The whole thing happened because Natalia, Cooper, and I walked in on my parents and his mom talking over glasses of wine, saying that maybe we’d grow up and get married.
They were joking, of course. But as kids, it just seemed like a fun game we could recreate for them.
They loved every second. Looking back, I find it a little weird. But I trudged down that beach to Cooper Henry while the CD player playedYours Forever.”
It’s a memory that’s been buried deep, only being resurfaced by my friend’s words.
I have a hard time believing that it meant enough to Cooper for him to know what it sounded like that quickly.
“I’m not sure I believe you,” I say, leaning into Heidi as something else happens in the game.
It’s only when I notice someone shift on the other side of me that I remember there are cameras all around me, and they captured all of it.
And I know I should be annoyed. I should be throwing a bit of a fit. But on the other hand, how beautiful is it to have the kind of friendships that make everything else around you turn into background noise? That the discomfort and the chaos get drowned out by the company you keep.
Sure, I know that some of what I said will definitely get spliced together. But even though I’m here at a football game, I’m actually having fun for once.
And that’s all that matters.
We’re waiting for the guys as they come out of the locker room. Leo is the first to come out like a bat out of hell, and when he sees Briar, he practically flings her as he picks her up, squeezing her as hard as he can.
Some of the other guys walk out, and Mila stills next to me, watching one of them in particular. They lock eyes, the kid blushing as he walks off.
“What the hell was that?” I whisper.
“None of your business,” she responds with a tight smile.
Weird.
Mila has never been an open book. She’s wonderful. Smart, pretty, thoughtful. But we’ve always had to pull things out of her. I know that I’ll find out sooner or later.
After what feels like ages, Cooper’s face comes into view,cameras following him. I can tell by the way his eyes open in shock when he sees me that they didn’t tell him I’d be here.
And by the way he seems to stop breathing as he looks me up and down, it doesn’t seem like they told him what I’d be wearing, either.
What is it about women in a man’s jersey that makes them lose their minds?
“Turn around,” he says with a giant smile.
I do.
“God, I love my last name on you,” he laughs, wrapping me in a tight hug.
Well, I guess I have my answer.
I’m supposed to be angry with him, but I can’t help but laugh. “What are you doing?”
“I’m hugging what feels like a tree.”
I relax.
“That’s better.”
“So, you really like your last name on me?” I ask him with genuine curiosity.
He nods vigorously, his wet hair dripping on me. “If I could haveHenrytattooed on your forehead, I would.”
“You’re just saying that for the cameras,” I say more for me than him.
