Page 127 of The Way We Score

Her eyes shine, and a tear falls onto her cheek. Still, she’s not giving me a yes or a no.

My throat is tight, and I open the box. “What do you say?”

She swallows hard, holding my gaze. “I’m afraid.” My brow furrows, and she continues. “I already lost you once. I can’t do it again.”

Moving closer, I drop my chin to catch a breath. “We were kids, Liv. Kids make mistakes. I was too insecure. I’d lost so much myself, and I was afraid to trust.” She’s nodding, and I keep going. “I’m a man now, and I know who I am. I know who you are, and I know what I want. You won’t lose me, and I won’t let you down.”

The field has fallen quiet. Only some people at the other end of the stadium are still going, and I know the cameras are on us.

“I was married before, and it didn’t work.”

My eyes hold hers. “You were married to the wrong guy. You were never his to kiss. Never his to have a family with. You’re mine, and nothing is going to change that.” It’s my turn to swallow the ache in my throat. “If you need a little more time to see who I am, I can wait. But you’re it for me, Liv. You’re the mother of my children. You’re my wife. All you have to do is say yes.”

A trembling hand lifts to her mouth, and her eyes flood with tears as a smile splits her cheeks. Nodding, she leans down to wrap her arms around my neck.

Her soft voice is in my ear, and it’s a rush of joy in my chest as she says the only thing I want to hear. “Yes.”

“I’m soglad I was able to come with you.” Liv sits beside me in the SUV holding my hand. “I loved watching you play, wearing your jersey, and it’s been great having Maddy to talk to about baby stuff.”

It’s our last night in the city, and we’re headed to Charlie and Maddy’s for an intimate farewell dinner—finally, Maddy said.

“I had a feeling you’d be friends.” I lift Liv’s hand to my lips, kissing right under the engagement ring. “I really loved having you in the box, watching me. It was kind of a dream I’d always had.”

“Like catching the winning touchdown pass in the final seconds of the game?”

Exhaling a laugh, I shake my head. “I never even imagined something like that could happen.”

“It was the greatest moment.” She exhales a giggle. “I was screaming so hard I’m surprised I didn’t go into labor.”

“All I could think about was finding you.” I look down at our entwined fingers. “I had that whole proposal planned out to the minute.”

“Garrett.” Her eyes shine as they hold mine, and I’m the luckiest man alive.

Charlie’s place is on the Upper West Side, which isn’t too far from my apartment. Fred stops at the entrance, and I step out, reaching for Liv’s hand to help her out of the car.

Riding in the elevator to the penthouse, she threads our fingers, pulling me down for a kiss. “It was the cherry on top of your football career, and I’m so grateful I was there to see it.”

The doors open, and I’m about to sayshe’sthe cherry on top, when Liv drags me out of the elevator and skips across the small foyer to do a little rhythmictap-tap-tap-tapon the door.

“What’s that?” I chuckle as it opens.

Liv cups both hands over her mouth when I see twinkle-lights shining inside the dim apartment. My brow lowers, and I move closer, stepping just inside as all the lights blaze on, and loud voices yellSurprise!all at once.

My heart nearly jumps out of my mouth as my teammates gather around to slap my back, shake my arms, and pull me in for bro-hugs. Music cranks louder, and I see a banner hanging over the fireplace that readsCongratulations, Grizz!

Looking around, I see Charlie standing beside Maddy, whois openly crying. I let out a yell when Logan steps forward with Dylan.

“You didn’t think we’d let you retire without a party, did you?” He’s dressed in a suit, and my little sister is wearing a pretty, short cocktail dress.

“I’m so proud of you.” Dylan wraps her arms around my waist. “I’ve never seen anything like it—you scored the winning touchdown!”

“Then 59 cleaned my clock.”

“We’re not talking about that part.”

I laugh, hugging my little sister. Looking around the room, I spy Liv in the corner with her hands clasped in front of her nose. Her eyes shine, and I mouthI love you. She mouths it back, and I can’t believe they got me. I had no idea this was coming.

“That’s my big brother!” Hendrix steps out of the crowd, and my eyebrows shoot up.

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