Page 84 of Lavender and Linebackers

Titan:

Ryder: No bachelor party. Don’t get your panties in a wad.

Sully: Wow. Color me flabbergasted. There’s a story to be told. Should we invite him to team dinner?

Tyler: Flabbergasted? Who uses words like this?

Dylan: Team dinner? What for? So we can sit around, gossip, and braid each other’s hair?

Sully: What do you mean, what for? To hear the story!

Rico: I bet Ryder knows this story. He can tell us.

Ryder: I’m not telling you shit.

Sully: Superman?

Sully: Camden?

Sully: Hello?

Camden has left the group chat.

Chapter 28

Ryder

The storm has passed, and in more ways than just one.

They usually do within twenty-four hours, and that’s when the real work begins.

There’s also the work we’ll need to put in for us. I’m not completely ignorant and thinking we’re riding off into the sunset. I know that things aren’t all stop and smell the roses wonderful between us just yet. I hurt her. There will be a transition period where we have to learn about each other all over again. I know nothing about her past four years, and she doesn’t really know much about mine. I have a hundred stories I want to tell her, and I’m certain she’s got a hundred to tell me too.

Including the summer I left her.

I know certain details haven’t been shared with me. Too many times over the past couple of months there have been hints at her mental and physical state, and I’m going to have to listen and own what my leaving did to her. It’s not something I necessarily want to bring up right away, but sooner or later, I’ll need her to tell me. While in my heart I believe we are letting go and moving on, some things shouldn’t be swept under the rug. I want her to want to be open with me. I want her to trust me.

And that’s what it comes down to: trust.

“I can feel you thinking. What’s on your mind?” she asks, stretching like Felix as she’s just woken up.

We’re still in bed and muted daylight is leaking around the curtains. I didn’t have to be at practice this morning, so we took advantage of the time and stayed wrapped up together under the blankets. I’m on my back, and she’s draped over me like I’m one giant body pillow.

“That we still have a lot to talk about and a lot to figure out.”

Her head shifts on my biceps and she looks at me. Her beautiful, warm gaze bounces back and forth between mine, and two little lines settle between her eyes.

“Do you still have things you need to figure out?”

I shift a little so I can run my hand up, down, and over her bare hip. “Not where you and I are concerned. I’d marry you today if you let me, but I want to do this right.”

Her eyes widen. “You want to marry me?”

“Did you think there was any other outcome besides that one? Now that I’ve got you, I’m never letting you go.”

Her smile starts slowly, but then it lights up her whole face. It’s automatic for me to smile back, and she giggles as she runs her hand over my chest. I swear her hands on me are the best feeling. It’s such a great feeling. I’m about to have a chubby.

“I mean, it’s been like twelve hours.” She looks at me like I’m crazy.