Page 86 of The Right Player
“And what’s the truth?”
She smiled, and I thumbed away another tear before it could make it past the apple of her cheek. “That I love you,” she said, lips trembling with the admission. “And that I forgive you. And that I’d rather take the risk of losing you down the line than to miss out on the possibility of keeping you forever.”
I smiled on a shaky breath, emotion strangling me at the throat and cutting off my ability to speak. But I held her gaze, held her cheek, held her in every way that I could.
“The other day Gemma was talking about Zach, about the wedding and how they want to have kids soon,” she said. “And… I don’t know much about love. I don’t know how to handle anything that is going to be thrown our way. I don’t know if we’re going to fight and forgive, or if we’re never going to fight again. I don’t know if you’ll be able to put up with me and the scars I’ve carried with me for years.”
I laughed at that, rubbing her cheek to let her know that I loved those scars.
“All I know, is listening to her talk about Zach that way…” Belle smiled, leaning into my hand and closing her eyes to release another flood of tears before she looked at me again. “When I close my eyes and imagine my future?” She shrugged. “I see you in it.”
I closed my eyes, letting out a slow breath and trying not to cry myself. It was all I could do to pull Belle into my chest, to wrap my arms around her, to run my hands back through her hair and tilt her chin up and claim that perfect mouth of hers as mine forever.
She leaned into the kiss with a relieved sigh, nearly collapsing in my arms, but I held her steady and strong as a promise that I always would. I deepened the kiss with my tongue sweeping over hers, and then I picked her up, spinning her just like they did in the movies to the tune of distant cheers from various ends of the parking lot.
Belle blushed when I put her back on her feet, looking around before she buried her face in my chest. “Oh, God. I’m sorry, I’m embarrassing you in front of your team.”
More whistles rang out as I chuckled and kissed her forehead. “Feel free to embarrass me any time you want. These clowns are just jealous you’re not theirs.”
She shook her head, leaning back to look at me again. “I’m sorry it took me so long to pull my head out of my ass.”
“I’m sorry I hurt you,” I replied, and I hoped she saw the sincerity in my eyes when I tucked her hair behind her ear. “I can’t promise I won’t be a pain in your ass sometimes, but I promise to never hurt you again. Not like this.”
She nodded, leaning up to kiss my lips briefly before she arched one brow. “So… you’ll be my date to the wedding?”
I scoffed. “Like that’s even a question. You better wear comfortable shoes, because we’re going to be dancing all night.”
“I’m a horrible dancer,” she confessed.
I smirked, kissing her nose. “You can stand on my feet and I’ll do all the work.”
“I’m also sorry I didn’t do some grand gesture,” she added, waving her hand in the air. “I know you love romantic comedies, and I was trying to think of something super cute and clever to do but… well… when it came down to it, I wasn’t patient enough to put a plan together like that. All I knew was that I was sorry, and that I wanted you, and that I had to tell you that as soon as I could.”
“No grand gesture needed,” I said, framing her face. “All I need is you.”
I kissed her with my heart pounding hard in my chest, with every new pull of oxygen feeling like my first and my last all at once. I knew in my gut that this was one of those moments I’d never forget. This was the moment my entire life changed. This was the moment I found what I’d always been looking for.
Football, and love.
And now, finally, I had both.
“Now, take me back to your place,” Belle said, breaking our kiss well before I was ready. “We have some sex to do.”
I barked out a laugh at that. “Oh, do we now?”
“Mm-hmm,” she said on a nod, already on her way over to the passenger side of my car. “I’ve been reading up on sports psychology, and there’s a link between sex and sports performance. So, I figure, we’ve got a solid week of boning to do to get you ready for the next game.”
I laughed again, tossing my bag in the back seat before I climbed into the driver side, leaning over to kiss my passenger before I started the engine.
