Page 214 of Between the Blue

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Not after her. Not after all we went through.

But she proved to me I could. That I even deserve it.

And happiness comes easy now.

As natural to me as breathing.

I release a shot. And I already know it’s a goal before the lamp lights. Before I see the flash of red to my side. Her jumping out of her seat to cheer me on.

I’ll never get tired of that sight.

She’s waiting for me when I walk out of the arena. Smile on her face. Camera hanging from her neck.

Old habits die hard, I guess.

“Bon match!” she calls to me.

She’s learning. We both are.

I like growing with her. I wanna do it forever.

I lean down. Kiss her.

“Merci ma cerise.”

I wrap my arm around her, and we walk back to our little apartment.

Through the streets of Paris.

Past the COBO office.

It’s nighttime, but I don’t mind.

The sun’s always with me now.

I close the door behind us when we get home. When I turn back around, she’s there. She gets up on her tiptoes. Wraps her arms around me. Kisses me like she means it.

I know she does.

And because our apartment is the size of a shoebox, it takes two steps for me to push her onto our bed.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

She lays back. Smiles up at me.

I crawl on top of her. Kiss her neck.

“Hey, Ben?”

“Hey, Cherry.”

I pull back. Look at her.

“What are we now? If we’re not between the blue?”

“Hmm,” I hum. Smirk a little. “Well, technically, we’d have to be in the attacking zone.”

Her lips lift at the corner, and her cheeks flush a little. “I’m not sure I like the sound of that.”

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