Page 74 of Nash

“It's true, though,” I say. “We actually have a team now that made it to the Cup. We can do it again.”

“I can taste it,” he says, his blue eyes turning a molten shade as he looks at me. “Just like I'm going to taste you in a minute.”

My heart does that flippy thing it does whenever he talks like that, and I shift off the couch, standing up to look down at him. “Only if I can record it first,” I tease.

His lips part, and his eyes fill with nothing but mischief. “Oh, you’re going to pay for that,” he says.

“Show me what you got, Stokehill,” I say playfully.

He leaps off the couch, and I squeal, running the opposite direction.

It’s only a matter of seconds before he catches me, my spine pressed tight against his chest.

“Got you,” he says. “Any last words before I drive you so wild you can’t speak?”

I spin in his embrace, smiling up at him. “I love you.”

He grins, bending down to kiss me. “I love you more,” he says.

I shake my head. “Does everything always have to be an argument with you?” I tease.

He hauls me up into his arms, carrying me to his bedroom. “Only because you make it so much fun.”

“So this is what our forever looks like?” I ask, my heart stretching wider than I think my chest can handle.

“Yep, think you can handle it?” he asks.

I reach up to kiss him. “Absolutely.”

EPILOGUE

PAXTON

I'm just aboutto settle in for the night when my phone buzzes in my pocket.

I shift on the couch, groaning at the idea of Nash, Lawson, or Baylor trying to convince me to come out tonight. They’ve all already tried. Twice.

Not only am I exhausted, I'm just so damn tired of running into Monroe and Liam everywhere we go.

As long as she's happy, it's fine.

I just don't have to subject myself to the torture of it.

I pull out my phone, my heart stuttering in my chest as I see Monroe’s name and picture pop up.

I hesitate, wondering if my friends have roped her into asking me to come out too.

Normally I’d never hesitate to answer her call, but things have been different lately. Strained.

I'd like to blame it on the fact that I simply don't like Liam because he's a douchebag who has somehow convinced her he's a nice guy, but it's more than that.

It's always been more than that.

I swipe to answer the call, knowing damn well I’ll never ignore her.

“Hello?” I answer, clearing my throat of any strain that might be present.

Loud music blares in the background, and I press my phone harder to my ear like it’ll help me hear better.

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