Page 168 of Redemption
It’s suspicious—very suspicious.
The seconds tick down, and the final buzzer sounds.
We lost, but from the smiles on the boys’ faces, you wouldn’t think so.
Each player walks off the field with their head held high, slapping each other on the back good-naturedly.
We might have made it to the state championship, but this moment is what Hayes worked for all season.
My eyes scan the crowd, searching for him in the sea of players celebrating their season.
And when I find him, my heart flips in my chest.
“See, how can it be too cold for a milkshake when you two share looks that heat up the whole stadium?” Silas quips.
But I ignore him because Hayes is walking my way, and without dropping my gaze, he mouths, “I won.”
A grin splits his face as he weaves through the crowd. I follow the path out of the bleachers to the field, and we meet on the sideline, stopping inches apart.
I smile up at him and say, “Did you really win if you cheated?”
His answering grin is sneaky, telling me all I need to know.
“You can’t prove it.”
Reaching up, I flip his nose. “Fine, but only because I owe you one for breaking your nose that one time. So,” I pause, wrapping my hand around his neck, “what do you win?”
There’s mischief in his eyes when he says, “You, MJ. I win you. Marry me.”
Then he drops to one knee.
