Page 97 of Hard to Hold

“They know that in any poll taken, I’m the favorite player, right? They’ve seen the stats, they know I bring more to the club than—”

“You’re starting to sound like a little kid begging, Rush. I know how to do my job.”

“Sorry. I know. This is just shit.”

“Try negotiating without any legs under you, because your own client doesn’t give you any to stand on.”

I think of Archibald and his call earlier. How he thanked me—again—because it looks like he’s going to win the election. The feeling of betrayal is still there. So much so that I felt like telling him that my decision to follow through on my word had nothing to do with him. That I was making this sacrifice for Rory, who is still doing well from what I can gather from his text messages, and for Helen.

But what would have been the point? The deed is done. The seed has been sown. And it looks like everyone seems to be coming out a winner.

Everyone except for me.

“They won’t transfer me, Finn.”

“The MLS is always another option. I’ll have an offer on the table in the next two weeks from them.”

“And the answer is no.”

Although my answer is immediate, it’s Lennox’s words that pass through my mind.

What’s best for you is back home. Anyone who tells you otherwise is only looking out for their own interests and not yours. You definitely shouldn’t leave the Premier League. It’s where you belong.

“It’s not where I belong.”

CHAPTER FORTY

LENNOX

“THAT WAS INCREDIBLE,” RUSH SAYS as he grabs the bags from the back of the car and looks at me over its top. “First the tailgating. I mean, this needs to be a thing back home, but then again, we have a lot of shitty weather. But the concept and the food. Perfection.”

I give him a look saying he’s crazy. “It was the same food we could have had here in the backyard.”

“Yeah, but in the car park, with other fans? I can see why you Americans like it.”

“Whatever.” I laugh. I go to grab a chair from the trunk and am surprised when Rush stops me and pulls me against him.

“Thank you,” he says with the simplest of kisses, which heats every part of me from the inside out. He gives the best kisses. “I mean it.” His eyes are dark and serious. “You went above and beyond. Between the food and then letting me go into the clubhouse to meet the guys before the game—”

“Only because I have a few clients on the team,” I say with a smile.

“It doesn’t matter. It was my first baseball game, and I’ll never forget it. Thank you.”

This time, it’s me who leans into him and presses my lips to his. I thread my fingers through his hair and steal one more moment with him. I make one more memory to hold on to, because while this contract felt like forever when we first started, now it feels like it’s ending way too soon.

“Well, that was nice,” he murmurs against my lips.

“I can make it even nicer upstairs once we get this stuff put away.”

“Screw the stuff,” he says as he drops it in an unceremonious heap beside the car. “We can get it later.” There’s a devious look in his eye and a mischievous smile on his lips. “First one upstairs gets oral first!”

“Argh!” I yell and pull on his arm to hold him back. He’s much quicker than I am and makes it to the front door first. We both struggle over the handle and when I yank it open first, I’m so preoccupied with gloating at him, I about have a heart attack when I hear “Surprise!”

“Oh shit,” I screech.

I look up to find my sisters, Dekker, Dekker’s fiancé Hunter, Chase, Brexton, my father, and Johnny, all standing there with party hats on and birthday balloons in their hands. Rush’s hand on the back of my shirt loosens, and I stagger back against him in complete and utter surprise.

And then two seconds later, the tears come. Big, sappy tears. The kind that fall so fast I can’t catch my breath or say anything coherently. The kind that reflect how very badly I’ve missed my family.