Page 63 of Say Something
Since arriving at the park, Danny had been approached by at least half a dozen high schoolers—a combination of his players and students. They were only a month into the school year, but his students already appeared to be enamored by him, maybe that had something to do with his position as coach of the very popular football team. Or maybe it because Danny was just that amazing to be around.
This particular student, who was probably one of his players judging by his bulk, was the first to directly ask Danny who I was. I was curious to see how he’d introduce me to one of his kids.
“This is the love of my life.” Danny said it so matter-of-factly, my heart skipped a beat. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, as though he knew I needed the extra support to keep from swooning. “Jessica Price. She’s the new attorney in town.” He looked at me, nothing but love in his eyes and I fell harder for him, if that was even possible.
“Jessie, this is Devin,” he said to me. Then to Devin, he said, “When those contracts start rolling in, this is who you’ll need to call. My girl is the best lawyer around.”
I rolled my eyes and patted his firm belly. He was my biggest supporter. He’d used that same line with two other kids tonight.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Devin,” I said to the boy, putting out my hand to shake.
“Devin’s our QB,” Danny told me. “He’ll be at the game Friday night.”
Apparently, I was going to the game Friday night. We hadn’t talked about it, but were officially a couple now, so I supposed it went without saying that I would be there to support him and his team at the games. I didn’t mind. It would be like old times...me cheering for him on the sidelines. Cheering for Oak River.
We really had come full circle, hadn’t we?
“The pleasure’s all mine,” Devin said with a wink. He took my extended hand and kissed it. The little flirt!
“All right, Casanova,” Danny joked. “Get off my girl.”
“Can’t help it. She’s hot, Coach.”
Danny winked at me. “I know. Get back to your friends, Dev. I’ll see you Monday.”
“Later, Coach T. See ya, Miss Price.”
“He’s a character,” I said, wrapping my arm around Danny’s as we continued walking into the park. We had been stopped so many times, we weren’t going to end up with a very good spot to watch the movie. I wouldn’t have traded it for anything, though. Being there with Danny? It was priceless.
“Yeah, he’s a good kid.” Danny moved the tote bag carrying our food and blanket higher on his shoulder.
“What’s it like?” He looked at me, raising an eyebrow. “Living your dream?” I specified.
His grin was lopsided, like the boy I’d fallen in love with years ago. “I’m not living it yet,” he replied simply.
“What else could you possibly need?” I wondered.
He stopped at a space large enough for us to spread out a blanket and still have some distance from other movie goers. Setting the tote bag down, he faced me and took my hands in his.
“Well, for starters, I’m going to need you to marry me again.”
My eyes widened as my jaw dropped. He wasn’t...he couldn’t be…
“And if I thought you were ready for that, I’d ask you. Relax, I’m not proposing tonight.” He laughed, shaking his head.
He was smiling and his whiskey eyes were light, full of fun and mischief, so I knew he wasn’t hurt that I went frigid on him when he mentioned the M word.
But...would Danny proposing be such a bad idea?
He was always it for me. When I’d agreed to re-date him, I knew this was it. I knew there was no turning back. And the ultimate end point in any relationship was marriage, wasn’t it? Or at least forever? I was committed to forever with him. Did I want to marry Danny again? Without a doubt.
I wanted to marry him.
I wanted us to live together again.
I never wanted to go to sleep without his eyes being the last things I saw before I closed my own.
I wanted everything to be the way it was before it all went wrong. Things had changed, yes. We weren’t the exact same people we were, but we were never better than when we were together. I wanted that feeling back. That love and comfort…the familiarity. I wanted that again.
