Page 177 of Naughty & Nice

Nine months later…

Isit in the stands with Hendrix on one side and Lori and Kian on the other.

The noise from the rest of the Titans fans surrounding us makes the seat beneath me vibrate. I don’t need to fuel my nerves. They’re already out of control.

I’ve watched Wilder play a million times before. But I have never been this invested.

Thanks to him and his passion for the sport, I know everything about the Titan roster for this season. I know everyone’s strengths and weaknesses. I know the players he thinks are going to make it to the NFL and the ones he doesn’t think have it. I know how much he respects his coach, and how much he looks up to Benny and a couple of other teammates who have become close friends to me and Hendrix now as well as Wilder.

I’m no longer just here to support Wilder; I’m here for all of them. For the team, my extended family.

“Are you okay?” Lori asks, squeezing my hand as if that’ll help.

“Yeah, of course. Why?”

“You look like you’re about to vomit.”

Honestly, I might.

I just need to see him. Everything will settle once he comes running out onto the field.

He knows where we’re sitting, and something tells me that he’ll be searching me out just as much as I do him.

He was disappointed with where they finished last year, so he’s feeling the pressure already to ensure that they go all the way this season. And of course, they’re starting the season going head-to-head with last year’s national champions.

He has this idea that if they can beat them tonight, they’ve got a one-way ticket to the final next year.

I want it for him so much. I just wish I could do something to help, aside from being his number-one cheerleader.

“They’ve got this,” she says confidently.

“I know,” I choke out.

Hendrix reaches over and squeezes my knee. On the outside, he appears to be much calmer, but I know the truth. Beneath his cool facade, he’s freaking out too.

I gaze out over purple-filled stands opposite us and try to imagine what it must have been like for them earlier in the year when their team lifted that trophy.

Goosebumps erupt and rush down my arms as I think about just how epic that must be. All those years of hard work, the sacrifices they’ve made for the game they love and to make it right to the end...

It’s going to happen.

Wilder deserves so much good and happiness in his life.

All the bad shit is behind us now. From here on out, our lives are going to be full of laughter and light, and wins. All the freaking wins.

Suddenly, the crowd around us erupts when smoke begins to billow from the Titans’ tunnel.

“Oh my god,” I breathe as we jump to our feet to watch our boys appear.

Hendrix grabs one of my hands as Lori continues to grip the other, and the second he appears, I scream bloody murder for him.

And just as I predicted, the second he clears the smoke, his eyes lock on my position.

He lifts his hand to his mouth and blows me a kiss.

My heart shatters all over the floor right there and then.

I’m so lost in him that I don’t realize that everyone is looking at me until Hendrix points at the jumbotron where a replay of that sweet moment is playing with little hearts on the screen.

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