"Jordan looked okay, didn't he?" I asked Mattie as the field was filling with the next two teams. "I don't know if he should play again."
"He looked great. Color and movements all perfect. I wouldn't stress about it. He's a tough guy, and he knows his limits."
Loving people was stressful, especially when they were "tough guys."
The next match was between two teams I didn't know, and I spent the time searching the crowd again. Rafe shocked the shit out of me when he appeared twenty minutes in, marching through the crowd as they waved and fawned all over him. Ignoring it all, he leaped over a few rows to land right near Mattie and me. No one was sitting on either side of us, despite the hectic crowds, and I knew that was probably the Swiss heir's doing as well.
"What are you doing here?" I choked out, blinking at him. "Don't you have another game in twenty?"
Rafe sank into the chair beside me, draping his arm around the back of me. Gasps rang out, and I tried not to let the red seep into my cheeks at being the center of attention. No one was even watching soccer now.
This crowd was so much more than just Arbon students, too. Rafe had just basically announced this shit to the world.
"You're the eighth, aren't you?"
It hadn't made sense that I couldn't find the last of his security detail. He smirked down at me, but didn't reply; instead we remained like that, snuggled together for the rest of the game. When there was two minutes to go, Rafe pressed his lips to my cheek, growled something about staying put, and then left in the same flamboyant show of skill and agility, leaping down the stands.
For some reason, my heart slammed against my chest at that simple gesture of togetherness. We hadn't spoken much, but that was the most couple-like thing that we'd done in our entire relationship.
Lifting my palm reader, I sent Jordan another message.
Promise you're okay to play again.
Jordan:I promise. Doctor gave me the all clear, and I feel great. Don't worry, Vi; you're not getting rid of me that easily.
A laugh rocked my chest.That's the thing, Prince Jordan, I don't want to get rid of you. Far from it. Good luck out there.
A second's pause and then one last message.
Jordan:I love you.
I stared at that for far too long, and when Mattie finally looked over to see what had me absolutely floored, her face lit up. "Girl, is that the first time he’s told you?"
"No," I shook my head. "But it's the first time in writing, and seeing those words..."
I wondered how many times I would read that message over and over. Being loved... it was like a drug. One to which I'd grown insanely addicted.
Chapter 25
Arbon won all their matches; New America was second with their only loss to our team. Rafe, Jordan, and Nolan all played like world-beaters today. I didn't really know the rest of their teammates, having had my hands full with the royals I did know, but even they'd all had lifted spirits from the returned princes.
After all the games, awards were handed out, and then there was three minutes silence to honor the fallen. Three minutes for me to worry and stress about when Uriel would make his move. But at the end of that moment, there was nothing except somber conversation and movement as people started to fan out.
"Big party tonight?" I asked Mattie, since that was the norm.
She shook her head. "Nah, Dean Morgan specifically requested no celebrations today. There will be a formal dinner that everyone is to attend. After we're expected to pay our respects at the monuments and then bed."
Lifting my palm reader, I checked the student portal, finding a message there that was almost word for word what Mattie had just said. Yeah, I really needed to remember to check that shit more frequently.
"Are we allowed to head to my room and get ready for dinner?" Mattie asked, well aware of my new set of rules.
I forced my smile not to appear, because I should be annoyed by their protectiveness, but I really wasn't. Maybe Jordan's words were still running through my head, or imprinted on my heart, but at this moment, I'd sit here forever if that kept me safe enough to love them for another day.
"I'm supposed to wait by the entrance," I said, so we got to our feet and started to follow the rest of the crowd. The “secret” security guards had nowhere else to hide now, so they got to their feet as well, following at a safe distance.
By the time everyone was finally out and only a few stragglers remained inside, Rafe, Nolan, and Jordan were at the entrance. Seeing them fresh from the showers, hair slicked back...
Damn.
