After he leaves, Coach paces around. “I’m getting too old for this bullshit.”
A smile teases my lips, but his eyes fix on me, and I purse my lips.
“We’re in the playoffs.”
He rubs a hand down his face. “Not a word.”
“I’m going to make it,” I say, voice thick with determination.
“Sure,” he mumbles.
I close my eyes for a moment. “I’m sorry, Coach, I just…”
He sighs. “You will constantly meet those types of competitors on the field. Don’t let them override your common sense.”
I nod.
“Is my daughter waiting for you?”
The knowledge draws a huge smile on my face. “Yes.”
He shakes his head at me. “Good. Maybe Lilly will knock some sense into you.”
“She always does.”
“It’s getting serious,” he says pensively.
I know it’s not the right moment, not when he’s mad at what I pulled on the field, but I can’t stop myself. “It has been serious from the beginning.”
He raises then drops his arms. “I can’t even stay mad at you when I see that puppy love you have for her.”
I grin from ear to ear as I walk to my car.
Lilly sees me and runs to me, looking worried.
“I knew something was wrong after that asshole tackled you. What happened?” she asks, patting my injury.
“It’s sprained. I can’t play for the next couple of weeks.”
She hugs me tightly. “We’ll push through this together, okay?”
I love the sound of that word that instantly soothes me. “Together.”
When she opens the door for me, I chuckle at the role reversal. As she drives us home, I am less angry that I won’t be able to play for a while.
I tookthe advice to heart. I rested, doing all that was asked of me.
Four weeks later for the championship game, I am back on the field, determined like never before.
Nothing can go wrong. I will win this game. And then focus on the big finale because afterward, I am taking my girl back to Bali. It was our first vacation, where the love dug roots so deep nothing could rip them out.
I am dressing in our bedroom while she’s still on the bed, watching me. A big grin splits my face, fucking loving how attracted she is to me.
I jerk my chin to her. “Enjoying the view over there?”
She takes a pillow and fluffs it on her lap. “My daily muscle display. It’s how I start my day.”
I chuckle and snatch a T-shirt. Going to her, I take her mouth in a long kiss that only leaves me starved for more.
