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I rise to my tiptoes, my hand on his chest, but I don’t lean into him too much so as not to knock the pan of pasta off-balance. I brush my lips against his. “Next to Aiden, you are, without a doubt, the best person I’ve ever known.”
Boone’s face softens. “I think you’re the best person I’ve ever met. But I’m completely fine taking second fiddle to your brother.”
Lilly grins at me. “Maybe one day you two will tie.”
Laughing, Boone takes my hand. “I’m okay always being second to him. You ready to do this? Get our barbecue on?”
My nod is firm. I feel like I could conquer the world with him by my side. I’m not sure how Boone does it, and maybe I’ll never know, but just that short conversation in which he validated my feelings settles me in an almost magical way. He’s correct… I’m allowed to have happiness. Aiden is completely fine spending some time alone at the hospital, especially now that he’s doing better and has plenty of people to watch over him. I’ve met the majority of the Titans players and the women who belong to them, and they’re all wonderfully nice people.
Today is going to be a blast.
We walk through the wrought iron gate covered with sprouting vines. The little buds nestled in the young leaves tell me that within a few days, flowers will bloom.
The first people we see as we step through are Baden and Sophie. Boone told me that they bought this beautiful Victorian home last year and have been renovating it all summer.
Sophie is the first to approach, barreling toward me with her arms open. She’s one of the Titans women I haven’t had the chance to meet yet, but I’m not surprised by such a warm welcome. “I am so glad to finally meet you,” she gushes as she wraps her arms around me.
It’s in no way awkward because it feels one hundred percent genuine and I return the embrace. “Thank you for inviting me.”
Sophie waves her hand as we release. “You’re part of the Titans’ family now.”
My eyes cut to Boone because that’s quite the, um… committed statement. We haven’t been together long and “family” denotes a level of loyalty I’m not sure Boone would be comfortable labeling us as. But he smiles at Sophie as if he couldn’t agree more.
Baden and Boone shake hands and then Baden turns to me. I met him at Aiden’s birthday party. He bends down and kisses my cheek. “How’s your brother doing?”
“Better each day. He just had another bone marrow biopsy and is still leukemia-free.”
“But Baden said he has to stay in the hospital for a while yet,” Sophie says.
I give a brief overview of Aiden’s illness, taking a moment to explain the process and that now we’re waiting to see if his white and red blood cells will replenish. I never mind explaining Aiden’s disease so people can appreciate how hard he’s been fighting.
“He sounds like an actual miracle,” Sophie says.
“He is,” Boone replies, and there’s no mistaking the pride in his voice. Boone has never said as much to me, but I know he has come to care greatly for—probably even love—my brother.
“Well, I for one can’t wait until he’s out of the hospital and able to join us at these get-togethers.” Sophie looks to the pan Boone’s holding, admonishing, “And we told you not to bring anything.”
“Lilly insisted,” Boone says. “Besides, once you taste this pasta salad, you’ll be thanking her over and over again.”
Sophie’s eyes sparkle as she pulls back the corner of tinfoil. “Oh wow… that looks amazing.”
“It was my mom’s recipe.” A twinge of sadness and joy to share something of hers hits. “I’ll make sure to send it to you.”
“That would be lovely,” Sophie says, looping her arm through mine. She tosses her head toward one of the tables already laden with bowls, trays and platters but doesn’t spare Boone a glance. “You can put that with the rest of the food. I’m going to introduce Lilly around to everyone she hasn’t met yet.”
“Sounds good,” Boone says, but he doesn’t let me slip away so easily. He steps in and lays a kiss on my mouth. “I’ll catch up with you soon.”
“Okay,” I murmur, feeling like I’m floating from that gentle kiss and promise in his tone that he’s not ever going to be far from me.
Sophie pulls me away with a tinkling laugh, shaking her head.
“What’s so funny?” I ask.
She smirks, her expression slightly apologetic. “I’m sorry… it’s just… the two of you are too precious for words. I mean, everyone here on the team knows that Boone’s the guy with the heart of gold and that when he decided on someone, he was going to make all the women swoon with how he treated her. And let me just say… the way he looks at you and talks to you and hell… talks about you when you’re not around. That boy is stupid silly in love.”
I stop dead in my tracks, turning to face her, my jaw sagging open. “No, he’s not.”
“If you say so,” she replies, grinning like a fool.
