Page 57 of Game Day

"Hope today is everything you wanted."

Now, I can't see the mountains or the ceremony or the guests. I can only see him as I hear my own whispered response.

"It's more."

17

CLAY

When you spend your life becoming a superstar,you get used to eyes on you.

Now, they're all on her.

Our friends and family are all standing and turned to get a look at Nova as she starts down the path covered with petals,her arm hooked in her sister's.

She's not a rainbow—she's the damned sun.

It's not the dress that clings to every curve I know better than my own body. It’s not even the way she moves. It's the way her eyes meet mine. How she shines up at me as if everything I thought was my life was only the preview and today is the main feature.

My breath lodges deep in my chest. The knot gets tighter as she moves toward me. After all the chaos of the past couple of weeks, there's nowhere I'd rather be.

Nova stops inches away from me, her sister kissing her cheek. Mari shoots me a look that says, Don't fuck this up, before stepping back to her seat in the front row.

In this moment, we want the same thing.

There were times I didn’t think I’d make it here. To this point in my life, not only here, surrounded by beauty and mountains and people who’ve made a difference in my world.

The fact that everyone cared this much to come is touching. I knew people needed me on the court, but seeing them show up this way when they don’t need to affects me.

At the center of it all is her.

Nova’s the one who makes it all worthwhile.

Thanks to her, I can picture spending a few more years in the league.

Just like I can picture the time after it. Holding my girl in our home. Laughing as we chase around kids that have her curious eyes.

The ceremony is a blur. The officiant's words echo in my head, but all I'm thinking about is how she's mine.

When I slide the ring on her finger, it feels like certainty. It feels like home.

I swear nothing could be better.

I'm wrong.

When she puts hers on me, it's humbling.

It feels as if I’m on my knees, asking her to have me.

"I love you," she whispers.

I can't talk. My throat is so tight I may never swallow again.

Somehow, I manage to get out the words I need to.

“I do.”

“I do.”

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