I stared at the screen longer than necessary, blood draining from my face. This was unbelievable.
“Good news?” Daniel asked, already peering over my shoulder.
“I think so,” I said slowly. “Windy Lakes wants to work…withme.”
He grinned and hit my shoulder. “Yeah. That tends to happen when you’re good at things.”
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t stop smiling as I typed back. I kept my response clear and honest and told them I was deep in fulfillment but excited to plan something sustainable. When I hit send, my hands shook a little.
Another buzz followed almost immediately.Theo.
Theo: Storefront secured. Eight-minute walk from Noah’s place. Keys at four. Audrey’s already planning shelving.
I pressed my lips together hard, emotion spiking fast and inconveniently. Eight minutes. Real space. Walls that weren’t borrowed. I stared at the message until Daniel noticed.
“What?” he asked, already smiling.
“He got a place,” I said, voice rough. “A real one.”
Daniel whooped, loud enough that Sassy barked from the hallway. “YES. Okay. Okay. This just leveled up.”
The next hour blurred. Fabric moved from pile to pile. Finished pieces stacked neatly by size and team. Daniel created a color-coded system that made my brain feel calmer just looking at it. I didn’t question it. I trusted him and kept working.
Noah came back in smelling like fresh air and city noise, Sassy trotting proudly up to him to nuzzle him. He dropped another trash bag by the door, then paused when he saw the progress. His eyes moved slowly over the room, taking it all in.
“Holy shit,” he said quietly. “You did all this?”
“We,” Daniel corrected.
Noah smiled at me anyway, like the distinction didn’t matter. He crossed the room, careful not to bump anything, and leaned down to press a kiss to the side of my head. “You doing okay?” he murmured.
I nodded. “Tired. But good.”
“Uh, Noah, guess who emailed her back already and wants to fucking partner with her?” Daniel blurted out, his energy and excitement uncontainable.
“Wait, who?” Noah’s gaze sharpened with awareness. “Em, who?”
“Windy Lakes.” I blushed as I said the words, my brain not quite able to comprehend that a second professional sports team wanted to work with me. “The women’s?—”
“Soccer team, yes. Holy shit, Em.” Noah’s hand went to his hair, pulling as his smile stretched so large he looked like a cartoon character. “I fucking knew it! Em, this is huge!”
He cackled and then picked me up and spun me around. “This is the beginning. I know it in my gut. You are just getting started.”
I smiled back at him. How could I not? He was so excitedfor me.He believedin me.My eyes welled up, and Noah cupped my face, pride leaking out of every pore. “Theo got a place eight minutes away. I-I can get the keys at four.”
Noah’s eyes shut as he breathed in deep. “I’ll go with you, then I’ll get Miles. If you don’t mind sitting with him, I can help move all the stuff to the new place with Daniel. You should rest.”
“No, I don’t?—”
He squeezed my shoulder once, then pulled out his phone. “I’m calling the squad to help with this. We might be jocks, but we’re strong and can move shit. You don’t need to do that.”
Daniel perked up. “I would like to be present for this.”
Noah ignored him, already typing. I watched his expression shift as replies came in, eyebrows lifting, mouth curving. He glanced at me, something warm and determined in his eyes.
“They’re in,” he said. “A few guys can help with the move tonight. A few partners too—whatever you need. Cutting, packing, runs to the supply store. No sewing unless you want them to.”
My throat tightened. “You don’t have to?—”
