Page 209 of Made Better Together

“Hopefully. Worst case, this is the coolest football memory I’ll ever have.”

“Yeah, that’s for sure.” Her voice is filled with as much cheer as when she won her championship.

We kiss again, to much whooping and several whistles.

“I’m so glad you’re here to see it. And that everyone knows you’re mine.”

EPILOGUE

CONNOR - JULY 4, FIVEISH MONTHS LATER

“There they are…” Landon calls out as Eden and I approach the dock, hand in hand. We’re joining a Battle family trip on Landon’s boat for the holiday.

“Family” is defined differently these days. Eight people instead of four—nine if you count the pup.

Landon and Rori, Grace and Johnson, Rawley and Avery, and now Eden and me, all here. Along with Grover.

Speaking of Landon’s sidekick, he bolts toward Eden and me as soon as he spots us, excited barks echoing in the air.

“Sorry we’re late,” Eden says. “I was talking to Coach about the details of the World Cup trip.”

“Which coach?” Grace asks from the boat, with the hint of a tease in her voice.

I get it. It’s hard to keep up. Eden has her old college coach, though now that she’s graduated from Tolliver, she comes up less often.

There’s her national U23 coach, Coach Mueller. The one who’s called her up again for the next U23 camp, this time with the incredible opportunity to help the senior USWNT prep for the World Cup in a few weeks. That’s who she actually spoke to this morning.

She has another coach now, though. The coach of the new expansion team in Miami for the NWSL. Eden officially signed the contract to join them this past February, and once she finished classes in May, she was all in.

“Coach Mueller.”

Grace nods. She’s working with Eden regularly, so she knows all the players in Eden’s life.

“No worries,” Rori says. “We’re still loading the boat. Or these guys are.” She waves her bum arm, encapsulated in a brace. She tweaked her shoulder in the third round of Wimbledon three days ago, which is the only reason she’s here now.

“Everyone come onboard. We’re set,” Johnson shares.

The five of us not yet on the boat start climbing in, and it’s apparent immediately that it’s going to be a tight squeeze. The boat Landon purchased for us four Battle siblings to use can handle maybe six people, but now it has eight decidedly large people and a dog.

“Man, time for a bigger boat, Landon. I volunteer to get one,” Johnson shouts to him. They predictably start debating who should get the next boat.

“Hey, in the meantime, we need to fit on this boat,” Rori says, breaking up the banter. “Who can sit on someone else’s lap?”

Avery speaks first. “Get ready, Rook, because here I come.” Eyes waggling, she plops on Rawley’s lap.

“Avie baby, you know I can handle it.” He wraps his arms around her waist as she leans against him.

“Still Rook, huh?” Landon says to him.

“To her, not to you.”

Rori interrupts before Landon quips back. “Anyway, thank you, Avery.”

“Eden can sit on my lap too,” I volunteer. Eden links eyes with me and smiles.

“Yes, Sir.” Her tone is lighter than in the bedroom, but she follows orders just the same. Within three seconds, I have her perfect ass sitting right where I want her to be.

“Everyone has a seat?” Grace asks. With affirmations from all, Landon gets the boat started.