AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The final minute winds down, and the crowd lets out a mighty roar as the visiting Thunder is unable to score any points on their final drive. The Ramblers have won.
They’re going to the championship game.
In his first year with Kansas City, Brock and the team have not only punched their ticket to the biggest game of the year but have rewritten the history books too. They’ve only lost one game this season, the one in Seattle where Brock got his concussion, having the best Ramblers regular season record in franchise history.
Brock also secured a four-year extension to his contract. In fact, it was my dad who pushed for the terms, making sure the main office realized what they had with his addition to the team. He signed that contract quickly, knowing it was going to keep us here for what he suspected were to be the final years of his career.
When the crowd on the field grows, I lose track of Brock in the mix. I know he’s down there, celebrating with his teammates, coaches, and management. It isn’t until I see someone push through the crowd, heading toward the stands, that I realize Brock is on the move.
I stand up on my seat, Taylor reaching out and gripping my shirt so I don’t fall. We make eye contact, matching smiles on both our faces. He holds up his arm, raising his helmet high above his head, and that’s when I see it.
The tattoo.
The sun he had done a month or so back on the underside of his arm. He positioned it there because that’s his favorite place to have me rest my head when we fall asleep at night. The burstof bright yellow sunshine no one knows the meaning of except us.
I wave like a lunatic, throwing my own arms high above my head.
When he lowers his arm, he taps his chest, something he’s started doing after every game. He says it’s for me, where he keeps me tucked during his times of victory and tribulations, in his heart.
Media surrounds him and our moment is lost, at least for the time being. I know there will be much celebrating later tonight when we’re finally alone in our own home. My thighs clench together just thinking about it.
Tonight, I’ll get to hear one hell of a story.
EPILOGUE BROCK
Brock
This has been the best fucking year of my life, and if all goes well tonight, that declaration will be sealed forever. I don’t need the outcome of the championship game to make the declaration official. I just need my Sunshine and one three-letter word.
Pulling into the driveway of our home, I smile, knowing that my girl is inside waiting for me. When this place came on the market in the same gated community as Caleb’s, I knew it was going to be our forever home. I called the realtor, and that night, as soon as Joey was home from work, we went to look at it. She fell in love immediately, and so did I. Not just with the house, but with the future I could see playing out as we live here. We made an offer that night and never looked back.
We’ve lived here for a few weeks, and we’re finally getting settled, but that’s not good enough for me. I want the vision. I want the house full of laughter and love and the pitter-patter of little feet. I want the welcome sign on the front porch to say welcome, with our last name. Not just mine, but ours. I’m ready to take the next step toward making that happen. I just hope she is too.
Pulling into the garage, I leave my bag. I’ll get it later. Right now, all I want to do is wrap my arms around her. That is definitely priority number one. Pushing open the door from the garage to the house, I kick off my shoes in the mudroom and call out, “Honey, I’m home.”
“In here,” she responds.
I follow her voice to the living room. There’s a pizza box sitting on the table with a couple of bottles of water and a box of breadsticks that my girl has already started on. Hermione is hanging out on the back of the couch, snoozing away. While our rescue dog, Fable, who is a mixed breed that I surprised her with the day we moved in, is curled up beside her, eyeing the pizza. She knows my girl is going to give her a bite. Who am I kidding? I can’t say no to either one of them. Fay, as I like to call her, knows damn good and well I’ll be giving her a bite of mine as well. But first…
“Sunshine.” I breathe out her name as I bend my head to kiss her lips. “Missed you.”
“Missed you too. Great game today. That was one hell of a catch.” I flash her a grin before sitting next to her and reaching for a breadstick. “I know this goes against your diet, but it’s a celebration, and I didn’t want to waste time cooking. I just wanted to spend it with you.”
This couldn’t have worked better in my favor. “We’re going to the championship game. I can afford a cheat night with my girl.” We spend the next fifteen minutes eating and talking about the game.
“I’m telling you, I was gripping their hands so tight I don’t think they’ll be regaining feeling in those fingers anytime soon, if ever.” She laughs.
“I’m sure they’re fine,” I assure her. “You done?” I ask.
“Yes. I’m stuffed.”
“I’ll clean up. Why don’t you go get ready for bed? I’ll be right up.”
“Deal.” She places a loud, smacking kiss on my cheek and heads upstairs.
I gather the now-empty pizza and breadstick box, along with the rest of our trash, and take it out to the larger can in the garage. While I’m out there, I grab the gift that I’ve been hiding for her from the small safe. It’s a large black box, and a smaller one. After making sure the house is secure, and the lights are off, I head toward our room.
“What’s that?” she asks immediately when she sees the larger box in my hand. The smaller one is shoved inside the pocket of my sweats.
