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"You do realize, one section of the media is calling you pussy-whipped?"
I laugh. "Because I stepped down from my captaincy of the English cricket team and moved out of playing professional cricket?”
"It was a surprise; you have to admit."
"It would’ve taken me away from her for long periods of time—something I cannot bear anymore. I want to spend every second of my life making things up to her. How can I do that when I’m always on tour? Besides, they offered me the position of a commentator.” And I negotiated it, so I’ll only be involved when matches are played on our home ground. Which means, I won’t be available for about eighty percent of the matches played, but fuck that. Between my investments and the sponsorships I’ve lined up, I have more than enough money to keep my woman in the style she deserves. I’m also starting a scholarship fund for promising young players from disadvantaged backgrounds. Not everyone is as fortunate as me to have a Knight coming to their rescue, so I’m going to play Knight and try my best to help as many young people as I can.
“So, you’re retiring from competitive sport?” Declan asks.
“You could say that.” I press the tips of my fingers together. “I prefer to think I’m joining the world of the living.”
There’s a touch on my shoulder and I glance up to find Abby standing behind me.
“Sparrow, what are you doing here?” I rise to my feet, and taking her hand in mine, bring it up to my mouth and kiss the back of it. “Shouldn’t you be at work?”
“I’m done for the day. Also, I wanted to see you.”
Behind me, Declan also stands up. “Good to see you again, Abby. See you around, arsehole.” Then he leans forward and slaps my head.
“The fuck?”
“Just a reminder not to fuck it up this time. I’ll see myself out.” He walks away whistling.
Abby bursts out laughing.
I glare at her. “That hurt.”
“Aww, poor baby, should I kiss you and make you feel better?” She rises on her tiptoes.
I step back. “Not that I don’t want you to kiss me, but seriously, what are you doing here?”
“You live here, don’t you?”
I tilt my head.
“I wanted to come by and see how you were doing. Also—" She peers into my eyes. “I don’t want you to give up playing cricket for me.”
I cradle her hands between my much bigger palms. “I’m doing it for me, baby.”
“But Cade—" She swallows. “The game is your life.”
“You are my life.”
She flushes, then shakes her head. “I can’t let you throw away your dreams.”
“You are my dream, Sparrow. Your happiness, your desires, what brings a smile to your lips, what makes you excited, what you dream of… That’s what I seek.”
“But Cade—"
I place a finger on her lips. “I was stumbling along, not knowing what I was seeking, not realizing that the one thing, theonlything that could redeem me was the woman whose name has been etched into my soul, one way or the other, since I was a teenager. You make me the kind of man whose gaze I can meet in the mirror every morning. When I’m with you, I become the version of me that I’d hoped to become, but which I’d abandoned along the way. You transform me, baby. You make me happy. You make me content—which is a state of mind I didn’t imagine would be so much more exciting than any other emotion I’ve ever experienced on the field.”
I sink down to one knee, still holding her hand in mine, then pull out the ring I’ve been carrying around in my pocket for a few weeks now. “Will you marry me, Abigail Warren? Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? I promise to love you, and honor you, and respect you, and cherish you. I’ll be your dream, your wish, your every fantasy come true. I’ll be your hope, your love, everything that you desire. I love you with my every breath, my soul, my heart—which was, admittedly, a dark place until you came back into my life. You give me a reason to live; you give my future a deeper meaning.I found the reason for my smile, the day I found you. Will you let me be the reason for your smile, too?”
She laughs, then begins to cry.
Oh, hell. That’s not good, is it?My heart jumps into my throat. My stomach ties itself in knots. “Abby, baby… I didn’t mean for you to cry, Sparrow.”
I begin to rise, but she shakes her head. “Don’t you dare spoil the most beautiful, most perfect proposal ever.” She hiccups.
