* * *
After practice, I check my texts. Mia wrote that she’s home from New Orleans.
When I walk into the cabin I already think of as ours, she meets me at the door. She’s wearing a pair of my Wild Kings sweatpants and a blue tank top, and her hair’s piled on top of her head in a messy bun. She looks so beautiful my chest aches.
She gives me a hug, and I kiss her forehead.
“Welcome home,” she says.
“You too,” I say.
“Did you want to get dinner at the main house?” she asks me.
“Maybe in a bit. I have something I need to talk to you about first.”
“Oh.” She takes a lock of her dark hair that’s come loose from her bun and twirls it around her finger. “What about?”
I lead her over to the couch, and we sit facing each other.
“Why didn’t you tell me about your dad removing the marriage clause?”
Her cheeks flush pink. “Uncle Ned has a big mouth.”
“He didn’t know it was a secret. He assumed you’d told me.”
“Of course, I wanted to tell you. Sort of.”
Before I can ask her what “sort of” means, she continues. “I truly meant well. I thought telling you something that big in the middle of the most important series of your career was pretty much a no-no.”
“I get that,” I say. “I do. And I’m happy for you. This is great news that you can take over the company earlier than you’d thought.”
“It is.”
Something about her expression makes me ask, “Were you planning to tell me after the finals?”
“Of course.” She keeps twirling her hair around her finger—so tightly that her finger’s turning white.
I reach over and gently unravel the lock of hair from her finger. “Talk to me, Mia.”
“I…” She shrugs. “Honestly, I was afraid you’d insist on dissolving the marriage right away once you heard what my dad did. Because you’re so unselfish. And I didn’t want you to miss out on your ownership dream just because I was able to get my dream a little bit earlier than planned. We drew up a contract, Declan, and I intend to honor it.”
Here’s where she’s wrong—I’m not unselfish. I’m so not unselfish that I don’t ever want to let Mia go.
Not sure how to go about telling her that, I instead say, “I have news, too. I just got offered the ownership stake.”
Her jaw drops open. “What?”
My voice comes out steadier than I feel. “I can sign the contract tomorrow, and it will be effective as soon as our season is over and I announce my retirement.”
Mia shrieks. “That’s so amazing!” She crawls across the gap between us and throws her arms around me with such enthusiasm she knocks me backward.
I chuckle as she struggles to right herself.
“I’ve got you, darling.” I kiss her lightly on the lips.
“Declan, this is such exciting news.” She’s still leaning on my chest, and she looks directly into my eyes.
I look back at her.
