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“Lily, I fucking love it.” I slipped it over my head, feeling my throat go dry.
“There’s a tiny inscription on the football too,” she added. “It’s our initials.”
“I love it.” I curved my hand around the back of her neck. “I love you.”
“I’m so proud of you, Kaiden.”
Our lips met in a soft kiss but heat soon flooded me as I pressed Lily’s body harder against mine. “Are you sure we don’t have—”
“Thatcher, I suggest you put my daughter down and get over here,” Coach Ford boomed across the yard.
Touching my head to hers, I let out a small sigh. “Nine months,” I whispered. “Nine months until we don’t have to worry about him or anyone else.”
“I’m not in yet,” Lily said.
“They’ll say yes. They’d be fools not to.”
Lily had finally sent her college applications a couple of weeks ago. Penn State, Temple University, and Pittsburgh. I was praying she got into Penn, but we’d make it work wherever she went. Because this, her, it wasn’t some fleeting crush. It was real.
“I love you, Kaiden.” She ran a hand through my hair, kissing me.
“I love you—”
“Let’s go, QB,” Coach yelled, and I released an exasperated breath. “Your dad is a cockblocker.”
“Don’t tell him that.” She snickered as we walked hand in hand back to the party. It was seniors night, and Coach and his wife were hosting an informal dinner.
Coach Ford glared at me as we rejoined the crowd, but Monroe intercepted us.
“What the fuck do you want?” I sneered. He’d been back at school a couple of weeks, and although he couldn’t practice with the team, he was around a lot. For the most part, we ignored each other. But not tonight, apparently.
“I come in peace.” He held up his hand, the other arm still in a sling. “Can we talk?” His eyes went to Lily.
“Whatever you have to say, you can say to both of us.”
She pressed her hand against my stomach in support and warning.
“Look, I know things were rough between us at the beginning of the semester, but I was wrong about you. There I said it.” His lips pursed.
“Wow, you managed to get the words out without choking on them.”
“Kaiden,” Lily scolded, pinching my waist.
“It’s okay, Lily. I can admit when I’m an asshole… and I was, an asshole, I mean. You’re the better player, man. Even if things hadn’t gone the way they did, you deserved a shot.”
I gave him a sharp nod. “Is that all?”
“Yeah, I guess. My season with the team is over. They’re your team now, and well, I just wanted to say good luck, for the playoffs.” He held out his one good hand and I gawked at it. Surely, he didn’t expect me to shake it.
“Kaiden.” Lily nudged.
“Only for you,” I mouthed at her before grabbing his hand and shaking it. “But this doesn’t mean we’re friends, yeah?”
“Yeah, got it,” Monroe grumbled, stalking off.
“Did you have to be so mean?” Lily slipped around my body, pressing her hands against my chest and gazing up at me.
“The guy’s a douchebag.” I shrugged.
