Page 68 of Chasing Football Dreams

No one was ever going to feel left behind ever again.

Eliza went off to travel the world with Andrew. They got married years later and were expecting. Ivy and Xander didn't wait. They got married months after Xander graduated from College.

Freddie gave in on Denise and they were seeing each other. There have been no rumors of them getting engaged as they took things slow. Denise went to see a therapist who helped her regain the strength she's lost due to her ongoing abuse.

Me? Well. Live couldn't be more fantastic. I was part of a Super Bowl but instead of celebrating in the stands surrounded by millions of fans. I was on the field, winning my first Super Bowl.

Duncan on the other hand, stood back when teams wanted to draft him. He played for the major leagues for two years and retired. He found another hobby to follow. He became a University coach and had amazing seasons.

We got married when he retired. He came up to me and told me what he wanted as he sunk to one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. There isn't a day I regret being married to him not even when my career took me miles away from home.

I walked out on the University field looking for my husband and finding him coaching his team. It's been weeks since I was home and I missed him.

He was still as handsome as ever. He didn't stop focusing on his fitness when he retired as a player making it harder for me to keep my hands to myself.

"Come on, Zayne. That's gotta be the weakest pass you've given," Duncan grumbled, blowing his whistle and signaling his team over to the side.

He hasn't noticed I was standing behind him but his team soon started to see me. They tried to play along to not give away that I was behind him but Duncan realized their attention was anywhere but him.

He turned around to find me. I smiled. "What's a player got to do to get the coach's attention?"

He shook his head, dropping his serious expression as he smiled at me. "I thought I was picking you up from the airport?"

He came over, dropping his hand to my waist and pulling me against him to brush my lips with a kiss. "Hmm, I wanted to surprise you,"

"Well, you succeeded,"

He turned his head to his team watching us. "What are you guys standing here looking at us? Get back to practice,"

I smiled at him when he returned his attention to me. "Always so serious,"

He rolled his eyes. "Serious enough to win three seasons and be married to a superstar,"

"Now you are just showing off,"

He chuckled, catching my lips before I could escape from his arms. "You love me for it,"

"I do," There was no lie in his words. I didn't feel like I was held back from my dreams. He didn't call my anger tantrums annoying or get fed up with who I am.

He didn't feel intimidated by how far I've come in my career and I didn't let them stand on the sideline.

"I'm just going to finish up here and take you home," The burning haze in his eyes emphasized his meaning and I was looking forward to his promise.

Our home was until now the same place he built for us. Memories were forged into the halls and rooms. When my case was solved I chose to stay here with Duncan because no one knew where to find me and I felt safe here.

In his arms where I belonged.

"Can we stay like this for five more minutes?" I muttered, my eyes falling close as the tidal wave of emotions simpered my body to the point I was comfortably lying in Duncan's arms.

Duncan's chuckle radiated through my chest. His fingers danced on my scalp as he pushed them through my hair. "I don't mind,"

"But I don't think our friends and family are going to wait on us,"

I sighed into his chest when I remembered our friends and families were coming over. I was excited to see them but I just wanted five more minutes doing nothing.

We lay with our limbs intertwined taking in the moment of peace before getting up. Duncan left me to finish up while starting with breakfast.

I emptied my bags finding an envelope I'd been dying to share with him. It was something I had to deal with considering my career was going to be placed on hold but it was expectedsince we could barely leave each other alone especially when I came back from games that were away from home.

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