Page 53 of Tumbling the Cornerback

"What? With whom?"

"Renny. Gotta go. Byeeeeee!"

"What? Ouisie!"

Lucas snorted. A moment later, his feet hit the floor. "Coop?"

"Kitchen!"

He shuffled in, not stopping until he perched on my thigh. "I made you a heart," he said sleepily. "How was your day?"

"I know." I smiled, drawing him in to kiss the side of his face. "And it was long. Tiring. Good. How about you?" I decided not to mention Creel and his odd visit unless I had to.

"It was... weird," he yawned. "You will never believe what happened."

"Oh? Try me."

He was right, but not for the reason he thought. As he told me about the ups and downs of his morning, he grew really animated about the scholarship. "I don't know who set it up, but it's like they knew me," he sighed happily. “I guess Marisol was right—it’s time for me to take the next step. I’m so freaking excited, Cooper! I just… I wish I knew who set it up. I want to send them a thank you note or, I don’t know, a basket or something!”

"Maybe," I said carefully, "someone wants to make things better for you." He tipped his face back to raise one of those expressive brows at me, a silent oh really, and I held up both hands in protest. "Not me. I mean, I would if I could! But I honestly didn't even think about the possibility of a scholarship."

Smiling, Lucas stretched up to give me a smacking kiss on the lips. "I believe you." He leaned back against me, drowsing as I took a few bites of food. "What were you so loud about earlier?"

"Hm? Oh, my sister is going on a date with her bookstore nemesis."

"Awwww! Enemies to lovers! My favorite!" He bounced, craning his neck back to kiss me. "Well, second fave after opposites attract.” He grinned, wiggling those brows at me.

“Oh! That reminds me!” I shifted him from my lap, hurrying to the bag I’d brought in with me, the poor bedraggled thing having seen better days. “It’s past time we trade.”

Lucas’ eyes went wide. “I… now? Okay?” He reached under the coffee table and pulled out his own beat-up bookstore bag. “On three?”

I laughed. “Sure.” We held out the bags towards one another and, in his best cheer voice, Lucas counted to three. I grabbed his, he grabbed mine, the plastic bags flying. But the book in my hands gave me pause. “Wait. I think we swapped bags somehow…”

Lucas snorted, eyes shining as he held up a copy of the same romance novel I was holding. “Nope. Opposites attract, queer cheerleader and football player…”

“It’s a sign,” I laughed, my own eyes stinging a little, joy bubbling in my chest.

I managed to toss the book aside just as Lucas leaped for me, his arms and legs looping around me as I grabbed his ass to hold him up. Grinning, I dipped him back to kiss his throat as he squealed. "I love you," I said suddenly, and he went quiet and still. "Lucas?"

"I heard you," he whispered, lifting his chin to meet my gaze. "And I love you too. Now let me up before I faint." I shifted, taking us both down to the sofa so he could get more comfortable, and I wouldn’t have to let go.

He settled against my chest, both of us quiet, glowing in the late-night glare of the kitchen lights. "Not now," I said after a while, "but one day soon, can we talk about moving in together?"

He nodded. "So long as you're okay with my cat."

"Baby, I'm okay with everything about you."

"Sap."

"Damn straight."

EPILOGUE

LUCAS

Two Years Later

Superbowl Sunday

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