Chapter Thirty-One

“She’s gonna show,” Holt said, but Gavin continued pacing the cement floor of the locker room, unconvinced. He’d laid it all out there. Just sent that terrifying admission of how much he loved her without being able to see Julie’s reaction.

Now he better understood how hurt she must’ve been when he’d dismissed everything she’d told him she was feeling because he’d been a selfish coward instead of truly listening.

Currently, he’d give up whatever it took. But what did that matter if Julie wasn’t here and he had to go out on that field and play, his head and heart heavy with the knowledge that he and Jules might not be okay ever again?

Gavin glanced at Coach Bryant, and his gut sank as Coach shook his head, indicating he hadn’t heard from Charlotte yet. Gavin had asked enough times that he didn’t even have to mouth the words anymore.

Coach crossed the locker room and clapped him on the back. “Now I’m starting to worry I made a mistake. I need you focused, and I know it’s not going to be easy, but this doesn’t mean you and Julie won’t work things out down the road.”

Gavin bobbed his head. Did his best to react the way his coach and teammates wanted.

For some reason, his mind decided now would be the perfect time to replay the conversation he’d had with Julie on the first night he’d arrived in Crystal Springs. When he’d confessed he was afraid his shoulder wouldn’t heal in time.

Her reply had been automatic and confident. I have no doubt that when playoffs come, you’ll be out there on the field with the rest of the team, blowing everyone away. The crowd, everyone involved with the Mustangs, all the doubters and haters, and most importantly me.

That last part was her idea of a joke, and yet she’d been right. Millions of people would tune in to watch the Mustangs grind it out for a spot in the playoffs. About a hundred thousand people filled the stadium, and yet, all he could fixate on was the one person he wanted.

Needed.

The door to the locker room opened, and Charlotte strode inside, her heels clacking a steady beat. Her eyes met Lance’s, and how the hell was she able to smile so easily right now? Julie wasn’t with her, which meant…she wasn’t coming.

He’d lost her.

The knowledge slammed into him, robbing him of breath, and he braced his forearms on his knees, sure he was about to lose his lunch. He’d take a couple of minutes to recover as much as he could, and then he’d go and play his heart out, because his team deserved this win.

All the buzzing conversations taking place picked up in volume and intensity, and then a hush fell over the room. One last exhale, and Gavin forced himself to straighten.

He must still be short on oxygen, because a mirage materialized in front of him.

“Julie,” he said, so soft that it’d hopefully prevent his teammates from worrying he’d lost his mind. Then she was striding faster, rushing his way, and those footsteps sounded real.

Whistles and cheers erupted, and Gavin’s feet began propelling him toward the prettiest mirage his brain had ever conjured. Eyes as blue as the sky after a storm, silky blond hair, and God bless those dimples—he’d be the only one to lick them if he had his way.

Julie flung herself into his arms, and he lifted her off the ground and swung her around. She was warm and solid, and it wasn’t until he caught a whiff of her vanilla perfume that he allowed himself to fully believe she was here in the locker room, in his arms, before the biggest game of his life.

“Thank fuck,” Jason said from beside him. Then he pointed a finger their way. “I’m gonna give you two a minute, but you nearly gave us all heart attacks, missy. Once you’re done assuring your boy that you love him, too, you’d better go sit in the owner’s box and think long and hard about how to do better next game, after we kick the other guys’ asses.”

Everyone else echoed the sentiment while Gavin just continued to grin like a kid in a candy shop.

Jason herded the guys a few feet away, giving them at least a semblance of privacy.

“Sorry I’m late,” Julie said. “Kylo Ren needed to be dropped off with a cat sitter, and you know how he gets around other animals. He didn’t want me to leave.”

Gavin chuckled. “I do know. And that’s a sentiment I totally understand. I’m about to dig my claws into you so that you never leave my side again.”

The smile that spread across her face flooded him with sunshine. “That’s gonna be problematic on the field. What if you toss me instead of the ball?”

“I’d catch you,” Smitts supplied, so yeah, they were all listening.

Julie glanced back at them and waved. “Thank you guys for the video, and for knocking some sense into Gavin.” She slipped her arm around his waist. “I don’t want to distract you too much, on account of you having a game to win.”

They yelled out a battle cry in response, and Gavin peered over the top of Julie’s head and mouthed “thank you” to Charlotte, Lance, and Coach Bryant. Julie was right about them being short on time.

For his own peace of mind, he needed to settle one last thing. “I wanna be clear that I’m not asking you to give up the job you’ve worked so hard to earn. Things might get tricky, and we probably won’t see each other as often as we’d like, but I’ll do whatever it takes. If that’s what you want, of course. But I’m beyond ready to go all in.”

She circled her arms around his neck, tipped onto her toes, and touched her mouth to his. He was pretty sure she meant for it to be a peck, but he’d missed her far too long to let her go without a proper kiss.

More whistles pierced the air as he tugged her closer and kissed the hell out of her, his sense of urgency transferring to the movement of his lips and tongue.

When he finally released her, she wobbled slightly, and he braced a hand on her hip to steady her. “I’d say sorry, but I’m not even a little sorry. I’m so fucking happy that I’m not even nervous anymore. With you here cheering us on, they’ll find they’re taking on a much different team today, and I can’t wait to see the looks on everyone’s faces when we win.”

“Time to line up,” Coach Bryant called.

“You heard the man,” Julie said. “Get your ass out there and win this game. After you do, I’ll tell you how madly in love with you I am.”

Joy replaced every other emotion churning through him, leaving his body as close to weightless as possible. He pulled her into his arms again and planted a hard kiss on her mouth. “I love you, too.”

Julie pressed her fingertips to his lips. “Um, hello, it’s not time yet.” She stepped out of his arms and smacked him on the ass. “Now get out there and show ’em what you’re made of!”

Coach Bryant peeked around the rest of the team, who’d begun lining up. “Good to see you, Julie. If you don’t mind, I’ll take over the coaching from here.”

Her giggle filled the air, and then she gave Coach a firm salute.

They filtered out of the locker room, cleats echoing against the floor, and Gavin couldn’t help casting one last glance back at his girl when he reached the door. She was standing next to Lance and Charlotte, and she blew him a kiss.

And with his hardest fought victory of the day won, he rushed onto the field to take care of the second.

…

Every once in a while, life gave you a miracle.

A few weeks ago, Julie thought she deserved one for Christmas. About two minutes ago, when the refs made a crap call and Coach Bryant used his final challenge flag, Julie decided now would be a better time to cash in whatever karma points she’d earned during her lifetime.

Perhaps they’d already been used up getting her to the stadium, where she got to hear her best friend tell her, once again, that he was in love with her. She thought her heart would burst from the declaration in the video, but it’d paled in comparison to hearing it directly from the lips she’d just kissed.

“Need a hand to hold?” Charlotte asked, extending an upturned palm.

Charlotte glanced across her to where Lance Quaid was squeezing the blood out of his fiancée’s other hand.

“I should say no and point out that you’ve already got your hands full, but it’s too close to the end of the game to play it cool.” Julie gripped Charlotte’s hand like a lifeline.

“Full disclosure,” Charlotte said, inclining her head in Julie’s direction. “If I don’t have both of them pinned down, I’m liable to fling them so wildly that I’ll knock over drinks and food and—holy shit, they’re about to announce their decision.”

They all braced, and then jeered as the ref announced they weren’t going to call pass interference, despite the defender—with his back to the ball—knocking Holt’s legs completely out from under him.

“This is bullshit! Do they not remember the fallout from the Rams and the Saints game? It’s the entire reason they made the pass interference review rule.” Julie had stood and screamed the words without thinking, and she grimaced as she noticed everyone staring. “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” Lance said. “You took the words right out of my mouth.”

Unfortunately, it didn’t change anything. Wimpy or not, Julie buried her head in her lap when the other team got the ball. Usually she didn’t go the ostrich route, but in addition to being apoplectic, she was hemorrhaging internally.

Well, figuratively.

She hoped, anyway. Not as if she’d know for sure until post-mortem, and this was why she couldn’t watch the game anymore.

But then everyone in the box cheered, and she popped up in time to see the Mustangs had intercepted the ball.

The two-minute warning came and went, and Gavin tugged on his helmet and rushed onto the field again. Without Julie having to ask, Charlotte extended her hand once again, and Julie clamped on.

First down came and went.

Second down happened after a pass with way too much height and speed. “Don’t let it get to you. You’ve got this, you’ve got this.”

He handed off to Christian, who barreled through the tight line of bodies, but made it only about three yards.

The next minute was a blur. Gavin cocked his arm and threw a long pass.

Jason stretched his arms for it, and the crowd inside and outside of the box shot to their feet as he caught it and sprinted for the end zone.

Ten yards…

Six…

Two…

While she was sure she wasn’t the only one who’d advised him not to showboat so close to the end zone, pride and excitement still swelled as he sprinted full-out, waiting until he was fully across that vital white line to drop the ball and celebrate his touchdown.

And then the Mustangs were officially in the playoffs for the first time in eighteen years.

Getting to the field wasn’t easy, but there were perks to tagging along with the man who owned the team. Finally, he, Charlotte, and Julie made it to the turf where the team was celebrating.

As soon as Julie spotted the big block letters FROST across the back of a red and black jersey, she abandoned all sense of decorum and sprinted like she’d never sprinted before.

She hit a slight snag, but then Smitts appeared out of nowhere. She yelled out congrats, but instead of responding, he took her hand and blazed a trail.

Julie’s steps faltered when she spotted Gavin talking to the female reporter who’d slid into his DMs. Not because she worried he’d break his word, but because she knew he had interviews to do and didn’t want to interrupt.

She’d ignore the fire ants buzzing in her gut and wait her turn, although she couldn’t promise to do so patiently.

Evidently, Smitts had no such qualms about crashing an interview. He tapped Gavin on the shoulder, and Julie lifted her hand to let him know he could finish up. Before she could get so much as a word out, though, Gavin took two long strides and boosted her into his arms.

What else was a girl in love to do but wrap her legs around his waist and hold on for dear life? In an instant, Gavin’s lips were on hers, and then he was thanking her and telling her he loved her.

She whispered it back, sinking into the kiss as everything else faded into the background.

It was only when she came up for air that a funny thought hit her. “Do you think our parents are watching this right now?”

“I guarantee it,” Gavin said. Keeping one large hand planted on her ass, he walked them back to the stunned reporter, who extended the microphone as if she already knew he had something to say. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank my teammates, Coach Bryant, and Lance Quaid for taking a chance on me and ensuring I had everything I needed today to win this game.

“And even though I know it’ll end with a whole lot of ‘we told you so’s,’ thanks Mom, Dad, Peggy, Ed, my grandparents and Julie’s, along with my little sister, Niki, for their liberal use of mistletoe and being the most meddlesome family in the entire world. Thanks to them, I got the best present ever for Christmas. And I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with her.”