“And Madison, of course,” he adds.
“We come as a pair.” My voice catches on the emotion tightening in my throat.
“That’s good to hear.” Dylan takes a slow step forward, closing the space between us until we’re inches apart. The pull between us is electric, but I keep myself still, hold my breath, waiting for him to speak.
“Because I’m crazy for you, Izzy,” he says. “Head over heels. Give me the eye rolls and the standing on a trailer roof in a rainstorm in your underwear. Give me your death glares when I’m doing something wrong and that little noise you make in your throat when my lips touch the side of your neck.” He trails his thumb over the sensitive spot and I inhale sharply. “I want it all. And I want us to live here together and run this ranch and build our life here with Madison. I’m sorry I made you doubt that. I’m sorry that I made it hard for you to trust me?—”
“And you were grumpy,” I add.
“That was both of us.” He grins and I laugh again. “It took me a bit longer than it should’ve to see it, but I’m certain now. You, me, Mad, this place, it’s all I want.”
Emotion surges through me, stealing my breath. “Really?” I whisper as he cups my face in his hands. “But football?—”
“Will always be a part of who I am. I can’t pretend it isn’t. But what I really want to do is coach kids. Help those who need it find an outlet in football. And I think I can do that alongside this place. If you’re OK with that.”
My eyes rake over his face, taking in the honesty in his dark gaze, down to his lips, hovering so close to mine I swear I can taste him already. “Yeah, I can be OK with that. But this doesn’t mean I like you, Sullivan.”
His grin spreads, and he laughs, the sound rumbling through me, filling every last corner of my heart. “Don’t tell me—you tolerate me?”
“I love you,” I breathe.
The biggest smile spreads across his face as he whispers, “I love you too.”
And then he’s kissing me. Deep and consuming, like every unspoken word, every moment we’ve lost, every promise of our future is sealed between us. My hands slide up his chest, around his neck, holding him close. Knowing I never want to be anywhere else but right here.
TWO MONTHS LATER
FORTY-TWO
DYLAN
JAKE:You ready, Dyl?
DYLAN:I think so.
JAKE:Don’t mess this up!
DYLAN:You need to work on your pep talk.
CHASE:Try not to scowl.
DYLAN:More worried I might tear up.
JAKE:Me too. Gonna be bawling like a baby!
CHASE:Dudes! What has happened to the two of you?
DYLAN:Your turn next, Chase!
CHASE:Never gonna happen.
The late-afternoon sun glistens over the lake as I take my place beneath an archway of wildflowers and vines set on the shore. There’s a chill to the air that promises winter and snow are not far away. String lights twinkle in the trees and ahead of me rows of white chairs are filled with smiling guests.
Mama is in the front row, wearing a purple wool dress, already dabbing a tissue at her eyes. Flic is beside her, wearing a black dress, light blonde hair loose down her back. She catches my eye and she gives me a wink before mouthing, “Never thought I’d see the day,” and I can’t stop the grin from spreading across my face. There was a while there where I didn’t either. But so much has changed in the last year. In the last few months.
The scrubland beside the football field is gone. It’s now a training ring, perfect for groundwork with the yearlings. Quicksilver is staying for a while. And Fury is still making progress. Slowly. He has accepted the saddle but not the rider and seems to enjoy working on the lunge rope. His confidence is growing day by day. Mine too. I feel it every time I step into a paddock—a contentment deep in my soul I never thought possible.
This is where I belong.
