“Smartass.”
“Takes one to know one.”
We smile at each other. “Congrats, brother. Proud of you.”
When Sienna pops up next to me, he lifts her in a hug too.
She cackles. “You’re sweaty.”
“You smell amazing,” is his response.
My eyes widen.What is going on?Because I’m pretty sure she’s dating some other guy on the team.
When Ben returns to the stage, I tug her hand. “You and my brother got a thing going on I don’t know about?”
She blushes but shakes her head no. “I would never break girl code like that.”
I have so many questions, but the presentation is starting, and I have to bite my tongue.
Bree joins us, and we watch Coach Sullivan get choked up when the players present him with a huge, engraved crystal plaque. After he says a few words that have everyone wiping their eyes, he calls over Rider. “Time to give away the game-time ball! This here is what it looks like to have the heart of a champion.”
He hands Rider the mic, and the crowd freaks out. He describes how Sully helped him become the quarterback he is today. He thanks his other coaches and the O-line before he makes eye contact with me as he holds up his football. “I’d like to dedicate this to my daughter and my gorgeous girlfriend Gabby. I love you, sweetheart. Thanks for having my back. I promise I’ll always have yours.”
Oh, my God.
My friends shriek in excitement as tears well in my eyes, and I shout the words back to him. “I love you too, Rider!”
The wait to see him after the press conference and post-game hoopla feels like it lasts forever, but when he finally walks toward me in his suit, I leap into his arms.
And I promise myself I’m never letting go.
74
GABBY
We drive in silence,my hand cradled in his as he maneuvers through town. The sun is setting, sending long shadows across the manicured lawns. After not seeing him all week, my body is buzzing with excitement to be near him again. Adele is babysitting Poppy until tomorrow morning, and we have all evening to talk through everything.
When we pull up to his empty driveway, I frown. “Where is everyone?” We were practically the last people to leave the stadium.
He lifts my hand to his mouth where he presses a kiss. “Out.”
“I figured your house would be bursting with people by now.”
“Not tonight.” He smiles at the confusion on my face. “I’m over parties. Kinda have my hands full with a kid, school, football, and a girlfriend.”
My insides feel like a whole field of butterflies have taken flight. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing him call me that.
After exiting the car, he comes around to open my door. He closes my jacket and kisses my forehead before he tucks my arm into his and leads me through his house. We come out in the backyard, where my mouth drops open. I’ve only been out here once, and while it has some nice amenities with a pool, hot tub, and bar, I wouldn’t describe it as romantic.
But it’s definitely romantic now.
“Hold on a sec.” He dips behind the bar, flips a few switches, and the firepit lights just as soft music croons from speakers somewhere. Even though it’s December and it was cold all afternoon, it’s not so bad now, but this is Texas, so this kind of crazy weather is to be expected. “The guys cleaned the hot tub for us, so if we wanna take a dip, it’s all set.”
“This is beautiful.” White twinkle lights zigzag from one end of the deck to the other. By the jacuzzi, all kinds of desserts and champagne are laid out. From behind the bar, he pulls out a box and opens it to show me a steaming mushroom, black olive, and pepperoni pizza. My favorite. “Did you do all of this?”
“Had a little help. Bree and Tank did the decorations. Olly had friends set up the food after the game so it would be hot.” A bashful smile crosses his lips. “Ben got you the tickets, and Sienna… well, she might’ve yanked some spark plugs outta your car.”
A laugh bursts out of me. “You’re kidding.”
