“I—” She falters, a tiny crease appearing between her brows. “I don’t know what to say. I want to believe you, but nothing’s changed. If you can’t even put your own dreams before the pressures of the game, how can I expect to compete?”
Is that what she thinks? That this is some kind of game to me? “There’s no competition. I’ll always choose you.”
She throws up her hands and plants them on her hips. “Football is your life. It’s what you were born to do and you’re going to be freaking unstoppable when you get to the NFL. I would never ask you to choose between me and your future. But I won’t play second string. And I can’t stand by and watch you give up on your dreams to make someone else’s come true.”
My breath whistles through my teeth. “I told my father the truth.”
She freezes, eyes wide. “You did?”
I nod. “This morning. A pretty smart woman made me realize that living someone else’s dream is no way to live.”
Her face softens and she takes a step closer. “How’d it go?”
“Better than expected,” I say, raking a hand through my hair. “My dad’s going to back off, let things play out how they will. It was a good talk, actually.”
“And Chicago? What about the optional practice?”
“I asked Coach to pass my regards to the scout and let him know I look forward to speaking with the coaching staff in the spring, when my eligibility expires. Being here for you today was more important than running drills. You were right about my priorities being screwed up, but I think I’ve got it all figured out now.”
I take a step closer, letting my hand skate over her cheek. She leans into my touch, eyes drifting shut. Her skin is flushed, her chest rising and falling in rapid succession, but it’s the softness of her skin that does me in. She pretends to be so tough, so untouchable, but the truth is, underneath it all she’s vulnerable, in need of love and support, just like the rest of us.
“You did all that for me?”
I tilt her chin up to mine. I want her to see the truth of my words in my eyes. “For us. So we can start fresh. No more secrets. No more lies. No more half-truths.”
“For us,” she says slowly as if trying out the words. “I like the sound of that.”
The smile that lights up her face is glorious. I can’t imagine going another day without it in my life. This moment is so damn perfect I don’t care who’s watching or listening. The guys might bust my balls for the rest of the season, but it’ll be worth it just to see that smile on her face. “I love you, Kennedy.”
50
KENNEDY
He loves me?Warmth spreads through my body, and the words plant themselves deep in my chest, taking root immediately. It almost feels too good to be true. I told myself it was too much to hope for, that he might feel the same way. I thought— Well, I guess it doesn’t matter what I thought. Not now. Not when he’s just laid his heart bare in front of the entire team.
Austin loves me.
And I know it’s true. It’s clear in the way he looks at me, with such tenderness and adoration. I don’t know how I missed it before when it’s so obvious now. I’m full to bursting with happiness, and when he smiles, I want to pepper his dimple with kisses.
But we have an audience, and I doubt they’re here for the PDA.
I look around at the smiling faces of our friends—our teammates—and my heart swells with pride. And not just because they have mad skills when it comes to glittery posters (although they do). I never expected to be a real part of this team, but the fact that they’re here is proof I’m one of them. Proof that everything I thought I knew about football players was wrong.
Sure, our comradery is different than what I shared with the women on the soccer team, but it’s no less precious to me. And I’m so grateful I have the opportunity to be part of such a close-knit team. I’ve learned a lot this season, about football, about life, even about myself.
I wouldn’t trade the experience for the world.
“Put the man out of his misery,” Coop says, giving me a playful wink. “Hasn’t he suffered enough?”
He’s right. Austin’s made himself vulnerable. With his father, the team, and with me. I love him all the more for it, and I owe him the same in return.
My heart thunders in my chest as I turn back to Austin, taking his hands in mine. I can see the tension in his shoulders, but if we’re going to wipe the slate clean, I need to get this off my chest. “I owe you an apology too. I shouldn’t have walked away the other day.” I take a steadying breath. “But it was easier to lash out than admit that all this time, from the first day we met on the soccer field, I’ve been projecting all the hurt and disappointment of my childhood onto you. It was easier to believe that given the chance, you’d hurt me just like my father did.”
Austin flinches, and I squeeze his hand.
“It was unfair of me to lay his mistakes at your feet in an attempt to protect myself. Especially when you’ve been nothing but supportive. You believed in me when I didn’t even believe in myself. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have a full scholarship or a place on the team. I wouldn’t have won first place today, because I wouldn’t have had Enzo to help me get Sparky ready in time. And if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have tried to reconnect with my dad.” He starts to protest, but I raise a hand to silence him. I steal a quick glance at my mom. She’s smiling so I can’t be doing too terrible a job with my apology. It’s not exactly sparkly signs, but it’s the best I’ve got. “Just because it didn’t work out the way I’d hoped, doesn’t make the lesson any less valuable. You’ve shown me it’s okay to be vulnerable and to take chances. And I love you for it.”
Austin’s breath hitches, and when I look into his eyes, I see myself reflected across a summer sky. I lay a hand over his heart. It beats a steady rhythm under my palm and it centers me.
