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"Mom," I blushed, loving her attention.
In the past year, she and I had grown closer. Instead of being focused on Tripp, she got inspired by my work with the kid's camp. Even volunteering and finding her own place with the team.
She said that passing out oranges to the kids was the highlight of her year, and I couldn't agree more. Seeing their faces and hard work made us feel like we had a bigger purpose in life. It was what we all needed from time to time, but no one more than my mom.
Dad was still around, but Mom wasn't begging him to stay. He just saw the same changes in her that I had and knew if he left, he may never get to come home. For me, I stayed out of their mess.
"Get over here!" Tripp's mom, Diane, joined us, also giving me a hug.
Tripp took me to California and introduced Diane and me after the kid's camp ended last year. She was exactly how I pictured her, being a waitress in a trucker's diner, with not too much fanfare. She and I became close, talking all the time in text messages. I had convinced her to get to Miami a few times already, but no trip was more important than that final game.
"Are you two still on for dinner?" I asked.
"Of course dear," my mom answered, looping her arm through Diane's. "We will meet you two there."
Ash and Lily had both been taken over the wall of our suite by Rhys and Cruz to celebrate, and I stood back, waiting for Tripp to finish his interviews. He was now the leading spokesman for the team, having spent so much time in the spotlight he was used to the pressure.
As he nodded to the interviewer as she asked a question, his eyes locked with mine, and he motioned for me to join him. Mom and Diane pushed my back, and I jumped over the railing, running as fast as I could toward Tripp.
Leaping into his arms, I cut whatever his words were to the interview off, and he spun me around laughing. The interviewer laughed and did her job, trying to let the viewers know that it was safe to assume Tripp's interview was over.
"I love you!"
"Love you more," he spun me again. When he set me down, he grabbed my neck and pulled my lips to his as the cameraman stayed close, panning around us.
"We are being watched," I teased him quietly against his lips.
"Mmm, your favorite," he laughed.
We stayed connected, not caring who watched as we kissed and celebrated together. But eventually, we had to leave, and Tripp scooped me into his arms and carried me straight to Shelly.
"Um," I laughed. "Aren't you going to shower? I thought we were having dinner with our moms?"
"We are. Can't I go dressed like this?"
"No," I laughed. "We are taking them to the Beach Cub. Not sure cleats are allowed."
"Grab my slides from the back for me," he laughed. "I can take the cleats off."
Rolling my eyes, I grabbed his slides. There was no use arguing with him because he was already pulling out of the parking lot and headed toward South Beach.
We listened to music and the wind blowing in as we drove. Our hands were locked, and he was kissing my knuckles every so often. When we passed our apartment, I thought he might pull in and shower, but he kept going, making me roll my eyes again.
A few months into our relationship, we decided that my apartment was useless. I stayed at his place every night, unable to separate my nights from him. Every so often, he would stay with me, but ultimately, we decided his place was bigger, right on the water, and safer from whatever craziness came our way.
Not that we anticipated any more twisted games. Hunter was back in League One, playing in Seattle. He was as far away from us as possible, and I truly hoped he was doing well. If there ever came a day he signed with a pro team, be it the Inferno or another team Miami had to play against, we would handle that when the time came.
As far as Colton, Tripp never mentioned him, but he paid attention when Mom gave me an update. Colton was still at The University of Miami and back on track to graduate next year. He had handwritten Tripp and me almost a hundred letters apologizing for everything he'd done, but Tripp always seemed uncomfortable reading them. He would wad them up and throw them away, never mentioning how he felt.
Until Tripp was ready, I wasn't speaking to Colton, but I made sure my mom and dad told him how much I loved him. Colton had confessed to them everything he did, and even though they were upset, I begged them to forgive him. Because I couldn't, not yet, and Colton needed someone to love him unconditionally. He was my brother, and I loved him, but I would never be able to move forward without Tripp being ready as well.
Tripp lowered the music as we pulled into Nikki's and looked at me, putting Shelly in park. He ran a hand over his necklace that hung permanently on the rearview mirror before whispering, "I love your shirt."
Looking down, I laughed at the "Tripp > Cheese Dip" shirt I had made with Ash and Lily, each doing one for Rhys and Cruz. "There was no better way to express my love for you."
"I believe it," he laughed. "But you don't have to choose. You can have me and cheese dip, baby."
Jumping from the Bronco with a laugh, he came around and pulled me out, holding me tight as we walked into the club.
