Page 145 of Only Between Us

“Seriously, Park?” Summer gives him a wide-eyed look of warning. “Are you really in a position to judge her fashion choices when you’ve got about six hundred Hawaiian shirts sitting in your closetback home? You might want to try turningtheminside out. Might help you look a little less ridiculous when you wear them.”

Parker staggers back, exaggerating as though she just punched him in the gut, but he’s clearly enjoying the teasing. “Take that back, Prescott. The Hawaiian shirts are great.”

“They’re pretty fucking bad, man,” I chime in, checking my phone again. Still nothing.

Summer gives Parker a triumphant smile before refocusing on me. “Look, Brooks. Siena loves you. Misses you more than anything. Enough to think about giving up something that’s been part of her life for years. I know you’re nervous but hang on to that.”

“Besides, she’s still got Pete,” Parker adds. “No way he’d let her forget about you. He’s even more infatuated with you than the kid you just handed your jersey to.”

“And then there’s this.” Summer plucks at the chain around my neck until Siena’s anchor pops free from inside my T-shirt. “She wasn’t wearing it yesterday. Had an inkling I might see it here.”

I finger the charm, the stones glinting under the glaring sunlight. Every swipe of my thumb over them steadies the jitters inside me. Because they’re right.

We’ve come a long way since I first knocked her over on the Huskies field. This woman, who hated me mere months ago, handed me this necklace—handed me herheart. This week apart has been nothing short of torture. But a few days is nothing to what I’d spend waiting for me and Siena to figure us out. That’s my true best friend, my love, my future wife. The second this event is over, I’m going to call her and make sure she knows it.

I focus on Remy the Rebel, the eye-patched mascot posing for pictures nearby, hoping to absorb some of his enthusiasm for this event. “How much longer do you think I have to stick around here without getting fined for leaving? I need to call her. Make sure she’s okay.”

Parker glances over my shoulder, suddenly wearing a look of deep satisfaction. “You know what? I’d say she’s just fine.”

“Didn’t youjustsay she wasn’t? Inside-out shirt, remember?”

Summer’s gaze meets mine after a quick look over my shoulder. She’s grinning wide. “Seems she’s remembered how to dress herself.”

“What the hell are you guys…”

And that’s when I hear the sound of a familiar, happy bark behind me.

Chapter51Brooks

I know it’s her even before I hear the smattering of bird whistles from the crowd. Before I’m shoved forward from the force of Peter launching himself at me from behind, then accosting me with a series of excited barks and nuzzles at my legs.

I know it’s Siena because my own heart left me to live with hers a long time ago, and I feel it there, humming. Like a homing beacon making its way back. She kept it strong and loved and healthy, and that’s how I know, regardless of what happened last night with her mom… we’re going to be fine.

“Petey-Pete!” I crouch to let our boy cover my T-shirt in dusty paw prints and my face in excited puppy kisses. His tail is going wild like a fur-covered chopper. Beyond him, Siena strides through the crowd of fans, laughing at us both. She’s as stunning as ever with free, wavy hair, sun-kissed skin, wearing a purple dress that flutters in the breeze. I don’t know if she’s here for good, or if I only have her here for the weekend, but this is good enough for now.

She’s here, she loves me, and is smiling at me, and I don’t care about the rest.

“I’m so happy you made it!” Summer intercepts Siena before shecan reach me, enveloping her in a one-armed hug, but it’s worth it just to see them together like they’ve been friends for years.

“This one’s been miserable all day.” Parker tips his head in my direction.

Siena catches my eye over my Summer’s shoulder. “Maybe keeping this a surprise wasn’t my brightest idea. I’ve been flying all morning.”

“It was a great idea,” I tell her.

“A heads-up might’ve been nice.” Parker dodges the elbow I try to dig into his side.

“Come on, Park. I hear TJ Hunt is single. Wingman me an introduction?” Summer links arms with a now-frowning Parker and drags him toward my teammate.

Finally—fuckingfinally—Siena closes the gap between us. She’s beaming, my personal ball of sunshine, brighter than anything above us as she winds her arms around me.

“I missed you so much,” I tell her.

“I love you so much.”

I’m aware that people are watching and snapping pictures, but I don’t have it in me to care. Let them get their fill. See this for the real love it is.

“You have no idea how…” I inhale the scent of her hair, attempting to drown in it. “You were right. The distance is brutal, and I think we need a new rule where you come to me every weekend.”

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