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Her eyes widened when I said the L-word. It didn’t slip off my tongue, nor was it unintentional. I knew I loved her and it finally felt like the right time to tell her.
“I love you,” I said clearly, so she knew I was serious. “I thought we were on different paths in our lives, and maybe that’s true. But I think our paths will always merge back to one another.”
“I think so too.” A tear fell from her eyes. “Because I can do anything while loving you.”
I pulled her off her knees and into my lap so she was straddling me, the way I always did. “You love me too?”
“More than math,” she giggled.
“Oh shit.” I stood and her legs fell to the floor, catching her as I started running out of the bathroom. “You have to be on a plane.”
“So about my phone call…. Erin told Cruz who told Colin who told Levi that we needed a delay. Your brother texted the pilot and we have a little bit longer. The details are yours to tell, but they all trusted us enough to make the call.”
“I just have to make my own call, really quick.” I pulled my phone out and dialed my coach, smiling when Sandy’s gruff voice answered.
“What?”
“Hey Coach,” I smiled at Ash as she watched me curiously. “I’m gonna miss practice today and maybe tomorrow.”
“What?” he yelled. I had never missed a practice, he probably assumed I was dying.
“No worries, I’ll be back before our next game.” I pulled Ash closer and kissed her lips before I finished explaining myself to Sandy. “It's just… My girl has a game tonight in Atlanta and I love her more than soccer.”
Epilogue
1 year later
Ash
Glancing at the clock, I closed my laptop and turned the lamp off on my desk. I gathered my things and shoved them into my bag, knowing I had to hurry if I was going to make it to the game by kick off.
After falling short the year before, Rhys and the Miami Inferno were chasing a championship, and the whole city was buzzing with excitement. Including my new boss, Jeffery, who popped his head out of his office and gave me a panicked smile.
“Go,” he pleaded. “Leave all that. Just go.”
I laughed and shook my head, still packing my bag. “It’ll be fine.”
“It is a documented fact that Peyton plays better when you’re in the crowd. Even the sports networks know to keep an eye on your arrival status.”
“Well, thanks to you implementing the casual game day rule, I save time by not having to change my clothes. And, Rhys had a car sent to pick me up, so I don’t even have to bother finding a parking spot.”
Jeff had no idea I was dating Rhys Peyton when he hired me. But when Rhys dropped in to bring me lunch one day, I had to pull Jeff off the floor and threaten to call 911 if he didn’t calm down. Luckily, there was no one in the office to witness that but me.
I found Jeff when he placed an ad at the university looking for “cheap help” during the tax season. He had a new start up business doing taxes and accounting from a small office, and had bitten off more than he could chew. Soccer had ended and I was close to graduating, so in hopes of gaining experience and knowledge in my field, I applied for the job.
Right after I graduated, Jeff offered me a full time position as his assistant. The pay was more than the part time work, but less than I had hoped. Jeff was honest and excited, though. He made me want to be a part of his journey, and help him build up his business. So I accepted, knowing that one day, I may be in his shoes.
“Take tomorrow off,” he urged. “Just go be a good luck charm and stop making me crazy.”
“Tomorrow is Saturday, but thank you for the offer. I will cash that in another day.”
I zipped my bag closed and glanced at the picture of Rhys and me on my desk. It was taken right after we won the Women’s College Cup last year. Confetti was stuck to our faces, Rhys had his arm around my shoulders, and his shirt read, “Two is my Boo.”
As I left the building and got into the car service, my mind kept drifting back to that night we beat Texas for the win. The way it felt when Rhys ran onto the field and twirled me in the air before kissing me in front of everyone. The secret of our relationship had been out amongst our friends and teammates, but it was his first intentional public display of affection and we turned quite a few heads.
My phone chimed with a text, bringing me back, as the car pulled up to the stadium. I smiled when I saw it was from Charleigh.
Please tell me you are almost here.
