Page 101 of His Jersey

“I’m not looking for that. But I wasn’t done with what I was saying.”

“I wasn’t either.”

Lengthening my spine, I continue, “My love isn’t for sale. But I do?—”

“I wouldn’t ever try to buy it. But I do?—”

Our eyes meet for a fleeting moment as if those two particular words have a deeper meaning.

“You go first,” I say.

The corner of his lip lifts. “No, you. I insist.”

“How about we both say it at the same time?” I suggest.

We nod in agreement.

“Okay, on the count of three,” I say.

“One,” he starts.

“Two,” I say.

“Three,” we say at the same time Bark Wahlburger barks, followed by us blurting, “I love you.”

My smile is bigger than the state of Nebraska. “You do?”

He nods and his eyes sparkle.

I try to take another bite of my cheeseburger, but I cannot suppress the goofy grin that’s on my face. I haven’t heard those three words spoken to me in years. I didn’t realize how much my heart needed them because it does something now that makes it feel full.

“I thought it was over,” I say.

“I never lose, even if it may look like it at first. I thought my career was over. Relationships were a four-letter word and not the one I used. The last game with the Storm appeared to be a loss, but I gained a new team and we’re on a hot streak.”

“Well, aren’t you Mr. Confidence?”

He chuckles. “I just mean that it can feel like life is beating us up, but then just around the corner, there’s something even better waiting. In the end, it all works out for a win. You know?”

I nod. “Working at the resort while not having a place to live, sneaking around, and scraping by on room service scraps sure felt like I’d hit rock bottom.”

“Now, here we are.” He reaches across the table and takes my hands.

My heart does a little leap.

Jack rubs his thumb on the top of my hand, gazing from the engagement ring to me. It didn’t even occur to me to take it off.

“There will still be hurdles. My father can be snooty and cold. For all his business prowess, he turned into an idiot—Aston, for example.”

“The trouble is, I don’t fit into your upper-classworld.”

Jack comes around the table and sits next to me. “We belong together wherever that is. Also, ignore Aston and her ilk.”

The cheeseburger’s wrapping crinkles, muffling his comment and I snort a laugh. “Did you say ick?”

“Ilk, like the company she keeps, but ick works too, as in her personality is gross.”

“Easier said than done. She’ll be my mother-in-law.”

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