Page 70 of Replay
“I’m proud of you. I love you so much,” I tell him, my hand cupping his cheek.
Hawke watches me, and there's almost a dangerous edge to the way he’s staring. Around us, everyone is gathering to give him a hug, praise, and congratulate him. Instead of responding, his hands find my hips and Hawke lowers himself to the ground, kneeling on one knee.
“Hawke.” My voice comes out shaky, and he smirks.
The room quiets. All eyes are on us. There's excited, nervous whispering, and the rest of the draft can be heard on the TV in the background. None of it matters though except the man in front of me.
“You owe me for one more bet, sugar,” he tells me, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a black, satin box. “EmmarysLawson, I loved you before I knew what the word meant. You’ve been my motivation to be a better man. My reason for working hard, especially to get back to you. You’re my home, Em, and no matter what our future brings us, I know I can’t do any of it without you. I love you. I have and I always will love you. Will you marry me, Emma?”
He flicks the lid open, and even without seeing the ring, I know I’ll say yes. Hawke knows exactly what I need, the words to reassure me, and he shows me how much he loves me every day. He takes the gorgeous, three-carat, solitaire diamond on a gold band and slides it over his name on my finger.
I smile with tears in my eyes. He watches me, intense, hungry, and with love. I breathe in, smiling and say, “Yes.”
epilogue ii
Emma, Two years after the draft…
“I can’t believe you made me wait for this moment for two years, sugar,” Hawke drawls, pulling my body into his for our first dance as husband and wife. Made him wait, my ass. I roll my eyes.
“We both know you didn’t wait for more than twenty-four hours, Sheppard,” I scoff at him and he twirls me around before bringing me back in, his arm secure around my back.
“Wasn’t talking about marrying you. I meant the dress, the party, and getting to dance with you like this,” he replies, while keeping a smile on his lips the entire time.
“It was part of the bet,” I remind him, flashing him a cheeky grin because he lost that one. “You got Vegas only two weeks after you proposed instead of the next day and I got the time to plan and prepare for the wedding I always wanted.”
I think Hawke thought I would fight him more on sweeping me away to Vegas to get married, but I wanted to make it as official as him. I was ready, and with our lives about to become chaotic, we knew this was one thing that meant the most to us.I also knew that our families and friends would be sad if they missed it and would want to celebrate, so I took the time to plan a wedding. It was perfect having something for just us and something for everyone else later on.
It was difficult keeping the secret from Riley and Sam, but in the last year we’ve been busy between hockey and preparing for graduation that it made it easy. I liked having a secret, something sacred between just me and my husband. I also didn’t want anyone worrying more for me with Hawke living in a different state.
Once Hawke left for Tennessee, I lasted a few weeks before breaking down to go see him first. I was crying by the time I arrived at his doorstep, and he took one look at me and swore we’d never just wing it again. Turns out we both were having a hard time with the adjustment.
After that, things between us became a pattern. He knew exactly when he could travel to see me and when he couldn’t I went to him. Despite his new career and schedule, Hawke still remembered my hockey games and when I had a big test or project due. He continued to make sure I had meals, my shakes, and for every game, a candy bouquet. I never felt like I came second to football, and if anything, I worked harder to show Hawke he had my support as well. On the weekends I was with him, I made bulk frozen meals for him. We made plans for our home once I moved in, and Hawke factored in an office space for me once I started working on my passion project. I watched game tapes with him and adjusted to his new life by meeting his teammates and coaches. Many of them had already heard of me due to his social media, and it made it easier to be accepted. Anytime Hawke took me out to dinner, or if we just took a stroll in the neighboring parks, we were often photographed or asked about our relationship. As time went by, I no longer cared aboutwhat anyone outside of our friends and family said about us. I lived in the moment with the man I loved.
“How about one more bet, then,” he murmurs next to my ear, for only me to hear. My lips tilt up in a smile.
“What's the bet, QB?” I lean in and kiss under his jaw. He groans and his hold on me tightens.
“I bet that I can get you upstairs in the suite in under ten minutes, naked, wearing only my ring and those strappy heels you have on, and wet for me.”
My core clenches and heat spreads through my body. Pulling back, our eyes meet. “If I win?”
“I’ll change our honeymoon destination from the Hawiian islands to Disney World, a place you’ve always wanted to go to,” he answers, and I raise my brow at him. These are some high stakes.
“And if you win?” I ask, curiosity lacing my words, as I watch my husband closely.
Hawke leans down and presses his lips to mine. His hand on my back flexes, like he’s trying to pull me as close as he possibly can. “We’re getting rid of your birth control implant after tonight and you’re going to let me put my baby inside you.”
My body shudders in his grasp, shivers race over my skin and heat spreads low in my belly, my core clenching with need. “I’ll take that bet, Mr. Sheppard.”
He places a kiss on my forehead as the song comes to an end. “You better start saying goodbye to everyone now. The clock is running, Mrs. Sheppard.”
Epilogue III
Hawke, 5 years after the draft…
The stadium pulses with energy, the lights shine bright over the field, and the roar of the crowd is deafening. My eyes eat up half the stadium dressed in our team colors of red and light blue and the opponents’ colors of white and green. Tonight isn’t just an ordinary game, though, on our home field. It is Super Bowl LXV, my first since being drafted to Tennessee. It is finally our year after being so close last year and losing in our conference championship game. I was ready to lay everything on the line tonight. I wanted nothing more than to bring that trophy back to our hometown. Currently, we’re tied 21-21 in the fourth quarter.
My hands flex, the tattoos on them rippling with every movement. My heart is full and adrenaline is coursing through my veins. My eyes flick up to one of the private boxes that I reserved for my family. Momma is chatting with some of our friends who stopped by, most of them famous athletes in their own right. Our box is gaining the most attention tonight by the cameraman, and they’re often on the jumbotron. Riggs is among them, here to cheer me on even while being bummed his team also lost this year in the playoffs. I’m hoping that after this year, we’ll be able to make a trade to pick him up. If I get my way, it will happen. Falcon looks the most ridiculous dressed in my team’s colors and holding one of his nieces on his shoulders while she pulls his hair.
