Page 103 of His Jersey

“I think it’s a choice we should make together.” I pop a french fry in my mouth.

“Does that mean what I think it does?” Jack’s expression brightens.

Even though I have no backup, no safety net, I put everything on the line. “I kind of like the idea of a life together, but what dowemean to you?”

He doesn’t hesitate. “It means everything. The future. Ten kids. Maude, Clair, Amelia, Violet, Julia, James, Miles, Ethan, Archie, and Isaac.”

I cannot stop grinning at the fact that he remembered perfectly.

His is nearly identical, and he adds, “Can I choose their middle names?”

“And they get your last name, of course.”

Meeting my eyes, Jack says, “Before we met, my life was mapped out, but you changed the game. Some people wouldargue it was for the worst. But I’ve never felt better. More like myself. I’ve spent a lot of time taking—credit for wins, women’s hearts, accumulating stuff. But giving to you is the greatest joy. Before, retirement from the league loomed. Now I have a new goal and it’s a future together.”

Every word he speaks buoys me, but I have to be sure of one thing. “Are you afraid we’re moving fast? It went from fake relationship to fake engagement to?—”

“What about the three years before that?” He grabs his watch from the table. “Someone very smart once told me something important about time.” Turning to me, Jack adds, “I don’t want to waste another moment of it.”

One more question forces its way forward. “We’re from different worlds.”

He shakes his head. “We belong together and nothing about it ever felt particularly fake to me.”

I let out a shaky breath as my doubts make one last attempt to derail me. “I’m afraid I’ve been down this road before.”

His gaze locks on mine, expression serious. “Not with me, Ella.”

Just as when Jack gave me the key to the suite at the Jewel Island resort, I felt like I was stepping into something new, now, I feel a nudge to close another door behind me.

40

ELLA

It’stime to let go of the past, but my mind makes one last attempt to find a reason to doubt, to question, to deny my feelings and Jack’s attentiveness and affection for me. But it doesn’t come. He has been true to me in all the ways that matter. I take a deep breath, letting this sink in.

He smooths a piece of hair from in front of my face. “You can ask me all the questions in the world, and I’ll do my best to answer. But I will also show you. If you want me to ride up on a white horse, I will. I’ll carry you away from any doubts you have about us. If I need to climb a tower and rescue you from the clutches of worry, I will.”

Each promise stamps out the voices in my head cautioning me, holding me back, and bringing me closer to him.

His smile smolders. “I’ll also woo you if need be. Send you flowers, chocolates, and love notes.”

I giggle, then lace my arms around Jack’s neck. “You don’t have to do any of that.”

“What if I want to?”

Tipping my head from side to side as if I need to give that even a moment’s thought, I say, “I wouldn’t object.”

“As pathetic and spoiled as this sounds, for so long, I felt like I was in a golden cage. With you, I feel free and that’s worth more than anything.”

“I don’t want to come between you and your father.”

“His expectations and love for money already came between us. But I have a feeling that’s going to change.”

“You do?” I ask, worried all over again. Even if they don’t have a great relationship, I don’t want him to disown his father or do something drastic.

“I don’t think my mother’s work was done.”

My forehead wrinkles, but I think he’s referring to how his parents truly loved each other and that tie is stronger than Allain’s detour with Aston.

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