“Yeah, everyone, get out. I want to spend my last thirty minutes with my girl. You guys really fucked up my timing.”
“Beck, stop.” Charlie rolls her eyes.
Beck hugs Brooke then. And when he pulls back, he meets my eye. He’s no longer tense and slightly hostile. More like measured, assessing.
“Take care of her, Arbuckle.” He holds out a hand.
I shake his hand. “Always.”
Charlie hugs me next. “We’ll see you at home.”
“Bet.”
Brooke reaches for my hand, and we walk out together. The floor I’m on with the team is just below where we are now, but we take the elevator down wordlessly.
As soon as we get into my room, she practically sags into my chest. “Well, I guess that could have been worse.”
I kiss her head. “I’m still alive, so I’ll take that as a win.” I chuckle.
She tilts her head up, meeting my eyes. I tuck some loose hair behind her ear, then cup her face with my hands.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Helping me through that. For not caving to the pressure.”
“Pressure? Ha! Babe, that was nothing. I’m the youngest boy in my family, my ass has been handed to me more times than I can count, and I go up against some of the biggest and baddest guys in college football. This was a walk in the park.”
“Well, when you put it that way …” She giggles.
“Listen, I married you. I may have made the decision lightly but I take my commitments seriously and this is very real for me. I wasn’t lying about that. I’m not going anywhere.” I take her mouth in a deep, searing kiss.
When she breaks it, we’re both a little breathless, and I’m a whole lot turned on.
“This just got very real.” She takes my shirt in her hands and pulls. “I’m someone’s wife. I have a husband.”
“Yeah, you do. I’m one lucky fucking bastard.” I kiss her again.
“I’d better go so we don’t miss our flights.” She walks to the door.
“Let me walk you to your room.” I pull open the door.
“No, it’s just around the corner. You need to pack up and meet with the team.”
“Okay, but I’m watching you until I can’t see you anymore.”
She lifts up to kiss me, then pushes my chest. “Go. I’m fine.”
I watch her walk away, but just as she’s about to turn the corner, I call out to her, “Hey!”
“Yeah?” she says, turning.
“I’ll see you at home, wife.” I wink at her and can’t help the huge fucking smile that spreads across my face.
“Bye, husband. I’ll see you at home.”
Yep, luckiest asshole alive.
