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Marcus smiles. “Careful, Cass, I might start thinking you like me more than you like Seventeen Cherry Hill.”
I pause mid-stride and turn toward him, placing my hand over his heart. “Maybe I do.”
Marcus places his hand over mine, holding it there. His heart beats strong under my palm.
“I like you a lot more than that house, Carter. Even though it’s my dream house. I love you.”
I stare up at him, hoping he sees the depth of my feelings for him in my eyes. “I love you too, Delaney. A lot more than I could ever love a house.”
Epilogue
Marcus - One year after the first photo shoot
“Trey,” Cass shouts from across the yard. “Could you grab that table and bring it over here?”
“Look who’s bossing NFL players around now,” I say, stepping up behind my girlfriend and wrapping my arms around her waist.
I lean in, my head on her shoulder, and I inhale her lemony-floral scent.
She turns and pulls her head back so she can look me in the eye. “I said could you. It’s only bossy if you tell them without asking.”
“As if he’s going to deny you anything,” I say. “And besides, asking leaves them room to say no. I’m efficient. I skip that step.”
“Bossy,” she murmurs into my cheek, following the taunt with a kiss. “Now, leave me be so I can get the yard set up before everyone else arrives.”
Cass has been living at Seventeen Cherry Hill for almost six months now.
She’s still settling in, mostly in the reading nook and the kitchen.
The Thunder is about to finish our preseason practices and head into preseason games. This will be our last time hosting a party until after the season is over.
My friends are already here. They came early to help Cass with whatever she needed. Her friends will be here shortly. Declan’s going to man the barbecue and Emberleigh and Syd are bringing sweets from the bakery. Everyone’s bringing something.
Cass pushes away from me.
She walks across the yard, pointing as she goes and instructing my offensive line. “I’m picturing three tables here for the food. One here for the drinks and then let’s scatter the circular tables around this area.”
They all do exactly as she says, and in a matter of minutes, tables are everywhere and linens are being thrown over them, chairs unfolded and set out. It’s warm, but this late in the day, it’s already starting to cool down as the sun drops behind the tree line at the back of the property.
Jaxon approaches Cass. “Do you want me to bring out the dispensers of lemonade and tea?”
“Please,” she says.
Emberleigh shows up, walking down the side yard carrying a stack of pink bakery boxes.
“Where do you want these?” she asks me.
“Ask Cass,” I say. “And thank you.”
“Wise man,” Emberleigh says with a smile. “You don’t want to get this wrong.”
“Happy girl, happy world,” I say, tweaking the adage about wives.
“Let me carry those for you,” I offer.
“Better yet, get the rest from my car,” she says.
I grab a few of the guys and we take the rest of the boxes out of Emberleigh’s trunk.
