Page 23 of Fumbling in the Dark

Janae. I’m. Sorry.

Looking closer, I realize that Kade, Shane and some other guy I don’t know are holding those signs. All three of them are still in their uniforms and at that moment, I realize why Sam put the number twenty-three on my cheek. What a sly friend I have. I take a deep breath at seeing him again. I’ve been even more miserable since I told him to leave me alone. Every day I hoped that he would text me but disappointment took over me every night when he didn’t. What did I expect, I told him to leave.

“Are you going to talk to him?” Sam asks me with a knowing smile.

I stand up from my seat. “Yeah. I’m going to talk with him.”

Making my way down the stadium stairs, I get to the field when the security guard looks over his shoulder at Shane who nods to let me on. I watch Shane drop the sign he is holding as I slowly walk over to where he’s standing. Dread wells up in my stomach the whole time I’m walking toward him, not knowingwhat to expect. Even though I missed him, I’m also still mad that he lied to me. It’s all so confusing.

He meets me halfway across the field, stopping right in front of me. I’m waiting for what he has to say, feeling everyone’s eyes on me. Shane grips my waist, pulling me into him as he rests his forehead on mine. I love it when he holds me like this.

“I want to keep this part private. Janae, I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you about being a football player. I’ve had people use me, especially girls, just for being a football player. And when you didn’t know who I was, I thought maybe this was my moment to get you to like me for me, and not my job. Seriously, Janae, I’m sorry,” he whispers.

I think about his words, and they melt my heart. The idea that someone would use him and not just love him forhimguts me. He’s perfect. Goofy. Loyal. Understanding. Gorgeous.

I understand where he’s coming from, leaving me to whisper back, “I forgive you, Shane. But please don’t lie to me again. I have issues with that.”

“Never again,” he vows.

Taking a step back, he gives me his signature devilish smile and I can feel my body start to tingle, and I know he’s about to do something else.

“Janae. I’ve been enamored by you since the moment you rushed into the bar for our blind date. Will you be my girlfriend and go on another second date?” he yells, loudly pulling everyone’s attention.

I let out a huge laugh as I bring my hands to my face. I don’t answer right away, trying to make him sweat a bit, but it backfires because the people around us start chanting, “Say Yes.”

Another laugh bursts from me and I don’t have words to speak. Smiling at the man of my dreams, I nod my head. The crowd erupts into cheers. Shane opens his arms, and I knowexactly what he wants. I run and jump into his arms, crashing my lips to his.

He pulls away briefly smiling. “Baby girl, we might’ve won the game, but this is the best prize.”

“Just take me home,” I say before kissing him once again as everyone around us fades away.

I could do this forever.

Epilogue

One year Later

“I’m so nervous,” she says as her leg shakes next to me.

Placing my hand on her leg to help calm her, I say, “Why are you so nervous? You’ve met my parents before.”

“Yes, but I’ve never been to your childhood home or met your brothers, and you said they didn’t like your last girlfriend,” she explains.

“That’s true. But it will be fine, my brothers will like you. The fact that you care is different,” I tell her as I pull into the driveway. “Welcome to the Mitchell Family Farm.” I give her a wink. “Come on, let’s go inside so you can meet everyone, then I’ll take you on our Valentine’s date.”

Opening the car doors, we both get out. As Janae comes around the front of the car, she says, “You’re not going to tell me where we are going?”

“Nope. It’s a surprise.”

“You know I don’t like surprises,” she groans.

“I do. So I’ll give you a hint…it’s one of my favorite places in town,” I tell her.

“That’s not fair. I’ve never been to Rose Valley,” she whines but intertwines her fingers in mine as we make our way to the front door.

I open it, not even knocking. My brother, Taylor, knocks and has done so since my dad and him got into it when he moved out, but not me. My brothers claim that it’s because I’m Dad’s favorite, but it doesn’t feel like that.

We step into the house and my mother comes around the corner right away, greeting us. “Shane. Janae. Welcome! Happy Valentine’s Day.”

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