Thisis what’s been missing in my life. This woman right here. And now that I have Gabriela, I’m not letting go.
73
GABBY
I smileagainst his mouth as he ends a kiss I’ll probably still be thinking about when I’m old and gray.
“Come on, baby.” Rider motions like he wants me to freaking scale the railing.
My eyes widen. I look around. Everyone else is headed onto the field to celebrate.
Bree motions to the field. “Girl, get your ass down there.”
My roommate waves me on in agreement.
I pull Sienna and Bree into a group hug. “Thank you. For everything.” I wouldn’t be here right now to celebrate this win with Rider if it weren’t for Sienna, and Bree has listened to me whine all week.
Sienna whispers, “Go get your guy before the succubus tries to ruin our moment.”
Miranda rushes up to our group and starts gushing over Rider. He motions for her to come closer since he’s hanging off the railing. When she leans down, he growls, “Stay away from Gabby. If you get anywhere near her again, I’m getting a restraining order. Is that clear?”
She pales and her eyelashes start fluttering. “But Rider, I thought maybe—”
“I mean it. Back the fuck off.”
Bree nudges her out of the way and mumbles something in her direction as Miranda edges away.
And then Rider reaches for me and gives me the sexiest grin. “I got you, Gabs. Trust me.”
Trust me.
I blow out a breath. Can I trust Rider?
As I look down into his gray eyes brimming with emotion, everything in my heart says I can.
I say a little prayer I don’t die as I swing one leg over, but he’s there to catch me before I break my face.
I’m just about to plant both feet on the ground when he swings me into his arms. I laugh as he kisses me and spins me around.
“Glad you could make it.”
To think I almost missed this game. Sienna was right. I never would’ve forgiven myself for not coming today. “I’m so proud of you! You did it.”
“Wedid it. You and me. Poppy and I never would’ve survived without you. Without you sending Adele the other day, I wouldn’t even be here today. I owe you so much, I don’t know where to begin.”
Those words hit me hard, and I give him a teary smile.
I would do all of those things again because I love you.I want to say it. I almost say it, but someone bumps me from behind, and I chicken out.
He rubs his nose against mine, not seeming to care that hundreds of fans are rushing the field around us, patting him on the back, vying for attention, but he only sees me. “We’re doing something to honor Coach since this is his last home game, but can you stick around so we can hang out after all this? So we can talk?”
I nod, hating that we didn’t clear the air sooner. I obviously need to get the whole story about what happened with his father on that phone call earlier this week, but based on how Rider’s looking at me, he’s just as excited to have me here as I am to see him.
Threading his fingers through mine, he tugs me along through the crowd until we reach a makeshift stage where the team is assembling. With a parting kiss, he trots up there. But when Ben sees me, he leaps off the stage and heads my way.
I’m speechless when he swoops me around in a hug.
After he sets me down, I place my palm on his damp forehead. “You okay? Did you get concussed?”
