“I love when you go all lawyer mode,” Asher says into my ear. “It’s so damn hot, Juliette. Makes me want to go sneak into the locker room for a quickie.”
“Keep it in your pants, Hot Shot.”
“I just can’t do that. You know what being around you does to me.” I do know, and I hope it will never change. But before I have a chance to respond, the press room doors open, and we’re ushered inside. There are seats right in front for Asher’s parents and sisters, and the rest of us gather along the wall at the side of the room. When Asher’s coach walks up to the podium at the front of the room, I hear Asher’s breath hitch a little, and I take his hand in both of mine. Leaning into him, I speak into his ear.
“It’s going to be okay. Just take some deep breaths, and if you need a break, look at me while you’re talking. I’ll be right here, and as soon as you’re finished, we’ll go home, okay?”
His body relaxes at the wordhomelike I knew it would. For a man who loves people as much as he does, he also loves being at home and is fiercely protective of the time we spend together. He takes a couple of deep breaths and squares his shoulders.
“Okay. I’m ready.”
It’s just in time because his coach finishes up and calls Asher to the podium. He takes my face in his hands, kissing me and whispering “I love you,” against my lips before heading up to take the microphone. He pauses for a minute before startingto speak, glancing around the room, eyes lingering on me and our friends and then his family in the front row. All the familiar faces seem to steel him for what he is about to do because when he starts to speak, his voice is strong.
“Thank you to everyone for being here today. As you all know, I am here today to announce my retirement from professional football. An MRI of my shoulder about a month ago showed substantial damage, leading to a diagnosis of severe arthritis, making it impossible for me to continue playing.”
He pauses, taking another deep breath to steady himself before continuing. “Playing for the Renegades for the past eight seasons has been a dream come true and the joy of my life. I loved every second I spent in this stadium, with this team. But it’s time for new dreams now, and I’m looking forward to what comes next.”
He glances over at me, and I keep my eyes steady on his, sending him whatever strength he needs to get through the rest of his statement.
“I want to thank the team and the entire Renegades organization for the opportunity to spend my career here, and my teammates for being the best group of guys I could have ever hoped to play with. And to the city of Pittsburgh, you didn’t know anything about me when I got the starting job, but you rallied around me, a kid from Boulder who dreamed of playing in the NFL, and your support has been everything to me over the years. I’m a Colorado boy, but I love the city of Pittsburgh with my whole heart and will be making it my permanent home.
“I always thought I would go back to Colorado when I retired, to be with my family. But last year, I met a girl.”
Asher glances over at me and grins slyly, and I know two things immediately. He’s about to go off script, and whatever he’s going to say will be embarrassing.
“The first time we met she refused to give me her phone number, and it was six months before I saw her again and finally convinced her to give me a chance. It took a little luck and unwavering persistence, but I’ve got her now, and she is, without a doubt, the very best thing to ever happen to me.”
The look he gives me is full of so much love that it has tears filling my eyes and spilling down my cheeks. Hallie links her arm through mine on one side and Molly on the other, Emma putting her hand on my shoulder as Asher continues, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Juliette, I love you fiercely. Thank you for sticking with me through this past month, and helping me see all the goodness that is waiting for us on the other side. Thank you all.”
With that, he stands up, ignoring the reporters shouting questions at him, and walks straight to me, eyes laser focused on mine. He kisses me and pulls me into a hug. His body is shaking a little, and his heart is pounding with the adrenaline of making that speech, so I wrap my arms tightly around him, rubbing my hand up and down his back until he starts to calm.
“I’m so fucking glad that’s over,” he mutters.
“I love you,” I whisper in his ear so only he can hear. “I’m so proud of you, even though you did embarrass me in front of a room full of reporters.”
My words have the desired effect because he chuckles, his chest moving against mine. “I just wanted to love you out loud, Juliette.”
“Okay, but maybe love me just a little quieter next time.”
“No can do baby. This love is too big to contain.”
And how fucking lucky am I that it is. We pull apart, and I glance around the emptying press room, the reporters leaving to file their stories and our friends and family drifting out to the hall. I hold out a hand to him, and he takes it, winding our fingers together and pulling me closer to him,kissing my forehead and lingering there for a minute before leaning back and tucking my hair behind my ear with his free hand. I look at him and am happy to see that his eyes are clear and calm, happiness dancing in the blue.
“Ready for what comes next, Hot Shot?”
“Juliette, with you, I’m ready for anything.”
Epilogue
Asher
Five Months Later
“Do we really need that many cookies?”
I glance over at Julie as she pads barefoot into the kitchen and takes a seat at the kitchen island. She’s gorgeous, her hair loose, her face freshly washed, and with tiny sleep short clad legs that I’d like to wind around my waist right here in the kitchen.
