The place erupted. My jaw dropped, but I was laughing too, chest swelling with pride at being this closely associated with a real-live Surge encyclopedia. Nicole took it in her stride, giving a series of mini bows as she accepted the applause.
“That man’s a good friend, and I never knew about this chili rub,” Coach said.
Nicole shrugged, gracious even in triumph. “Will I get more points if I tell everyone your favorite shower song?”
Coach’s face turned deep red, and the whole bar was left in pieces the way everyone descended into laughter.
I watched her light up under the attention, cheeks flushed, eyes alive, taking it all in without letting it go to her head. It hit me hard how much I liked seeing her like this. How different it felt to be the guy next to the spotlight, but in a good way.
During a lull between questions, she turned to me. “By the way,” she said, quieter now, just for us, “Rookie of the Year nomination. That’s huge.”
I smiled. “I do what I can.”
She nodded, then kissed me. Right on the mouth. Quick and clean, but not hiding a thing.
Wolf whistles exploded from three directions.
“Get it, rookie!” Cash Money yelled, which got everyone going because that guy never said anything.
I didn’t mind the teasing one bit. Nicole pulled back, blushing and laughing as her eyes darted away. I stayed exactly where I was, enjoying every second of it.
Later, when the final scores went up, it wasn’t even close.
“And tonight’s winner,” Holly announced to a rolling rumble of groans, “absolutely destroying the rest of you, Nicole!”
Nicole’s hands flew to her face. “No way.”
“Ah, shut up and go get your prize, Einstein,” Mason said, already standing.
She made her way up front, accepting the special collector’s edition Surge jersey like it was made of gold. Only fifty in circulation. Cameras flashed. Teammates clapped. She turned once, searching, and when she found me, her smile widened.
I don’t think I stopped smiling until she came back to the table, jersey folded carefully in her arms like something fragile.
“This is incredible,” she said. “I’m never going to forget this night.”
I swallowed, emotion nudging at me. “I’m sorry. About the helmet. I should’ve—”
She shook her head, cutting me off. “This is a pretty good consolation prize.”
I laughed, relief washing through me as she tucked herself back against my side, jersey safe on her lap, the bar still buzzing around us.
With the quiz over, people started switching seats and making more frequent trips to the bar. Coach hung around at the jukebox, torturing us all with his personal brand of honky tonk blues.
“Can we talk for a second?” Nicole’s hand was already in mine as she slid from her seat.
“We can’t talk here?”
She shook her head, giving my hand a small tug. I got up and followed her without question, only stopping once she had us tucked in the quiet of a dingy hallway right outside the women’s bathroom.
She pressed herself closer, letting go of my hand so both of hers cupped my face, thumbs brushing over my jaw. Her eyes glistened with something raw, a mixture of relief, triumph, and exhaustion.
“I… I broke up with him,” she whispered. “James won’t be a problem anymore.”
I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. The tension that had been knotted in my chest for months unraveled in that instant. Relief hit me first, sharp and sudden, then something warmer, fiercer, the certainty that she deserved more than the mess he’d been, more than anyone else, more than even I could have imagined.
“You deserve someone who—” I started, voice low, but she silenced me with a tilt of her head.
Our lips met. Hard. Soft. All at once. Her mouth opened to mine, searching, urgent. I moved with her, hands threading through her hair, fingers tangling at the nape of her neck. She pressed against me, her body warm, familiar, yet electric in its nearness. Breathing came in quick, shallow bursts as the kiss deepened, and all the frustration, the waiting, the moments stolen and denied, poured into it.
