Page 148 of The Cheerleader

“I’ll be there to get you whenever you get in.”

“Tomorrow. I need to see you. I desperately need to hold you.”

Her words wrap me in a protective cocoon, easing the sharp edges of loss, and I put everything aside—football, family, farm, all of it—and think only about seeing Susie.

Then I take a deep, clear breath and end the call with soft words.

“I love you, Susie.”

Chapter Forty-Four

Susie

For the entire flight back to Bradley Field, all I can do is think about his last words. I love you, Susie. When I get off the plane and through the gangway, Bryan is the first person I see, standing there waiting for me.

Unable to help myself, I run into his arms and kiss him. I don’t care how many people are watching. He ends the kiss and takes my luggage from me.

“It’s good to see you,” he says, a tentative smile on his face. “Let’s go.” We walk towards the exit, and before we reach the door, I stop him.

“My parents send their condolences.” I tug on his arm. “I’m sorry, I needed to tell you in person, to hug you.” I wrap my arms around him and hold on. He holds me back.

He whispers in my hair, “Tell your parents I said thank you.”

I chuckle and take his arm. “They’re anxious to meet you.”

He grunts and we walk. “Tell me about the 49ers,” I say.

“It’s a sweet deal. I only talked to the owner and coach briefly, so I’ll find out more when I get there.”

“Sounds exciting.” It does, but I can’t help the slip in my smile because he’ll be in California and I’ll be here in Connecticut.

“Come with me,” he says, like he’s reading my mind.

“To California?” I give a nervous laugh because I’m unsure what he’s saying.

“Yes.” He doesn’t elaborate, of course, and I blow out a breath. Then I breathe back in, deeply, taking in his scent with the air, and I let go of everything except what I want most.

“I want to. So much.” I can feel my mouth stretch wide as I lean into him.

“But?”

I pull up short. “I didn’t say but.” All the buts crowd into my head now that they’ve been invited, dimming my smile. “I still have another year and a half to graduate.” I bite my lip, ready to say to hell with my diploma and school and every ambition to be independent I ever had because I’m staring at Bryan right now, and he’s killing me with his pained look, drawing me in with his raw sensuality, the scent of him, the need to touch him, to be touched by him.

He reaches out and lays his hand over mine where I have it on my chest, like he’s read my mind.

“You can transfer to a school in California and finish your degree there.”

“I… could. It would take me longer, but⁠—”

“Do you really care how fucking long it takes?” he growls out the words and drags me in close, no matter that we’re still in the middle of Bradley Airport.

I shake my head. “I can do it if I can get in-state tuition. It’s cheap in California. And I could get a job⁠—”

“Don’t worry about the money. Let’s go.”

We make it to the exit and find the car, Dane’s car. It makes me smile that Dane is such a good friend. “Since when aren’t you worried about money?”

He helps me in the passenger side and leans in to kiss me, a quick one like he’s stealing it. “Since my contract has been finalized and my agent got me some money up front.”