Page 64 of Off Sides

“I’ll go with you,” he says instantly.

“You will?”

He nods, his nose brushing mine, neither of us caring about our still-healing faces as we move into a heavy kiss. He slides my body under his as we kiss and rut together, pushing our underwear down so we don’t make too much of a mess.

I’ll never get tired of this. I’ll never want anything different or wish I’d have done something else.

I was meant to come to this small Kansas town and fall for Mr. Left Tackle, who changed my whole life for the better.

No looking back. No second-guessing.

Just knowing this is it. This is right.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

jonah

About 7 months later . . .

“Are you guys sure you don’t want me to pick you up anything else? There’s no snacks here for you. What if you get hungry?” Jenna is fussing over us, just like I knew she would.

Micah just stands behind her with his hands on her shoulders, smiling because he loves his slightly crazy wife.

It turns out it was possible for Calvin to go to college on a football scholarship, after all, and I didn’t even have to give them an ultimatum. They’d had their eyes on Calvin for a while, but apparently, he’d told them no a few times, and they gave up.

We even get to room together in the sports dorm at college. Yay. Me.

I cannot wait to spend every night with my very hot boyfriend—I mean it’s not like we haven’t spent every night together over the last seven months already—but this is without the possibility of my brother, sister-in-law, or nieces hearing anything. Gag.

I couldn’t really give a fuck about anyone around here hearing us.

“We’re fine, Jenna,” Calvin tries to reassure her. “You packed a whole tote of snacks.”

I snicker at that but walk over and hug her because I know how hard this is for her. It’s hard for me too, if I’m being honest. Even though I’m excited to start the next part of my life. She’s been there for me in ways no one ever was. Micah too.

I’m forever grateful to them both. They saved me, whether they want to admit that or not.

I can’t help but laugh about the first time I truly felt free from it all. Calvin and I drove down to Texas for spring break, and I did exactly what I wanted to do. Pulled the fancy truck up on my father’s perfect lawn. Tossed the keys at the front door and then hauled ass into Calvin’s truck before we drove off.

Leaving it behind forever.

Because I don’t need them. And thankfully, it turns out he didn’t need his toxic family either. I thought for sure Curtis would pop up to cause trouble, but he’s stayed away. His parents and grandfather too.

There hasn’t been one phone call or text, and I believe Calvin when he says he’s relieved because I feel the same about my family. No more late night calls to my mother. It’s in the past, and I’m all about the future now.

“Come on, Jenna. Let’s go get dinner with the girls,” Micah says, looking down at both girls, who are waiting actually pretty patiently to get out of the dorms they deemed boring, and steering Jenna toward the door.

“Well, you guys could come too,” she says, and we both look at each other, anxious to be alone but not wanting to hurt her feelings.

“Come on. They’ll be home soon enough. It’s not like they know how to do laundry,” Micah taunts, gently nudging his wife and girls toward the door.

“Hey, I only turned a few things pink over the summer,” I complain.

“Sure, you did,” Calvin says, wrapping his big arms around me. He looks over at Jenna and Micah over my shoulder. “Thank you all for everything.”

“Thank us by coming home soon,” Jenna says, breaking free of Micah and rushing toward us to embrace us both at once, barely able to make it around our bodies.

Micah piles on, and then the girls do too in some kind of strange group hug. Corny. Ridiculous. But amazing, all the same.