“You haven’t always cared for me, and I can live with that.”
“You’re a better person than I am, and I haven’t loved anythingthe way that I love you, schnecke. I would say we’re tied,” he argued. His smile was gentle, his skin bright and flushed. “I’ve been waiting every day of my life for you. Your honesty, your loyalty.” He punctuated each of my traits with a kiss to a different part of my face that had me grinning like a freaking fool. “Your competitiveness, your fierceness, your kindness, and this body… I would do anything for you. Lie, cheat, and steal. There is nothing I wouldn’t do. Understand?”
I didn’t, not completely at least. I didn’t have a lot of self-esteem issues, I was good with myself, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, I figured. I never wanted to become a cocky asshole.
I could love one, but I didn’t want to be one.
“Sort of,” I answered him honestly. “Are you really not staying on with the Pipers next season?”
“Absolutely not. I’m staying with you.”
“But I don’t even know where I’m going,” I reminded him again with the least amount of panic I could muster.
“It doesn’t matter. You’ll go somewhere, and you aren’t going alone,” he assured me.
I blew out a deep breath and scrunched up my toes against his leg hair, making him jerk. “What about your house here?”
Rey dropped another kiss, ignoring what I was doing. “I’ll sell it.”
I let out a shaky exhale I couldn’t hide into his neck. “I’m a little scared.”
“Don’t be.”
“I can’t help it.”
“Remember that idiotic question you asked me in the car? About what would happen when you can’t play soccer any longer?” He didn’t wait for any acknowledgment. “Nothing would happen. We would have a different adventure to go on. You are my best friend, my love, my playmate, and my teammate. You’ll have a team with me wherever we are, with whatever we are playing.”
For a man who didn’t talk much, he really went for the knockout when he tried. Jesus Christ. Tears came into my eyes, and I couldn’teven bother blinking them away. “I guess we’ll figure out everything, right?”
He nodded. “I won’t let you give up.”
I smiled at him right before pulling at his leg hair again, earning a grunt that time. “I’ve never given up on anything. I’m not about to start now.”
EPILOGUE
KULTI ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
Soccer forward Salomé Casillas Kulti announced her retirement on Wednesday. Following six seasons in the European Women’s Football League, three EWFL championships, and one Altus Cup win with Germany, the captain and forward for CS Frankfurt will be officially hanging up her cleats.
“It’s time,” the thirty-four-year-old expatriate explained. “I’ve done what I wanted to do, and I’m ready for this next step in my life.”
Speculation over her possible retirement was high following CS Frankfurt’s last championship win, when she was spotted limping off the field. Her injuries have been well-documented over her career, but a comeback was managed each previous time. Before joining the EWFL, she played for the U.S. Women’s National Team and spent four years with the U.S. WPL’s Houston Pipers, bringing the team to one championship.
Casillas Kulti has been just as well known for her soccer skills as for her relationship with retired international soccer icon Reiner Kulti. Married five years, the couple has made no secret of their support of each other. “The King” has been noted for his perfectattendance at her games and has been spotted wearing her jersey without fail. This is the second marriage for Reiner Kulti and the first for Casillas Kulti.
We wish the two nothing but the best with their plans in starting a family.
BONUS EPILOGUE
“I’m going to say it....”
“Don’t do it.”
“I have to….”
“Rey, stop.” I had to cover my mouth with my hand to keep from laughing out loud. The sea of parents surrounding us were watching. They werealwayswatching. The fact that my chest was shaking with expectation of what was about to be said didn’t help make me any less inconspicuous. I could see Mandy’s mom sitting on a bleacher two rows down, peeking in our direction but trying to be real freaking discreet. She didn’t understand I was a pro at catching people talking about us.
He slid a hand over to rest on my bare knee, giving it a squeeze, oblivious and uncaring to our audience. “I can’t hold it in any longer.”
