“Ha! I don’t know when you thought I switched places with an actor, but I couldn’t pretend that even if I was Leonardo DiCaprio.”
“Avery, be real. If you were Leonardo DiCaprio, I’dbe way too old for you and you’d have no trouble pretending at all.”
They both laughed before Hailey continued. “We could pretend the night went so well that we went too far. Matching tattoos, wedding date set, we’re going to rescue a dog.”
Avery took a deep breath. “Don’t tease me with a good time, Hailey.”
He sent a meaningful look her way that told her he’d say yes to any of those ideas.
“Although, I don’t think I could do a matching tattoo. I don’t even know where to stick the stack of stickers I’ve collected over the years. There’s no way I could settle on permanent ink,” Avery said while chuckling.
“That’s a good point. Okay, my last idea is that we just tell them. What do you think?”
Hailey could feel his hand squeeze against her own again. “Works for me.”
———————————
Hailey and Avery looked at each other one more time before taking a deep breath and entering the rec center where the night’s game was being held.
After making it through the door and the small turnstile that no one understood the need for, Haileyanchored herself to Avery’s hand before they made their way through the arcade that sat at the front of the facility. Up ahead were the different play areas, and a left would take them face to face with where their team was likely waiting for them.
Hailey had absolutely no reason to be nervous, and neither did Avery, but she could feel the sweat start to build between their hands. She wasn’t even sure who it belonged to at this point.
As they turned the corner, they were met with the normal display of athletes strewn across the floor and against the wall next to the soccer field. The only difference was, everyone’s heads perked up at their arrival.
Hailey could feel the heat of their stares on her and Avery before everyone’s eyes tracked their interlocked hands. Even the team they were playing tonight seemed to be watching with rapt attention.
Cole managed to break the stunned silence. “Is this real? Are you guys finally together?”
Hailey and Avery glanced at each other before turning back to the small crowd.
Avery proudly stated, “Finally.” Then, it was pandemonium.
Abby pointed at the employee sitting at the soccer clock, who nodded and then pressed a button that had the rec center’s sound system blasting Cool and the Gang’s “Celebration.”
Elena unfolded a sign that said “FINALLY” in big block red letters while Josh unfolded another that said “CONGRATS.” The rest of the team, and the team they were playing tonight, pulled out pom poms, noisemakers and foam fingers.
A loud pop dragged their attention to Cole who had unleashed a freaking confetti cannon and now it was raining confetti and streamers.
Party hats were thrown on their heads and everyone started hugging, celebrating with complete abandon.
Hailey and Avery were gaping at the scene around them, unable to come up with any words for the situation aside from laughing at the absurdity of it.
Avery’s brain managed to align itself with reality first and he turned to her with a gobsmacked look on his face. “I told you. They’re absolutely crazy.”
Hailey found herself getting lost in Avery’s eyes, again. She was really going to need a map soon. “Nothing wrong with a little bit of crazy, especially since that’s how I’m feeling about you.”
Avery smiled before gathering her up in his arms and pressing a hard kiss to her lips.
All they could hear was wild cheers rising around them.
When they finally parted, Cole was in front of them.
“Just as hot as I always imagined it would be,” Colesaid, completely shameless.
“Dude,” Avery said while shaking his head in amusement.
“Aww, don’t mind Cole. He’s just jealous that I finally got you.”
