Page 44 of Fumbled Into Love

Flinging my hands over my face, I conceal the bright red blush marking my skin. Maren swings around, pointing to the name on her back.

Thankfully, the game begins again, and the camera focuses back on the players. The final seconds of the fourth quarter tick away, and the crowd begins to disperse. Once the stadium clears and Maren gets a text from Jack, we head down to the family area so Sawyer and Maren can meet their husbands.

And I guess so I can meet myfakeboyfriend and rip him a new one for not warning me about his public stunt to prove to everyone we’re dating.

Sawyer bounces around the family room, waiting for Henry to appear so she can fling herself at him, as she does at every home game we attend. Maren speaks with the staff, showing off her Instagram page dedicated to Jack and forcing them all to follow her.

Players file out of the locker room, greeting their families. Children squeal, and laughter fills the space. Henry and Jack appear, and their wives launch themselves into gripping hugs, but I linger in the back of the crowded room, alone.

I’m happy for them and what they found. Sawyer and Maren are both deserving of the beautiful love stories they built, but I see what they have and wonder if, someday, a love like theirs could bemine. Watching them feels like spotting a party from the window outside. You can see the joy, but you can’t experience it for yourself.

There is so much I can offer, I know it. I have love to give. I want to give it to someone, but so far, I’ve had no one to share it with. My cup is overflowing, and I’m slowly drowning in the excess.

I have familial love; a wonderful family whom I cherish. I love my friends, and I’m grateful for my relationship with Maren and Sawyer, but there’s a piece missing.

Romantic love.

I crave it deeply, and I try to stay optimistic, but there are times when I question if I’ll ever find a partner.

I lean against the wall, an unwelcome stranger in the space.

“Nathalie!” Declan’s voice booms as he saunters toward me. His cocky smile is in full force, and the sight of it melts away the bitter chill in my chest.

“Declan!” I yell in response, a grin blooming on my face. He wraps me into a gripping hug, and I sink into it, savoring the physical connection.

As I pull away, a deep voice cuts through the room.

“There’s my girl.”

My breath hitches as Deon saunters across the room with a dazzling smile. Both dimplespop,and my knees wobble. There is no doubt about it: Deon is wildly attractive. A fact made harder to compartmentalize the longer I cohabitate with the man.

Deon shoves Declan to the side before he lifts me off the ground. My legs instinctively wrap around his torso as my arms link behind his neck.

“Are you on drugs?” I whisper in his ear as I ignore the way our bodies fit perfectly together. I also ignore the way his hands slide up my thighs, grazing the lower part of my ass.

He pulls back, a pinched look on his face. “Too much?”

“Way too much.” I slide down his torso, his corded muscles pressed against my stomach. My skin pebbles beneath his touch.

“Declan told me to do it,” he admits, rubbing the back of his neck. “I thought it sounded stupid, but Jack and Henry agreed. Declan said he read it in a romance novel.”

I rub my temples.

“I love Declan, but do not let him give you love advice.”

“Hey!” Declan yells, “I give great love advice,” he scoffs. “And my idea was genius. The people love a public display of affection.”

Deon’s eyes widen before he slings his bag over one shoulder.

“Ready to go?”

I nod, waving goodbye to Maren and Sawyer. We’ll see them on Saturday for the Halloween party. I picked up our costumes yesterday and can’t wait to show him.

As we leave, an idea pops into my head. “Victory ice cream!”

“Victory, what?”

Deon chuckles as I bolt to the car. “To the store!”

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