Page 113 of Force Play

“Show me.” A screech leaves me when he spins me around by the hand. I glance over my shoulder, and find him standing there stunned, one big hand is dragging over his jaw. He steps forward pushing my hair over my shoulder. “I’ve been manifesting you as my wife for a year and damn, Baby, our last name looks good on you.”

When I face him again there’s a challenge in his eyes, like he’s daring me to say that I married him for anything other than love, because he knows that’s bullshit, even if this is the most frank conversation we’ve had about it outside of our vows. “I love you, Dom Duran. Had things been different, I might have made you wait more than two months, but I married you because my husband is the best man I’ve ever known. You’re it. You’ve been it since that first night. I was just too scared to see it.”

Me wearing his jersey might do it for him, and I admit it’s hotter than I expected, but I can’t focus on anything other than the necklace peeking out of his shirt. My fingers dance down his neck and follow the gold chain, pulling it from his shirt. Our simple gold wedding bands hang between us.

“And you look hot wearing my ring, husband.”

His lips crash down on mine, and applause erupts around us. It’s cheesy and ridiculous and perfect, because after everything we’ve been through our love deserves to be celebrated.

“I have so many questions,” Poppy whispers behind me. “But mostly, I’m just really fucking happy for you two.”

“What did I miss?” Dean asks, when he steps out of the door next to us.

“These two assholes got married in secret,” Mia says, reaching for her boyfriend.

“No shit. I’m happy for you, kid.” Dean smacks my husband on the back, displaying more affection than I’ve ever seen from him outside of Mia.

There’s so much more we need to tell them, especially the girls. I’ve blamed my mood swings on the hormones and I’m sure they aren’t helping, but the secrets have been eating at me and it’s time to come clean. I can’t protect them from this any more than my husband can protect me from cancer.

We will have plenty of time, just us girls when the guys leave for the Division League Series the day after tomorrow. Right now, I just want to get my husband home.

“Ready to go home, wife?”

Hendrix and Cruz choose that moment to join us.

”What the hell is going on? Who made my fiancèe cry?” Hendrix barks, going straight to Poppy.

“They’re happy tears.” Poppy sniffles, letting him wrap her up.

“These guys can fill you in.” With my arms looped around Dom’s neck, I wave at our friends and Dom’s family, who I’m positive also have some things they are dying to ask.

“Mom, Dad. Are you guys good waiting until tomorrow to ask your questions?” Dom asks, kissing my forehead.

“Why don’t we bring you and your wife breakfast in the morning?” Kelly says, her face lit up with a smile. She crosses the room pulling me into her arms. “Welcome to the family, Indie. I love this for you two.” Switching her attention to her son, she pats his cheek. “You’re going to be an excellent husband. Just remember, she’s always right.”

At least I know she’s on board.

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

Chapter 41

Dom

Punching my wife’s ex and getting benched right before my team made it to the postseason for the first time since I was called up wasn’t on my bingo card for this season. But neither was getting married and I wouldn’t change a fucking thing about either of them.

Jensen deserved so much more than a single punch to the face, both for the way he treated Indie back then and for the things he said tonight.

Indie stops when we get to the car, both of her hands coming to rest on my chest and moving up until her hands are in my hair. “Are you okay? That was a hard hit. What about your hand?” she asks, her uneasy gaze flicking over me.

With the way Jensen crashed into me, it’s a miracle one of us wasn’t hurt. Those kinds of hits always mean delayed pain though. When I wake up tomorrow, I’ll probably feel like shit.

Right now though, with this woman in my arms and everyone knowing that she’s mine not just as my girlfriend but my wife, nothing else matters.

“Never better, Baby.”

“That seems like a stretch.” She’s looking at me like I’m crazy.

“When are you going to understand that you’re the most important thing in this world?”

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