Like he’s been watching this whole time.
For a second, the noise of the stadium fades away.
The players.
The fans.
The chaos of the field.
All of it disappears.
And I smile.
I don’t even try to hide it.
Because this man?
He’s special.
I know that now.
And if our time together is short—if this wild, confusing, amazing thing between us burns out the way I’ve always feared it might—then I’m not going to waste another minute pretending I don’t want it.
“So,” Finley says beside me, arms folded as she watches the field.“You gonna go for it or what?”
I glance at her.
“Yeah,” I murmur.
“I think I am.”
Her eyes widen dramatically.
“Really?Because I had this whole speech ready.”
I laugh.
“You did?”
“Oh, yeah.”She clears her throat theatrically.“It was very inspiring.Something about how you can’t miss your chance at love just because one rotten apple ruined the whole barrel and if you don’t take the risk then the rotten apple wins because you end up alone forever?—”
She pauses.
“Oh, wow.That sounded way better in my head.”
I burst out laughing.
Before she can protest, I pull her into a quick hug.
“Fin, it’s a great speech.”
“It is?”
“Absolutely.And I might steal it someday if someone else needs convincing.”
She raises a skeptical eyebrow.
“But you don’t?”
