Page 108 of The Obvious Check
I can hear Dash’s grumble from here as he glares at my right wing. “Not funny,” he says sternly.
“It’s a little funny,” Henry mutters, only to get an elbow from Brooks to shut the hell up.
I bark out a laugh. Wow, I must be in a great mood because even the mention of my sister and best friend isn’t pissing me off. I guess because it doesn’t matter to me anymore. I’ve got Savannah now. She let me claim her in front of everyone, and I’m still trying to process how good that makes me feel.
Savannah Bright has such a nice ring to it.
I grin to myself, shaking my head as I pull away from the rest of the guys so I can get showered and see my girl. By the time I’m out, the celebrations have calmed, meaning I can quickly get my clothes on and slip out before anyone else tries to pull me away.
The second I spot her, I break into a jog. Savannah’s standing with my sister on the far side of the concrete hallway, shifting nervously from foot to foot. Her hands fidget with the hem of her jersey, tugging it just enough to keep that ring hidden from view.
The moment I’m close enough, I reach for her hand, gently untangling it from the edge of her jersey before lacing our fingers together. The feel of that band against my skin sparks something deep and primal. She’s mine now, and the whole world knows it.
“Hey,” she says as I kiss her forehead. “You played great out there.”
“Yeah, well, it was all for you, Sav.” I squeeze her hand, and she smiles.
Madison interrupts the moment by cooing. “You two,” she says, looking between us, “are just too stinking cute.”
I roll my eyes at my sister’s antics, but when I look at her and realize her eyes are glistening with tears, I pull her in for a hug, giving her a kiss on the forehead too.
“Thanks, sis.”
“No, no. Thank you, bro.”
“What for?”
“For giving me the sister I always wanted.” She giggles and I immediately turn my attention to Savannah, wanting to gauge her reaction. I know my sister can be a little much at times, but Savannah doesn’t seem bothered by it at all.
“So when’s the wedding?” Madison asks lightly. “Do Mom and Dad know?”
“We haven’t set a date yet,” I say. “I think we’d want Savannah’s sister, Adley, there before we set any concrete dates.”
I feel Savannah stiffen slightly, and then it hits me. I’ve been planning all of this in my head without talking to her about it.
“What do you think?” I ask, turning my attention to her.
She’s not frozen in awkwardness like I expect. Instead, her eyes are glassy and she’s smiling at me with reverence.
“I think that’s one of the nicest ideas you’ve ever had.”
Thank fuck.
She’s on the same page. Every time I think I’ve messed up and revealed too much, I’m wrong. I can see it. I can see that we might have a real shot at something if it all keeps going like this.
Dash walks out with his trusty foam roller tucked under his arm, and I tip my chin in greeting. With him here, he can keep an eye on Mads and I can take my girl home.
I squeeze Savannah’s hand.
“Come on, Sav. We need to give Stanley some company.”
When Stanley and I get back from his walk, he strolls into the living room, hops up onto the couch, and immediately makes himself comfortable.
“You staying there tonight?” I ask him and he barks in response. He’s been spending more nights out here, and as much as I love him, I’m thankful he’s giving Savannah and me a little privacy. “Good night, Stan.”
I slip into the bedroom and Savannah’s still in the bathroom, so I strip down to my boxers and sit on the edge of the bed.
The door creaks open a moment later.
