to you when we first met, but you’re right. I was solely focused on baseball. If I’d been open to dating back then, I would’ve asked you out that night, but since I’d just made it to the majors, I knew I needed to prove myself. To show them I was the right choice. And I thought that wouldn’t leave time for anything else. With the possibility of being traded at a moment’s notice…my future always feels unpredictable.” He shrugs. “But when you started talking to Rhett, I realized I could lose my shot with you—and I knew I needed to take the risk.”

He moves a hand to my waist, brushing his thumb along my hip. “I can’t imagine life without you, Lyssa. There are obviously some unknowns, but we already make a friendship work when I’m on the road. I know it would be different with dating, but I’ll always make time for you.”

I feel like I’m in a daydream, hearing Austin say all the words I’ve wished he would for years. But I don’t have to worry about waking up this time because what we have is good and right and real.

Austin ducks his head, a blush on his cheeks, before grinning down at me again. The expression on his face is shy but hopeful. “That is, if you’re interested in being my girlfriend?”

I try to maintain a poker face, make him sweat a little bit after all this waiting. But it’s only a few moments before I’m beaming up at him. “It took you long enough to ask.”

He closes the short distance between us and presses a brief kiss to my lips. My body arches into his, my arms instinctively draping around his neck. His scruff leaves my face tingling in the best way.

“We lost so much time because I thought I wouldn’t have time for both a career and a relationship.”

I run my fingernails through his hair, and his eyes flutter closed. “We didn’t lose anything. We just spent a little more time building the foundation.”

“And if I get traded to another team across the country?” He searches my gaze.

“Then we figure that out when the time comes. Together. As a couple.”

He sighs, like he can finally breathe now that everything is out in the open. His smile reappears, bringing his precious dimple with it. I press my thumb into the small divot, making his grin widen.

“You know, I heard a solid friendship is the best foundation for a relationship,” Austin says.

“Really?” I open my mouth in fake shock. “I heard the same thing.”

“Then I guess we’re off to a great start.” He pulls me in for a hug. I wrap my legs around him as he holds me in the water.

I breathe in the clean scent of his cologne. “You smell amazing.”

“So do you.”

I laugh, knowing I probably smell like a combination of sweat from my morning workout and this salty pool water. “You don’t have to protect my feelings.”

“I’m not.” He pulls back enough to look at me, lifts a section of my hair that’s still dry, and sniffs it. “Your coconut shampoo mixed with the Caribbean air is intoxicating.”

I smack his hand away. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I’m not ridiculous.” He wraps his arms around me again. “I’m yours.”

“Even in my feral, couch potato, cookie-eating state?”

“Aly Kat just might be my favorite version of you.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Oh really?”

He grins. “Every version of you is my favorite.”

“That’s cheating.”