Fortune presses a kiss on the side of my forehead, subtly bringing me back to our own little bubble. We haven’t broken the news of our relationship to the public yet, so I don’t know how much longer this little bubble of ours will last. Until then, I’m soaking up every moment that’s just ours while I can.
My insecurities about the impact my reputation will have once the news breaks in the press were put to ease after talking with HR. The woman Fortune and I had a call with gave me some tips on ways I can help prepare while assuring me they’d be taking measures of their own as well. She was also quick to remind me I’ve handled far worse obstacles over the last six years. A few measly jabs about my love life from sleazy reporters won’t be a cakewalk, but I feel confident in my ability to twist the story in my favor.
It helps that I have Jamison—the sports reporter I tipped off about Vince—in my corner. The article he published skyrocketed his career, so it feels safe to say that he owes me a favor. One I’ll be sure to have a final say in before it’s hot off the press.
“So, Lea… I was thinking…” Mae pipes up from the opposite end of the table, and everyone turns their attention to her.
“That can’t be good,” October adds under his breath.
Tight-lipped smiles erupt around the table. Well, on everyone except for Mae. She’s sporting anot this againscowl, but her resolve breaks when October places an arm over her shoulders and presses a kiss to the side of her forehead. Mae grumbles something to herself, but I’m too far away to make out what she’s saying.
“Back to what I was saying,” she says after a beat. “I was wondering if you’d be interested in moving into the house next door to mine once Rita finally kicks the bucket?”
“Finally?” Fortune’s chin jerks back. “Are we waiting for her to pass or something?”
“She’s eighty-seven. It’s inevitable,” Mae and Scarlett say in unison; their cadence is so similar it almost feels like they’ve rehearsed the line a hundred times, but knowing them, they probably haven’t.
Fortune’s brows scrunch together, but he nods like he understands what they’re saying. I sink my teeth into my bottom lip to hold back a laugh. He still has a lot to learn, but at least he’s a good sport, so I know he’ll be up for the challenge.
“I was thinking the other day about how I don’t really want to sell the house after she’s gone. And then got to thinking about how it might be fun if me, you, and Scarlett were all neighbors.”
“That means the three of us could carpool to work together.” October leans back in his chair, bouncing his eyes between Fortune and Abel. He is bobbing his head up and down with a shit-eating grin, pulling out his cheeks.
“No,” the two of them both respond at the same time.
“The only downside is it’ll be a lot harder to play off an excuse for being late to Friday night dinner. Doubt there will be much traffic in the fifty yards between our houses,” Scarlett adds.
Everyone around the table bursts into a fit of laughter. With their heads thrown back and hands over their hearts as they all try to catch their breath. It’s my favorite thing watching the six of us enjoy each other’s company. And when Fortune pulls me into him again with a content smile, I’m reminded that the best part of it all is having him by my side.
Sometimes, I wish the timeline of our relationship would've worked out differently so we wouldn’t have missed out on the possibility of having three more years together as a couple. But moments like this, when my heart feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest, I’m reminded that everything worked out between us exactly the way it was supposed to.
EPILOGUE
Lea
“Special day for two of my favorite guys. How does it feel?” I say with a smile as I hand a cup full of steaming coffee over to my dad and take a seat at the table.
He and Rowan, our almost five-year-old, have been doing a puzzle together all morning. Seeing my dad hangout with Row right now is the most relaxed I’ve seen him all week. He’s been walking around the training facility with his shoulders tense and bunched to his ears since last Sunday’s game.
We all knew the weight of today would be heavy, but he seems to be taking it the hardest. Decades of his life, his livelihood, all ending tonight. The days of being on the field for games are being traded for seats in the stands and cozy afternoons on the couch with the occasional scream at the screen when someone makes a stupid play.
God, it’s bittersweet. I’ve been fighting off the tears welling in my eyes for the past few hours, wiping them away when Dad and Row aren’t paying attention.
“What about me?” Rowan pipes up from the ladder-back chair next to me. “I’m one of your favorite guys too. Right, Mommy?”
“It’s a special day for you too, big man.” I ruffle the rust-colored hair he didn’t bother to run a brush through with a teary-eyed smile. He got his hair color from me, but he’s got the same piercing green eyes as his father. He’s the perfect combination of the two of us. I couldn’t have done a better job if I tried. “Your dad and Grandpa Sterling are both retiring today. It’s the last time you’ll ever see them on the field. It might be the last time you’re ever on the field.”
“Hush before you have me cryin’ in my coffee,” Dad scolds.
“Not true,” Rowan shoots back with a sharp scowl. Well, as much of a scowl as a five-year-old can have. It’s more cute than frightful, that’s for sure. “I’m going to play football just like my dad.” He sits up straighter in his chair, puffing out his chest. I can’t help the grin pulling at my cheeks.
I catch my dad beaming from across the kitchen table before he tries to smother it with a long swig of coffee.
We all agreed that we’d never force our son to play if he didn’t want to—we won’t let history repeat itself. But this is the first time Rowan has ever shown any interest in playing ball, which might be why my dad and I have grins so big they’re spreading to our ears. It’s no surprise he wants to be just like his dad, though. The two are joined at the hip. Built-in best friends, if you will. And it’s arguably the cutest damn thing I’ve ever seen in my life.
My heart swells in my chest just thinking about the two of them together. About how they’ll get to spend more time together now the Fortune is retiring.
“Speaking of your dad, why don’t you let your mom go see if he’s awake yet? Give us some time to finish our puzzle before we get the day started. How’s that sound?”
