Page 115 of Trouble

Heart thumping, I turn back to Declan. “Not here.” I don’t want to share this moment with anyone but the two of them. “My place.”

Declan’s lips tilt up, and his eyes brighten a little. That small response speaks volumes. Knowing I’ve pleased him is enough to send a spark of excitement through me.

With my arm around Mel and with Declan by my side, I usher them to the garage where the players and coaching staff park. It isn’t until Dec steps in front of me to open Mel’s door that I catch sight of the back of his Bolts jersey.

The sight ofFitzemblazoned on the Bolts blue fabric takes my goddamn breath away. Swallowing hard, I angle back without letting Mel go. Sure enough, hers says Fitz too. But they’re wearing different numbers. On her back, under my name, is a 1. Declan’s sporting the number 5. I shake my head, lips pursed, confused.

“That’s another part of his grovel,” Mel whispers.

Declan’s watching me, holding his breath. Like he’s waiting for me to put the pieces together. After a solid thirty seconds, he pulls Mel to his side, and they turn their backs to me.

It hits me then, like a punch to the solar plexus.

“Get it now?” he mumbles, turning back, hiding the number 15. Fifteen. My number through high school and college.

I still don’t quite get it, though. Why didn’t they put 15 on each of their backs?

Declan, obviously sensing my confusion, takes Mel’s hand. “Separately, our jerseys were meaningless, right? But put us together, Cade, and we’re perfect for you.”

I rear back, so bowled over by the admission that I almost lose my balance. “That’s really fucking good.”

Mel breaks out in a bright smile. “I told you it was a really good grovel.”

Declan steps closer and runs his thumb across my bottom lip. “Will you forgive me for taking so long?”

“It’s only been a few days. I can’t imagine you could have custom jerseys made and shipped overnight,” I sputter. My mind is jumbled, and my heart gallops at his proximity.

Declan shakes his head. “That took a few days, but that’s not what I mean.”

I swallow. I know what he means. It took him a while to be ready for this. For us. Nose stinging, I pull in a breath to rein in my emotions and pull Mel in close. “Like you said, it’s perfect like this. We wouldn’t work if we weren’t all together.”

Mel bites her lip and blinks. “And that’s what you want?”

I guess we are doing this in public. “Yes, Mel. You and Dec. If that’s what the two of you want, then that’s what I want.”

Declan’s relieved breath fans against my cheek as I kiss our girlfriend. When I pull back, he’s watching me, his focus intent. Then, jaw working, he scans our surroundings. Guys are still trickling out to their cars, holleringgoodbyeandmerry Christmasto one another.

Despite my concerns about how he’s handled things, I don’t need him to do this here. It doesn’t need to be public to count.

Before I can tell him that, he cups my face, his thumb pulling on my lips.

“Fuck it,” he mumbles. Then he’s pressing his lips to mine.

For an instant, I’m stunned, rigid. But his warm lips and rough calluses brushing against my jaw soothe me, and I kiss him back.

Between us, Mel squeals.

I melt against her, craving Declan’s firm embrace. These two, this moment, are everything.

He pulls away, but not before sinking his teeth into my lip and tugging. “Take us home.”

Track 18

LOVE ON

CHAPTER 48

Melina

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