Page 183 of Loving the Legend
We go toe to toe until we’re tied at game point. If we make a three-pointer, we win. Sid’s team only needs two points to win. Unfortunately for us, Sid’s team has possession. Kaleb passes the ball to Sid, whom I move in to defend.
Sid leans forward, dribbling the ball between his feet. “Think you can hold me?”
“Think you can get in my head, dickhead?”
“Such a filthy mouth.” He raises his hand to cross the ball between his legs, except I intercept and smack it away.
We both dive for it. I pin him down and crawl up his back to take possession. I immediately wing it to Ussef, who posts a layup, moving us one point away from a win.
“You move like a turtle,” I taunt as he tries to buck me off him.
I signal Idris and Malik to double-team Sid, but he’s too quick. As soon as he takes possession, he cuts through them with a spin, crossover, dribble combo, then leaps into the air and slams the ball down with a one-handed dunk, winning the game.
He roars as Nicholas chest bumps him, and Kaleb smacks his butt.
“Fu-uck!” I groan, palming my temple.
Kaleb laughs. “You, like, really, really hate when your fiancé beats you.”
Something in my chest leaps at the word fiancé, and I break out in a wide grin.
“Congrats or whatever,” I say to the winners.
Sid chuckles. “So salty.” He pulls my back against his chest and then kisses my sweaty neck.
I angle my head up to give him a congratulatory kiss.
We wrap our arms around each other as we walk back to the pool area with the gang.
A couple hours later, everyone clears out, leaving only family, all of whom are spending the weekend with us.
Sid and I spent the last two hours making individual rounds with our guests. He and Kaleb faced off in a water balloon fight, and Sid teamed up with Kaleb’s middle child, Benji, against Kaleb and his eldest son, Theo. Sid protected Benji from a barrage of balloon fire, then picked him up and used their combined arm strength to launch a counterattack. Benji’s sweetgiggles mixed with Sid’s boisterous and animated voice made my heart ache. I look forward to the day we’re parents.
“Master Blaster” by Stevie Wonder comes on. Lily loves this song.
“May I have this dance?” I ask her, extending a hand.
“You sure you can keep up?” she teases, taking my hand and following me to our makeshift dance floor.
She sways her hips while clapping her hands together above her head. I match her pace, swaying side to side with a two-step.
Kieran joins us, spinning and throwing his hands in the air. Unlike me, he was born to dance.
Sid turns the music up and cheers us on, standing to the side while downing a glass of water. Ishan joins our makeshift dance floor, taking Kieran’s hand and spinning him around. Tommy, Malcolm, and Adam watch fondly from where they’re seated at the spades table. As expected, Lily and Malcolm won every round.
Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” comes on next.
Malcolm approaches Lily for a dance.
Sid’s chest hits my back.
I turn and wrap my arms around his neck. He holds my waist as we sway. I tilt my chin up for what becomes a spine-tingling kiss.
“Wow,” I whisper when we come up for air. The string lights and candles from the picnic tables cast a golden glow over his face.
“Wow yourself,” he says, smiling.
“Today was perfect. I think it was the happiest day of my life.”
