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I eye her. “Tattoos are permanent, Rory. You need to decide if you want your own or if you want to match.”

She takes a deep breath. “Then I guess I’m open to whatever. I’m not opposed to a coordinating tattoo with you. We’d just need to make sure my dad never sees them together.”

“I think we can manage that.”

“What do you think we should get?”

“I’ve got an idea. I can tell you, or I can leave that as a surprise for you.”

She looks at me with wide eyes. “You’re not going to have someone tattoo your name on me, are you?”

I laugh heartily. “No, I’m not. I have a better idea, and it’s something I know you’ll love.”

Rory smiles at me softly, a look of pure affection. “I trust you then. We’ll sneak off and do it when I come down.”

“That sounds perfect.”

“Have I told you how amazing you are?”

“You have,” I reply. “But feel free to stroke my ego.”

Rory throws her head back and laughs. “Is it normal to miss you so much after a week?”

“Yes. It’s normal to miss someone you care about.”

“That makes sense because I care about you a lot. More than anyone else.”

And I love you.

I have to pause for a moment as I process what I just thought.

I’ve never said that to a woman before that wasn’t family.

But those words filtered through my head without any hesitation.

And just like that, reality comes crashing down.

Holyshit.

I’m in love with Rory.

Those feelings I get around her? The desire to hold her close, to spend all of my time with her, to wake up with her in my arms?

That’slove.

I thought I’d be afraid when the realization hit me, but all I feel right now is contentment.

I’m in love with her, and I’m going to love her until my dying days.

I’m in love with Rory Fisher, and nothing in my life has ever felt so perfect.

forty-one

Rory

Storms over the mid-Atlanticmean our flight to Florida is turbulent, but we thankfully arrive without any dramatics.

Harlow, Ella, and I check into our rooms at a hotel nearby where the players and staff are staying. We all booked separate rooms forveryobvious reasons.

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