She hasn’t noticed me closing in on her yet, so I take advantage and yell out to Tom. “You ready?”
He responds by bringing his camera to his face at lightning speed.
I know I promised him a smile, but I guess he’s going to have to settle for me claiming my girl in front of the entire world.
“Damn, my girlfriend looks good on my field,” I say clearly into the mic in my hand as I reach her. She spins in my hold, that smile unwavering. “Here, now you’re a real Monarch.” I take my hat off and comb my other hand through my unruly strands, then flip the cap over and place it on her head.
She beams up at me, and I can’t wait another second.
So I don’t.
And for the first time, it feels as though she can readmythoughts. She seamlessly wraps her arms around my neck at the same time I circle my arms around her waist. I pull her into me, eyes searching hers, before she closes them.
And I lean down and kiss her.
The noise level reaches a fever pitch before it all seems to melt away, and all I can focus on is Daisy’s lips on mine. Her body melding against my own until it feels like we’re one.
She breaks our kiss when she starts to giggle nervously, seemingly more aware of our surroundings than I am capable of at a time like this.
It’s satisfying to lift my gaze and see Damien being escorted off the field by a team of security guards. It may be a bit overkill, but my face must match Nick’s satisfied look as Daisy’s ex is being manhandled off the field, accompanied by the roar of cheers from the crowd.
I toss the handheld mic onto the ground, no longer needing the stadium’s attention, and cradle Daisy’s face in my hands after straightening the flower so it’s still safely tucked behind her ear.
“I love you, Daisy. Every part of me belongs to you and I don’t care who knows it.”
She pointedly looks at the small mic still clipped onto me, as if I don’t know that I’m still live streaming. So I look down at it and repeat it one more time.
She nods thoughtfully, biting her bottom lip. “People are gonna think you’re obsessed with me or something.”
“Good. So when I show up with your name tatted on my ring finger, I suppose they won’t bat an eye.”
“Wh-what?”
“You heard me. Hell, the whole nation heard me.” I chuckle as I kiss the surprised look off her face. “Don’t worry, it goes both ways. Because I’ll tatt your name, but you’ll be changing yours. I do like the ring of Daisy Weston, but all in due time.”
“Y-you—Did you ju—Did we… Wow, words. Can I remember how to use them?” She laughs to herself.
I hum, pointedly ignoring her mini freak-out session. Because if it wasn’t apparent before just how serious I am about her, this should leave no doubt. “You think anyone is listening to the live stream?” I ask as I quickly glance out to the stands.
She rolls her eyes playfully as she leans into the mic inside my jersey and speaks. “Are you guys ready to get this game started and get our boys on the field?”
Two seconds later, the crowd starts chanting “yes.”
She laughs. “Looks like we got your answer, Coach.” She raises onto her tiptoes and presses a kiss to my cheek. My smile is immediate, and when I lift my gaze, it lands right on a flashing camera.
Looks like Tom did get that smile shot after all.
fifty-six
We barely make itthrough the front door of my apartment in one piece.
The Monarchs won, forever cementing their place in MLB history.
And while I’m thrilled for the team, truly over the moon for them, my mind couldn’t focus on anything but getting my man back to my place as soon as possible.
The way he reclaimed his place on the field after all these years with a smile on his face and me in his arms had me counting down the seconds until I could get him behind closed doors, having had enough camera time to last a lifetime.
He lowers me to stand on my own two feet so he can take his hoodie off me, my shirt quickly meeting the same fate.
