When we came to another door, he gave one brisk knock and then pushed it open. “Go on ahead in. He’s waiting for you.”
I’d expected a training room to be some kind of cold, sterile environment, but it was actually well-lit, with a carpeted floor, mirrored walls and rows of wooden exam tables covered in gray pads. Sitting up on the second one in was Leo, grinning at me and holding out his hand.
Relief coursed through me, making me weak. “You scared the shit out of me. God! I was terrified. I—” The tears that I’d refused to cry earlier came flooding out now, and I sniffled as I finally approached the table. “Don’t you ever frighten me like that again, do you hear?”
“Mia. C’mere.” Leo wrapped his arms around me. I saw that his right knee was wrapped, the uniform pant pushed up to his thigh. “I’m okay. See? All in one piece.”
I dropped my forehead to his shoulder, breathing in the musky mix of sweat and football. “I couldn’t see you at first. They just said you weredown. I was so, so scared.” I lifted my head, grimacing a little. “I might have screamed at your dad. Maybe even cursed a little. I dropped the F-bomb on him, Leo.”
He shook with laughter. “Now that I wish I’d seen.” He skimmed my hair back from my face. “Did you see my touchdown?”
“Of course I did. It was beautiful.” I kissed his jaw and straightened up a little. “Now about your knee. I know it might seem bad now, but try not to worry. I already called Kara and Allan, and they’re on the case. They’re going to set you up with the very best doctors and hospitals in the world, and we’re going to make sure you have the latest treatment. You’ll be back on the field before you know it, and it’s going to be fine. You’ll be better than ever.”
“Mia—”
“I know, I know. It hurts, and you’re probably scared, too, but Leo, you were born to play football, and as long as I’m breathing, you’re not going to let a little torn ACL get in your way.”
“Babe.” He laid a finger on my lips. “Shhh. I don’t know where you got your info, but it’s not torn. It’s sprained, and I might miss a game. Maybe two. But I’ll be able to play in the post-season.”
“Sprained?” I wanted to whoop with joy. “Are you sure?”
Leo shrugged. “They’re going to send me for scans just in case, of course, but the doctor and the trainer are both pretty damn positive. Nothing to worry about. They said I got off lucky, considering how bad it could have been.”
“Oh, my God.” I was crying again, holding onto Leo. “That’s wonderful. I’m so happy.”
“Hey.” He held me back a little, studying my face. “You really called Kara and Allan Crocker and had them looking for doctors for me? I mean ...” He lifted one large shoulder. “This could’ve been a perfect excuse for me to give up the game, right? But you were going to move heaven and earth to help me get back out there.”
I poked one finger into his chest. “Don’t make me regret that. If you go out there again and get really hurt, I’ll ...” I paused, thinking. “I’ll let Zelda do to you what she threatened back in college. You know, the dick and the cutting off and the grinding and the dogs?”
He paled a little. “Got it. As far as it’s in my power, I won’t get hurt.” He framed my face with one hand. “But I can’t tell you what it means to me—that you were ready to have my back if I needed it.” He drew me closer and brushed his lips across mine. “I love you, babe. So much.”
I threaded my arms under his and held on tight. “I know.”
Joe had been true to his word and taken all of us out for steak after the game. The Rebels had held on to their lead to win, so we had a lot to celebrate.
So much.
The parents had gathered at the restaurant ahead of Leo and me, since we’d had to go to the hospital for the knee scans. Although the films still had to be checked by the orthopedic surgeon the next day, the initial reports were a confirmation of the trainer’s verdict: sprain only. One to two weeks of rest.
Corey and Ellie had joined us to eat, too. Joe, who must have been feeling particularly generous in the wake of his son’s touchdown and injury, had invited them. We had a wonderful time, eating, drinking and laughing. I noticed, though, that Joe didn’t say much to me, even after I’d apologized for my outburst.
Lisa had leaned over to whisper in my ear. “Don’t apologize. He had it coming.” I tried not to giggle. “Besides, he’s not mad. He’s just giving you some space. You stood up to him, and that earned you some respect.”
After dinner, I drove Leo home. His parents had decided to go dancing with my mom and Shane the dry cleaner, so I’d given them a key to the townhouse and promised to leave on a light. And then I’d madethempromise to behave themselves and not to be out too late.
“Oh, you mean they shouldn’t come back after the date and make out on the sofa once you’re in bed?” My mother had quirked an eyebrow at me.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I’d answered her loftily. “And eww. I don’t want to think about parents and making out and—just no.”
So Leo and I had the house to ourselves as we watched the day’s football highlights. We were on the sofa, and Leo had his knee propped on the coffee table, covered with an ice bag. I lay with my head on his lap, drowsy from the day and the intoxicating warmth coming from the fire I’d started in our fireplace.
“Tate did well today. Check that out.” Leo turned up the volume a little as the stats from the Philadelphia-San Diego game rolled across the bottom of the screen. “They won, too.”
“Wouldn’t it be wild if you guys played each other in the playoffs?” I smiled sleepily. “I wouldn’t know who to root for.”
“Hey.” He tapped my nose. “You just remember who you’re sleeping with, soon-to-be-Mrs. Taylor. Who gives you multiple orgasms every night?”
“Let me think ...” My lips curved up, and I caught Leo’s hand in mine, bringing it down to my face so I could kiss his fingers. “Don’t worry. I know where my loyalties lie.”
“And don’t you forget it.” He wrapped one of my curls around his finger. “I don’t intend to let you.”
“Oh, look! There’s you.” I watched the catch, the pivot and run, and then I buried my face in Leo’s leg before the hit came on. “I wish they’d end the clip after you scored.”
He chuckled. “You know I’m okay. You know it has a happy ending. Why does it bother you so much?”
“I don’t like to be reminded of it. I had a moment of thinking—this is it. I knew our happiness was too good to last. This is the end.” I sighed as Leo played with my hair. “And then I told myself to stop being an idiot. We made our happiness. We earned this happily-ever-after. We fought hard for it. And no one’s going to take it away from us.”
“Damn right, babe.” His fingers touching my back as he combed them through my curls made me shiver. “There are still going to be bumps in the road. Life’s never easy, but it can be rich. As long as we can navigate the speed bumps together, I’m not going to complain.” He took my hand, turned the palm to his lips and pressed one long, searing kiss there.
“As happily-ever-afters go, ours is the best I could ever want.”
