Page 156 of Lucky Shot

For me.

That he’s already made for me.

“Hardy, you’re an incredible man. More of a man than I ever deserved, and while it makes my heart fuller than it’s ever been knowing you’d give up a part of your dream for me, I simply can’t let you do this.”

“It’s done,” he murmurs against my lips.

But it can’t be. I can’t allow him to do this.

I reach out and take the contract with the ink still wet on it and tear it in half. “It’s undone.”

He looks at me with wide eyes and his heart on his sleeve as I let the pieces flutter to the ground. “Whitney.”

“I don’t want you to throw away a career when you still have your best years ahead of you. I want to be a part of that ride with you. I want to encourage you when you need it and then mutter curses at you when you don’t. I want to sit in the stands and cheer you on and then wipe away tears when you finally win that Champion’s League title. All it comes down to is this. I just want you. The good. The bad. The ugly. The beautiful. I’m so used to running away on my own, Hardy, but this time I have someone to run to and damn if that isn’t the most incredible feeling in the world.”

“You really mean that.” There’s awe in his voice. Reverence. Love. And for the first time in my life, I accept that love. I want that love. And yes, it’s scary and new and daunting, but it’s also euphoric and comforting and real.

“I really mean that.” I wipe away the lone tear that has streaked down his cheek. “You’re right. Dreams change. And you are the dream I never had that has come true.”

“Naturally,” he jokes with a boyish grin that warms me as he leans forward and brushes his lips against mine. “I don’t want to do this without you. Can’t.”

“You don’t have to.” I’ve never felt more settled in my life. “I’m not going anywhere, Alexander Hardy.”

He leans back and looks at me with mischief in his eyes. “You promise?”

I don’t break my promises.

His words from weeks ago float through my head. I believed him then. I took a chance on him and look where that got me.

Him.

It got me him.

I’ve never been surer of the words I speak or the man before me. “Yes. I promise.”

EPILOGUE ONE

Hardy

One Year Later

Elation.

It’s like a second skin as I stand in the middle of the field while the last few seconds of the clock tick away.

The crowd counts down with it. My lungs burn, and my legs ache. I’ve never been more exhausted before and at the same time, have never felt more alive than this moment.

My dream has been realized. Achieved.

The head referee blows his whistle, and I collapse to my knees.

I put my face in my hands, squeeze my eyes shut, and draw in a ragged sob as a tidal wave of emotions hits me. I did it, Dad. I finally did it. I hope I made you proud.

I only have seconds to process the thought before my teammates surround me. They fall on top of me, hands patting, arms hugging, and elation overflowing as we take in the moment. The victory.

Champion’s League winners.

Finally.