Page 32 of Marrying My Brother's Best Friend

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Hours later, the arena pulsates with the rhythmic bounce of basketball and the electrifying hum of anticipation that has everyone on hold. My sneakers squeak against the polished court floors with each step I take toward the net.

Tension hangs in the air like a heavy mist as the game unfolds. It’s the forty-eighth minute of the game and my team leads Chicago Bulls with a whopping six points already.

Our opponents mimic my every move like zombies, clamoring to get the ball out of my hands as I aim for the net with my famous slam dunk move. My feet leave the ground with a high jump, and a hushed murmur swallows the court. I don’t hear anything else but the thud of my own pulse losing rhythm and the distant echoes of their screams as I’m suspended mid-air.

Once I land the shot in the net, the crowd explodes in a chaotic clang of applause and cheers for the last scored point that marks the end of the game.

The commentator, too, rambles on with excitement, and my teammates run toward me to celebrate with shouts and cheers of excitement.

A second later, they lift me in the air and chant our victory song while marching in a circle. The joyous moment lasts for a while and as the rush of adrenaline pulsing through me starts fading, I realize I’m scouting the faces in the arena’s audience for one person.

Gracie. I can’t think of anyone else I want to run to and celebrate with right now. Her brilliant smile would be perfect in this moment, and my world slows.

“Hawkins! Hawkins!” the crowd starts to cheer, and the commentator rushes towards me with a mic.

“As the man of the game, what do you have to say after such an amazing game tonight, Hawkins?” He focuses the mic at me and I’m well aware of the expectant viewers all waiting for me to say something that will trend in the media for days.

“I’m grateful,” I say after finding my voice again. I lick my lips, then burst into a light chuckle. “To my wife…I am grateful to my wife and deeply sorry for my behavior. She’s stood by me through it all, and I’ve been such a fool not to realize how much I love her.”

“Wow,” the man comments and starts unloading another question, but I don’t hear a thing he says as I back away from him and head towards the court’s exit.

There’s no celebration for me tonight. Not until I’m right where I know I need to be. With Gracie.

Chapter 19

Gracie

“What do we do? Will you go out there to meet them?” Natalie asks me in a hushed tone that evening while I’m hiding inside Espresso Books's changing room. “Everyone out there wants a picture or an autograph with you.”

“This makes no sense,” I lament, shaking my head. Why would Trevor do a shout-out to me? I can’t stop thinking about the words he said on national TV after the previous night's game.

Each time I recall the excitement in his eyes and voice, my heart skips a beat. This is what you wanted, right? He said he loves you.

“But not on national TV!” I mutter with a cringe.

“What did you say?” Natalie asks me, and I lift my head to look at her.

“Call the cops, Natalie,” I whisper. “I want everyone out of the bookstore. I’m not the celebrity. Trevor is.”

Natalie smiles and lifts herself off the ground where she sits beside me.

“I’ll do that,” she answers, but a rapid knock comes on the door before she can move.

I stiffen and shoot her a panicked gaze. What the heck!

“Gracie?” Trevor’s voice on the other end worsens the tension snapping through me.

My eyes widen as I scramble to my feet, and Natalie squeals before grabbing my hands. “He came for you,” she chants in a playful voice, then squeals some more.

My heart picks a pace faster than it has ever assumed, and I don’t share Natalie’s excitement because I can’t predict why Trevor will be here.

Did he mean those words? Or was it only part of his publicity stunt? I don’t know what to think, and I can’t let my heart hope for more just yet.

I can’t be disappointed again.

“Gracie, I know you’re in there, so just …Open up, please.” His pleading tone softens my heart, and I motion for Natalie to unlock the door.

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