Page 53 of The Comeback

I had forgotten the full force of the electricity between us. I’ve felt it in bits and pieces since coming to Houston, but the familiar taste of him, the comforting feel of his strong arms, the way they could always make me feel safe and protected and loved, is so potent it’s overwhelming.

He’s breathless when he pulls away from me, and I melt further underneath the warmth and love in his gaze as he stares at me.

“I felt like I was a different guy playing today,” he says, leaning his forehead against mine. “Like you gave me superpowers or something. I always told you I needed you with me in this.”

I smile and lean in to kiss him again. “It’s all in your head,” I whisper.

“Even if it is, I’m always going to need you.” He runs his fingers through my low ponytail, then gently pulls the band out so that my hair falls loose on my back. He sweeps it over my shoulder and runs his fingers through it. “I was so jealous of Ruby that day.” He laughs and then leans forward to kiss my neck. He pulls back again, taking my hand and leading me farther into the house. He sits on the couch, and I sit next to him, resting my head and hand against his chest, unable to look away from him.

“I never want you to ever think I can live a minute without you,” he says. “That anything is more important than what I have with you.” He puts his hand to the back of my neck and leans over me. “I love you, Ava. More than football. More than anything I can think of.”

I shift up to kiss him again. “I know,” I say. “I love you even more than I did when I left you that day, thinking I was doing what was best for you.”

“What’s best for me is you,” he murmurs.

“My only sacrifices from now on will be so I can keep you forever.” I rest my head against his chest again but keep my face toward him. I want to spend the rest of the night staring at him.

He smiles at me. “Speaking of sacrifices…”

I lean closer. Something about his tone is familiar. “Yeah?”

“It’s selfish, I know, but I don’t want you to go back to Atlanta.” That’s when it hits me. He has the same eager, enthusiastic expression from the night he asked me to follow him to Reno. And my chest dances with the same excitement as it did then, imagining the beginning of the rest of my life with him.

“You’re in luck,” I say, gripping his T-shirt. “I’m thinking about taking a job in Houston that won’t really pay me much, for a friend who says she needs my help.” I love Jett, and I never want to be separated from him again, but that’s not the only thing that has me hesitating on taking what should be a dream job with Rutledge.

His eyes dance with amusement, and I think maybe…pride. He doesn’t know the whole story, but I sense that he understands the importance of what it means to me to consider working with Gabriella. “Yeah?”

“I might need help with my rent.” I arch an eyebrow at him. “Maybe you could find me some place with a bunch of women who want to split a cheap apartment.”

He scoops me closer to him, his lips stopping inches from mine. “I think I can do a lot better than that.”

I put my hands on either side of his face again, the light scruff of his jaw rough under my fingers. “Oh, like maybe I could find a sugar daddy or something?”

He laughs, a deep, satisfying sound that sends a shiver of pleasure up my spine. “I bought the house next door to mine, hoping I could convince Jenna and Devin to move into it. Maybe you can take care of it for me while I convince them.”

“You just bought a house. Just like that?” I raise an eyebrow at him.

“Isn’t that what sugar daddies do?” He gives me a faux innocent expression and then kisses the laugh right off my lips.

After several moments, I straighten and eye him fiercely. “Jett, I’m staying with you forever, okay? I promise.”

He wraps his arms around me, holding me to him in a tight embrace before facing me and saying seriously, “I know.”

EPILOGUE

AVA

Gabriella insisted I fly in my assistant from Atlanta to run the show. Since I’m Jett’s plus-one—or maybe he’s mine—it only makes sense, she says.

I’m glad I did. It’s been wonderful sitting back and enjoying the party for once. With Talia here, it’s easier to keep an eye out for all the little things that could go wrong. Nothing is going to ruin this day. How could it? I’m sitting next to the love of my life, picturing us standing and facing each other and promising forever.

Jett’s had his arm around me all night, and neither of us has stopped smiling. My heart is full from this day—Gabriella and Colby are so happy. I’ve never seen Colby smile this big, and I’ve seen a lot of great wins from the Pumas this season. Gabriella is his ultimate touchdown, and from the look in her eyes, even if she never makes it to DC, she’ll be okay with Colby by her side.

“What are you thinking about?” Jett whispers into my hair as we listen to the speech from the maid of honor.

I lean into him. I will never get tired of the strength of his presence. I forgot how whole I felt with him. “How happy they are.” I tilt my head down the table to where Colby and Gabriella watch the maid of honor’s speech, but their smiles say it all.

“I know exactly how they feel,” Jett murmurs.

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