Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 106774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
I glance at Hartley. He’s chuckling, standing like a proud parent—practically beaming. He looks over his shoulder at me and grins.
“I wish our parents could see this,” he says, biting his bottom lip and struggling to stay composed. “They were so proud of him.” He smiles. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“You brought my brother back to me. I can’t thank you enough.”
Fucking emotions. Tears stream down my cheeks as Hartley pulls me into a hug. It’s not as warm as Gray’s, nor as strong, and it doesn’t smell as good either since I got Gray to start using fabric softener. But this hug feels different. It feels important. It’s one I won’t forget.
“Miss Lawsen?” A man wearing a security suit pokes his head around the side of Jasper. “Follow me.”
“Go,” Hartley says. “He’ll take you down to Gray.”
I look over my shoulder at my friends who shoo me away.
“Tell him we’re proud of him,” Hartley says as I walk by.
Jasper smiles at me as I slide by him, and Cathy pulls me into a quick hug. Rivers of mascara streak her cheeks. I hope Gray gets to see that today.
The guard says nothing as we pick our way down the stairs and through the crowd. I stick close to him through a gate and step onto the grass. Despite the mass of bodies and the pure pandemonium, my gaze immediately finds Gray’s.
I run to him, ignoring the guard telling me not to run and meet Gray in the middle of the pitch. He gathers me into his sweaty arms, hauls me into his soaked chest, and swings me around in a circle.
I feel like I’m floating in a dream.
“You’re amazing,” I whisper into his ear. “We’re all so proud of you.”
He finds the spot he loves in the crook of my neck, and presses a kiss there, letting it linger a few long moments. Even though we’re surrounded by players and their families, and by the media and the team staff, it feels like it’s just the two of us. Maybe it is just the two of us.
“Good work today,” Breaker smacks Gray on the back.
Gray pulls away and looks up at him. Something happens between the two of them, something I can’t hear or understand. But Gray nods at him.
“You too, Break.”
“I want to apologize to you, Astrid, for the other day in the locker room,” Breaker says. “I was an ass.”
What? “Um, yeah. Thanks, Breaker. I appreciate that.”
Gray clasps Breaker’s hand before he walks away.
“I didn’t expect that,” I say, shaking the shock out of my system.
Gray grins, his dimples setting deep in his cheeks. “I did.”
Yup. Something happened between them.
I stretch my arms over his shoulders and gaze up into those pools of expensive chocolate—like the kind you get on Valentine’s Day. “How do you suggest we celebrate this victory, Champion?”
“I suggest we celebrate by moving in together.”
His response catches me off guard. Instead of answering, I just stare at him like a goof.
“If you don’t want to, I understand,” he says. “And there’s no pressure. But I was just thinking that I can take better care of you if we officially live together.” He pauses before a slow grin crosses his lips. “You know, since I love you and all.”
I start to laugh in disbelief, but the sound fades into a hiccup, which turns into tears.
“Is that a yes?” he asks, his eyes shining.
“That’s a yes. Because, you know, I love you, too and all.”
Gray lifts me again and spins me around, my giggle trailing behind us. He puts me down and glances back up in the stands.
“They’re all here,” he says like he doesn’t believe it.
“Yeah. They’re all here.”
His attention drifts back over to me, and he drags his thumb down my cheek. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“So you don’t hate me anymore?” I tease.
He laughs, taking my hand, and rubbing my ring finger on my left hand. I don’t know if that’s a hint or a subconscious gesture, but I’m glad he knows me well enough to know that I need to go slow. He’s my person, and I have no doubt that I will be Mrs. Gray Adler one day.
But this day? Today I’m happy being his number one fan.