“Nooo, are you kidding? Dang, Mase. Sanderson was a jerk, but Coleman’s your man.”
“I know. Trust me. I’m totally fucked now.”
“Stay positive. A lot of the players are freshmen like you. You’ll get into your groove for next year and kill it.”
“Hope so.” He parallel parks the car like a pro. “We’re here.”
I link my arm with Mase’s as he guides me to the café. “Thank you, Mase.”
He shoots me a heartwarming grin. “I’ll always be here for you. But you should be thankinghim.”
I turn my head in the opposite direction and nearly collapse from relief.
“Nate,” I cry, flinging myself into his waiting arms.
I don’t speak another word.
I don’t make even the slightest sound.
I bury my face in his neck, inhaling his familiar scent, holding him so tightly I don’t think he can breathe.
We stand here, embraced for a long time.
Nate holds me just as tight, waiting patiently until I’m done, never trying to pull away.
“Nate.” I shake my head, still a little bit in shock. “You’re here.”
He’s still mine.
“I’m here, Mads. I couldn’t stay away from you for one more second. I needed to see you.”
The last month of worry rushes back when he sets me back down. My arms cross, eyes narrowing.
“Uh-oh. Someone’s in trouble.”
The familiar voice has me turning on my heels. My annoyance is momentarily forgotten. “Leo.” I kiss his cheek, not realizing how much I have missed him, too. “You’re very sneaky.”
“Had to help my brother out.”
I turn my glare back toward said brother. “He’s right, though. You are in trouble.”
He snakes his muscular arm around my middle, pulling me back into his chest. “What have I done, Mads?”
“Nate…I thought you were going to break up with me.” I shrug, fighting my tears.
Nate’s appalled expression tells me he has no idea what I’m talking about.
“Are you out of your mind? I know things have been hard…our schedules are off, and we’ve missed some calls. I told youthis wouldn’t be easy. That we would need to work at this, but never once has breaking up crossed my mind. I get frustrated sometimes, but that doesn’t mean I stop loving you,” he says, his voice firm. “That’s not how it works between us. Ever.”
Before I can respond, he leans down and presses his lips to mine for a mind-blowing kiss, shocking the heck out of me.
My gut was right all along.
“All right, enough, you two,” Mason chastises.
Nate grins at me, shaking his head playfully. “What am I going to do with you, Maddie Grace Cunningham?”
I hesitate, not able to let this one thing go. “Who was that girl?”
