Maverick
Lucky runs through the living room, chasing her toy mouse and shaking it in her mouth once she grabs it.
“Good kill,” I tell her. “You’re a born hunter.”
I look out the living room window into the backyard where Hannah’s sitting on a lounge chair as the sun sets.
I smile, and then I go out and join her.
“How was class?” I ask her as I settle next to her on the chair.
“Great. I love this university.”
I pull her into my lap and kiss her. “I’m glad.”
Hannah applied for, and was accepted into, a Ph.D. psychology program here in Chicago. She also works part-time at the department lab. She loves it. I moved out of my high-rise, and Hannah and I bought a small house just outside the city. We wanted a yard and some quiet. It’s a short drive to the stadium, and Hannah and Kia come to every game.
“You played awesome today,” she says in between kisses.
Yes, Chicago beat the Cougars in my first head-to-head with Colton and Dylan. It was fun to win and even more fun to go out to dinner with them the night before.
They’re doing great out in L.A., and Dylan’s already one of the best quarterbacks in the league. As a freaking rookie. So even though they lost today, those guys are going to be just fine.
And so am I.
With my salary, I’ve been able to save more than I expected. All of it has gone toward paying off my dad’s medical bills. The next step is saving for my brothers’ education. But I’m also saving for Hannah and me.
Turns out that including my own happiness in the mix has been a very good thing.
I reach into my pocket and pull out a box.
When I hand it to Hannah, she just stares at the box like it might bite her.
“Open it,” I say.
“Bossy baller,” she grumbles, but she does what I asked.
The diamond ring shining back at her is surrounded by her birthstone.
“Holy shit, Mav.” She looks up at me.
“This is for whenever you’re ready,” I say. “No rush. I just want you to know I’m all-in.”
“Ready for what?” She sounds breathless. “All-in on what?”
“On you.” I kiss her cheek. “On us.” I kiss the other cheek. “Ready to marry you.” I kiss her lips. “Marry me, Hannah.” My voice is a whisper.
“Yes.” She kisses me back. “It will always be yes.”
She calls me a bossy baller. But the truth is, I’m the luckiest baller in the world.
Because I’ve got Hannah by my side. Forever.
Another Epilogue
Colton
“Fuck, that game was close,” I say to Dylan as we fly home to L.A.
