Logan will be back playing with the Wallabies in a couple of months, and I overheard one of his coaches on the phone telling him that they’ve been eagerly anticipating his return. By the time he starts going to practices, I’ll have my Working Holiday Visa in hand and all my stuff packed up and on its way here. I’m hoping to use the next two weeks to find a place for me to live until we’re ready to take the next step in our relationship, and Logan’s only stipulation was that we find somewhere close tohisapartment, which I’m not complaining about in the slightest. Logan has already connected me with a Sydney company who’s interested in hiring me as a staff nutritionist until I can legally start True Fuel in Australia, and he’s going to try to convince his team that they also need me on their staff because, according to him, he’s gotten used to cornering me in dark hallways after practice. Everything is working out so much better than I could have planned.
And if I know Logan as well as I think I do, he’s not going to let me stay on a work visa for long. We haven’t talked about it, but the other day I saw him looking up the processing times for prospective marriage visas compared to partner visas. When I looked it up myself, either way is complicated, but the latter method involves us being married a lot sooner. Whatever we end up doing—and however long it takes—I like the sound of marrying Logan Callahan.
“How did we get here?” I ask, still breathless from our kiss.
Logan breathes in, slow and deep, and kisses my forehead with that impossible gentleness I love so much about him. “I blame that proper beast you call a cat.”
I snicker, but it’s not like I can argue. Beef Wellington definitely deserves a lot of the credit. “Do you think Moxie can handle him while we’re gone?”
“Love, if Moxie can handle the mess that is the Thunder, he can handle anything. Even your giant cat. Now…” He entwines our hands and steps back so I have room to move. “I think my dad had the right idea of things, and I’m keen on a nap. What do you say?”
Grinning, I lean up on my toes to give him one more kiss. “That sounds great.”
Then, hand in hand, we walk toward what is going to be an incredible future together.
Epilogue
Logan
One year later
“Andarippertryfrom local Sydney hero, Logan Callahan, to bring the Wallabies into the lead!”
The noise in the stands is almost deafening, and still I barely hear the thousands of fans over the pounding of my heart as I lie on my belly in the try zone, the ball still underneath me. We’ve been trailing behind France for most of the match, and we badly needed this try to avoid being eliminated.
If we can hold France back and win this match?
Then it’s only one more victory to win the World Cup.
My teammates swarm the try zone, lifting me off the ground and battering me with excited fists and tackling hugs. The match isn’t over yet, but barring some catastrophe, we can do this.
Our flyhalf kicks a perfect conversion, and we play out the last few minutes, denying France any ground. The match ends with Australia taking the win.
It almost doesn’t feel real.
None of my wins over the last year have felt real, like I still can’t believe that this is my life—playing for my home team in front of sold-out crowds in the biggest rugby tournament in the world. Here inSydney, where I spent the majority of my life.
Where I belong.
“Cheers to the hero!” one of the Wallabies shouts, jumping onto my back as the rest of the team celebrates.
And while I’m beyond stoked to be a part of this and help my team get the win, my eyes scan the crowd for the family section, searching for the person I care about most and the only reason I’m here. Savannah’s right where she’s supposed to be, hugging my mum as they both jump up and down in celebration with tears falling down their cheeks. I meet Dad’s eyes, chuckling when he shakes his head with mock annoyance, but I can’t keep my gaze from Savannah for long.
“Love you,” I mouth to her and put my hand over my heart.
She mirrors the movement, and that look in her eyes is heaps better than any rugby victory.
“Ah, his head’s in the clouds, as always.” Callum O’Shea, the team captain, ruffles my hair and shoves me toward the tunnel. “Go get your girl, mate, but don’t forget we have another match to win in a few days.”
I make a rude gesture at him, laughing when he simply rolls his eyes, then I make a break for it before he changes my mind. Savannah must have guessed my intent because she’s on themove too, slipping past countless fans to get to the access tunnel. I lose sight of her when she reaches security, but they’ve been through this enough to make sure she gets to where I want her.
She hits the ground level at the same time I hit the tunnel, and I scoop her up so she can wrap herself up in my arms. I never want to let her go when she’s here. I’m exhausted and sweaty and only just starting to internalize how close my team is to winning the Cup, but I keep my full focus on the woman in my arms as I bury my face into her neck.
“You were amazing out there,” she says, breathless and trembling. “I thought for sure that last ruck was the end of things, but then when you chipped it over the line and outran half their backline to scoop it up? I should have known you’d be the hero, as always.”
I groan, holding her tighter. “I love when you speak rugby.” And while I’m rather proud of that forward kick that got me the winning try, I care more that Savannah cares. That she’s been to every single home match and even some around the world because she never wants me to be alone. She shows up and loves hard and gives me a reason to do better.Bebetter.
We’re on our own in the dark tunnel, but that won’t last much longer. Soon, this place will be crawling with Wallabies and their families.
