AllFreeNovel
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It’s been a helluva season. A few people in this town figured out that the high school kid who let people bully him is gone. Now I’m a strong coach who doesn’t take shit from anyone. They wanted to make me out to be the bad kid? Didn’t work. But I’m still here, and I’m going to make damn sure that no other kid gets bullied and pushed around like I was. Not on my watch. Goldie taught me well. Take care of your community and look out for others. I’m taking a page from her playbook.
After making sure all the players headed out safely for the night, I lock up and turn and see them waiting for me.My family.
When I came back, I couldn’t have imagined that this was how things would go. I always felt Callie and I would find our way back to each other, but this was worth all the struggles and years apart. Because she was meant to be mine.
“Good game, Coach,” she echoes from across the parking lot. She’s sitting on the tailgate of my truck, bundled up in a blanket. Harley sits next to her wearing a sweater, tongue hanging out. Her tail wags as I approach the truck, and I scratch her ears as I lean in to kiss Callie.
“Hey, beautiful. You didn’t have to wait for me.” I pull her into a hug. I know she has to be tired after her long shift at the hospital and then coming to the game.
“Of course, I did.” She pats the tailgate next to her, and I slide in. “I’m so proud of you.”
Slipping my arm around her, I pull her closer to me. I reach into my pocket to pull out the ring and hold it up to her.
“SJ…” she breathes. Her eyes soften, and her hand goes over her mouth.
I gently pick up her hand and say, “I’ve been waiting for the perfect moment for this. But this feels like the perfect moment. You, me, and Harley. Callie, will you marry me?”
Yes,” she says with a huge smile as I pull her hand toward me and slide the ring that Beth, Allie, Mellie, and Paige all conspired to help me pick out quickly from a local jeweler. How they kept this a secret is beyond me. I’ve wanted to give it to her for over a week now.
“It feels good to have you both here with me. My family.”
“Nowhere else we’d rather be.” She leans toward me and wraps her hands around my neck, pulling me close to kiss her.
“Let’s go home.”
epilogue
Callie
“Five minutes!”Mellie calls.
“There,” Beth says as she fixes my hair and sets down the curling iron. “Perfect.”
“Here’s your bouquet.” Allie hands me a beautiful bundle of yellow roses. Simple yet eloquent.
“How do I look?” I stand and straighten my dress. I look up to see Paige, Mellie, Beth, and Allie staring at me in adoration. Beth wipes her eyes.
“What?” I look between them all, confused. Nerves fill me as I think about seeing SJ and his reaction to me in my dress.
“You look so beautiful,” Paige breathes.
“Thank you.” I put my hand to my face and fan it, hoping I don’t cry and mess up my makeup. I’m so happy and nervous; all the emotions are rolling through me.
“Ready to become Mrs. Reid? Or Dr. Reid?” Allie asks, linking her arm in mine and guiding me to the doorway.
“Absolutely ready.” I smile.
Evan plays guitar outside, and Sam waits inside the doorway for me, ready to walk me down the aisle and give me away. He smiles at me, looking handsome in his suit.
I take his hand, and he guides me outside to the beautiful aisle set up in ivory down the backyard. It’s lined on each side with lanterns containing burning candles. The sun is going down, giving us a beautiful sunset view of our lookout. A spot we get to share with our family and friends. White lights are strung everywhere and wrapped around trees. Chairs are set up on both sides of the candlelit aisle. There are no his and her sides. It’s a beautiful mixture of familiar faces who love and support us—friends from the hospital, the Eastern Bones members, SJ’s Army friends, and people from the town we love. I cherish all of these people so much.
Goldie joins Sam and me. I smile at both, and they join me on either side. “Ready?” Goldie whispers. I couldn’t decide who would walk me down the aisle, so I asked them both.
“Let’s do this,” I say as we walk down the aisle, and my breath hitches when I see him waiting for me. He’s in a black suit with a red tie. He smiles and looks up at Evan and back at me, looking proud.
When we get closer to him, my heart beats faster. He walks over, and Sam tucks me in next to SJ. Goldie kisses my cheek and says, “I love you.” Goldie and Sam take a seat next to each other in the front. I turn to face SJ.
“We made it,” SJ whispers loudly with a relieved sigh, and a few people in the front laugh.
