Page 85 of Out of Bounds

“If that is what you want, beautiful, then I’ll suit up and do cartwheels with a football under my kit.”

Felicity giggled, and it sent fireworks through him. There was a light in her eyes again, making it seem like all was right with the world. She was back in his arms and she was happy. That was everything he could ask for.

“I moved to Atlanta thinking that being the coach of the Rising was it. I was going to be living the dream. But it turns out the job was only part of it. I needed you to insert yourself into my life to show me the rest of it.”

“No, you needed me to extract you from a bathtub.”

“That too,” he laughed. “So what do you say, Effie? You and me, happily ever after?”

“I like the sound of that.”

“So do I, Effie. So do I.”

Epilogue

Six Weeks Later…

The roar of the crowd that had taken over Bunz felt like electricity buzzing over Felicity’s skin. This was the busiest she’d seen the place since it’d opened, with people crammed into booths and extra chairs shoehorned around tables. She couldn’t help but smile, knowing that tonight was going to be even better than she had hoped.

After a draw against New Orleans in the season opener, the Rising had returned to Atlanta to win their very first game ever at home, in front of a record-breaking, sellout crowd. She’d been the owner for just over a week by that point, since Dalton had wasted no time in presenting her with all the legal paperwork once she’d told him she was in. He'd had them ready and waiting the morning after her and Gunnar’s rooftop reunion, looking like a little kid on Christmas who couldn’t wait for his parents to open the present he’d bought for them.

“Where are Sax and Tanner?” she asked Talia, leaning over the bar to grab her bottle of water.

“Back in Heather’s office. I think Tanner was getting a little overstimulated out here with all the noise. She said just to come get her when it was time to do their intro,” Talia said. “But I know he’s excited. He texted me about it last night.”

“I love that you have him texting!” Felicity laughed. She’d known Tanner since before he was born but had never been able to get him to come out of his shell quite like Talia had these last few weeks. Whatever she was learning in those classes, she was putting to good use.

Things between the two of them had also never been better. It was almost like the moment in the bathroom at Big D’s funeral had never happened. They still had lunch together multiple times a week, and they’d even added a “family” dinner into the mix when schedules allowed it. Although Felicity had to veto Talia’s joke about starting to call her mom.

“So, you plan on bidding on anyone tonight?” she asked.

“No,” Talia answered.

“C’mon, there is no one that catches your eye?”

“Nope.”

“Not one of them?”

"Is this one of those things that because you’re happy and in love, all of us have to be happy and in love?”

“No!” Felicity answered before stopping to consider the question.

Yes, these last six weeks had been the best of her life—without a doubt. On top of being owner of the Atlanta Rising, she was now the president and co-owner of Southland Holdings, second only to her brother, at least in terms of title. He’d already proven to her in the short time they’d been working together that they were partners in this. Her new role was a dream come true, made only better by the fact that all her other dreams were coming true thanks to Gunnar.

“Hey, beautiful,” Gunnar said, coming up behind her and kissing her on the cheek. She tried to suppress a giggle, but the stubble on his jawline tickled her skin and she couldn’t hold it in. “Mind if I steal her for a sec, T?”

“Please, she keeps trying to get me to bid on someone.”

“No players. We've talked about this,” Gunnar mock scolded, pointing his finger at his daughter. Felicity bit back a laugh, as Talia let out a huff of annoyance.

“Yeah, we’re bad news,” Liam added, sliding onto a bar stool.

The sullen look on his face and his dejected posture sent a pang of worry through Felicity. As owner of the team and organizer of this event, she wanted the players to be happy and enjoying themselves while they were here. They were representing the team, after all. On a personal level, this team member was one that she had spent the last couple of weeks getting to know, and getting attached to Liam as a member of their weird little family, she didn’t want to see him hurting.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” the young man spat out.