Not wanting to make either of our situations worse, I change the subject and ask about work. She tells me about her first day at Inkwell, the tattoo shop she works for by appointment only.Her hours are limited as she make it known that me and the hospital are her priorities. The owner said they understood and would have no problem letting her set her schedule. It doesn’t hurt that the exclusivity such an arrangement portrays had her waiting list filling up fast.
A lot of my teammates only strictly let her ink them. They like to give me shit, threatening to ask for one in a special place, but I know they’d never put either of us in that position. Not to mention they’d hate to explain who did it when they meet their own soulmates.
“How’s it going there?”
“The rookies are fitting in,” I tell her. “Which is always a concern because you never know how they’ll mesh with our personalities and styles.”
“Being the captain, I’m assuming smoothing things over falls on you when they don’t.”
“It does.”
“You’re really good at it,” she encourages me. “They’ll learn a lot from you.”
She knows how important the role is and, while this isn’t my first year holding it, each time they vote to have me hold the position, I get a little choked up at the proof of their faith in me.
“I love you,” I tell her, wishing I was with her, her voice helping me to imagine that I am. And with that dream settling my heart, I fall asleep with her whispering that she loves me, too.
Epilogue
Lily
Early August…
“This place is flipping huge,” I exclaim, leaning back to try and take in the sheer vastness of the property. “Should we leave breadcrumbs behind us? It’ll help us find our way back to your truck.” Keaton laughs, but I’m serious.
He exits the vehicle and comes to my side. Keaton knows I can get down on my own, but he loves holding me under the disguise of assisting me. Convenient as I love being held by him.
“Keaton!” Is shouted as we enter the backyard, followed by a, “And Mrs. Keaton.” I don’t recognize the first voice, but the second was Gareth.
“Asshole,” Keaton mutters, turning toward me to hide his grin. Otherwise, if Garth sees it, it’ll only encourage his behavior.
“I want you to meet my boss.” Sensing my nerves returning, he takes my hand and assures me it’ll be okay. As we walk toward where the majority of the attendees are gathered, I notice people watching us. “Is this not okay?” I ask, indicating my outfit. “They’re staring.” I’d chosen a pair of blue capris and a yellow shirt. Wearing the team colors wasn’t intentional, but Keaton showed me how much he loved it.
Which is why we’re running thirty minutes late, of which Keaton doesn’t seem the least bit remorseful.
“Beck,” Gareth addresses him. “Keaton brought a guest.”
“He brought his wife,” Beck corrects him. Keaton glares at him, making his boss laugh. “I didn’t say she was my wife.”
“He’s a little territorial,” I explain, apologizing for my husband.
“I don’t like any man using it when referring to you,”
“Even when it’s to say I’m your wife?”
“God help me,” Gareth groans. “Does falling in love make you stupid?”
Keaton glowers at him. “Then what’s your excuse?”
I giggle, already seeing how this is going to go. “See how he treats me, wife?” Gareth asks, using the label wife as if were my name. Keaton gives me a quick kiss, then lunges at Gareth. Gareth, somehow always able to sense danger, dodges him and takes off running. As Keaton begins gaining on him and Gareth starts hollering, “I need an adult.”
Beck shakes his head at their antics, but I can see the affection he has for them. For everyone here. I am so happy I get to be a part of this family.
My phone rings and I see Keaton’s contact info pop up. “Can you see him?”
“Do you have him listed as Tight End?” A new voice asks and I assume it’s a rookie. Turning, I see a man around my age. The sun is hitting his face, causing him to raise a hand to shield his eyes.
Keaton, having begun working his way back to me, greets him, “Theo.” Then he focuses on me and reminds me, “I’m a quarterback, wife. You know this.”
