21. Touchdown #2
“No rec teams around here for adults.”
F inn swung his garment bag over his shoulder, watching the other passengers depart way too damn slow. From the air, he’d fired off a few emails with all the appropriate thank yous, responding to the offers that had already come in.
He crossed out of the secure area, strode across the gleaming off-white tile floors with shiny metallic flecks.
Past the lines of folks tapping their feet, checking their watches as they stood waiting to go through security, he hopped on the escalator.
Crossing the sky bridge toward the dark garage, he breathed in the crisp Washington air wafting around.
Nothing like it; every time they landed in a new state for away games, he’d breathed in the air, comparing it to home.
He tossed his bags in the trunk and took off. Dammit, he was ready to be home. It had about killed him, not calling Haley. He’d picked up his phone dozens of times, then reminded himself she needed the space to decide what she wanted. To find her footing without him.
Not that he had a clue what he was going to do if she decided that footing didn’t include him. Or what if she was disappointed in his decision? A dull ache festered under his sternum, like just seeing Haley’s fishhook grin could relieve the crushing pressure.
His phone buzzed as he hopped onto southbound I-5, the digital voice reading out a text from Pops, Meet me at the football field. I’ve got something to show you .
Shit, he should have told him his decision already. Pops was probably dragging him out to the field for a serious talk about his future. Wouldn’t be the first time.
The afternoon sun held strong as he drove into Foothills. He was wiped out and just wanted to drive straight to Haley’s, lay it all out, and get started on the rest of his life.
As he pulled into the high school parking lot, he saw a familiar Land Rover near the field. Erratically pounding in his chest, his heart launched straight into his throat and about choked him.
R ejection was acceptable. Haley didn’t need anyone to make her whole.
She was strong and independent and her own person.
She could fall down a cliff and come out okay.
Could fall in love and get her heart broken, and come out stronger for it.
She had her own life, a future she was looking forward to, and a past she’d never be okay with, but knew even that hadn’t defeated her.
But damn, she really wanted Finn. Who else would dive off that cliff with her?
She wouldn’t blame him for saying no. That night, their last night together, something inside her broke. Not in a bad way. It was the crunchy shell she’d coated herself in, swearing to never let a man get to her again. What remained was stronger, yet more sensitive as yearning had flooded in.
The thing was, Nate had never gotten to her like that.
No one had. Finn burrowed right in, as if he’d always belonged there.
Only weeks away from meeting as teenagers, befriending the same gentle soul, then living within a few five miles for much of their adult lives, the dream of him already stirring something inside her.
The afternoon sun was toasty, but the breeze brought in a welcome relief from the August heatwave that had settled over Foothills the last few days. Standing in the middle of the field, Haley had nothing to do but wait. And hope.
The sun at his back, his walk powerful, purposeful, Finn strode across the field, meeting her at the fifty-yard line.
His cowlick had completely taken over from the long trip across the country, his t-shirt wrinkled, his shorts rumpled.
But his smile, all hesitant and sweet and curious, fired right at her like Cupid’s arrow.
Stopping a few yards away, he ran his fingers through his hair before settling his hands on his hips. “I’m really, really sorry for stepping on your toes and calling your lawyer without your permission.”
“Are you?” She put her hands on her hips, cocking one out and raising her eyebrows.
Grinning, he shook his head. “Okay, I’m not sorry for making that asshole sweat, but I am sorry for not asking your permission. I knew you’d say no, and I wanted you to know your people had your back, whether you needed anyone or not.”
“I would be mad, but I was so angry with Nate that I was taking it out on myself. By the way, my lawyer is hoping you’ll send an autographed photo. And he was pretty impressed with your grace under pressure.”
Finn’s feet held firm to the ground, but his shoulders relaxed. “Grady says you guys went out and raised hell in San Francisco after.”
“Yes. Pippa knows how to plan quite the night out.”
“Did she take you to that club she’d found? She was practically bouncing on the plane, convincing everyone to go once she found out it served virgin cocktails.”
“I was sorry to disappoint her, but I really didn’t want to go to a club without a decent dance partner.”
Finn stepped closer, his hands reached out and traced along her bare arms. Fluidly, she completed the connection, resting her palms against his abdomen. “I’m not one for club life, but I’d love to take you dancing.”
She grinned. “How about we try out a few moves at home instead?”
Chuckling, he nodded. “I can go with that. If it doesn’t break any rebound rules.”
“I had a good talk with Trace.”
“Okay.” He said, freezing in place.
“I’m going to get scared now and again. Of us. After ten years of not knowing what it felt like, not realizing how things could and should be, it’s going to take me a while to get used to it, and I’m going to mess up sometimes.”
He hesitated, as if he’d heard her wrong.
“Haley, I know we promised to not make any promises. But I made a mistake. I promise to never, ever take you for granted, or make you feel anything less than remarkable. And if you ever feel like that’s not happening, please kick my ass.
” He slipped his arms around her waist. “And I know you didn’t want more than a summer fling.
I’m sorry, but I accidentally fell in love with you and don’t want to give you up. Not now, not ever.”
The corner of her mouth quirked up, irretrievably snatched on a fisherman’s hook.
Leaning down, he brushed his lips over hers in a possessive kiss. Resting his forehead against hers, he whispered. “Tell me you love me.”
She shook her head. “Not yet.” Adrenaline pumped through her veins, warming her from the inside out.
“What?” he yanked her hips against his, grinning.
“Whatever you decide, I’m with you. If you want to live in Minneapolis and coach, I’ll be there.
If you decide to be on TV, I’m there for you.
Not because you need it, or because I am sacrificing my happiness for yours, but because I can work anywhere, and because you empower me to be me . And I want to be with you.”
Kissing her again, he said, “But what do you want?”
“I want you. I want to keep posting my stupid vlog and take the risk. I want to finish your dad’s man cave because it will be fun and I like your family.”
“It’s not an exciting place, but would you be okay with living in Foothills for the rest of your life? With marrying a washed-up, football-player-turned-bartender?” The insecurity in his gaze could break her heart all on its own.
“Only if he sneaks into our bedroom every night and snuggles until dawn.”
“Now tell me you love me?”
She grinned, melting with his chocolate eyes. “I love you, Finn Halseth.”
“Is it too soon to propose? I mean, I know you want to be one hundred percent independent. Haley, you are. And I’ll do everything in my power to give you space when you need it, and be there for you when you want support, but, well, I’m getting evicted soon, and I love you so much and I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy and—”
“It’s not too soon. I mean, it is, I shouldn’t want to. I should be against marriage and anything of the sort. I shouldn’t trust in the entire institution. But I know myself. And I know you. And I want us both to make each other happy. And… please, propose. As soon as possible.”
In the distance, their friends pulled into the parking lot and unloaded from their cars, dressed for a game.
Trace and Pippa carted a picnic basket. Grady and Claire followed hand-in-hand behind, Freya bouncing behind and joining at their side.
Zane and Asher and Sophie sprinted by, racing for the opposite end-zone.
Scott, Zoe, and Evan carted bags of gear to the sideline.
Finn scanned the field, their friends and family setting up for a game. He scrunched his brow in question.
“This okay? I know you miss the game, and, well, I made some calls. I wasn’t sure if you were recovered enough, but we’ll go easy on you.”
“I can’t believe you did all this for me.
” Finn dropped to one knee in the middle of the field, in the middle of the chaos around them.
“Everyone seems to think I don’t know what I want.
That I’m simply following the path of least resistance.
But I know exactly what I want. I like Foothills.
I like tending bar at my family’s restaurant.
And the moment you walked into my life, I wanted you. Will you marry me?”
“Yes.” She dropped to her knees with him. An exhilarated laugh bubbled up from deep in her belly.
Tugging her against him, he poured everything into her, and she wrapped her hands around the back of his neck and held on for dear life.
“I am apologizing in advance for Sunday dinners with my family.”
He groaned in a pitiful pout. “Only if we can put the game on. I’m not suffering Patricia and missing football.”
“She’s good with that. Besides, she sort of likes you now. Need a hand getting up?”
“I’ve almost worked my way back up to a complete set of fifty-forties, but yes, please, I could use a hand.
” He braced his hand against his thigh with one hand, took her hand in the other and they rose to stand together.
He took her lips in his, sliding his hands around her waist. “What happened? Did she figure out I’m neither a player nor poor? ”
“Nope. She was impressed with you driving out to her house and demanding she get her ass to San Francisco to stand up for me like she should have done ten years ago.”
Clearing his throat, Grady interrupted, “I may have turned the TV on during your ‘interview’ with ESPN. She thought you looked pretty spiffy on camera and hopes you’ll be a regular guest commentator.”
“Fuck that,” Finn sneered.
Evan jogged over and dropped a bag of balls at their feet. “Let’s play some ball before sunset.”
Pulling back, Finn didn’t let go of Haley’s waist but sneered at his brother. “Shove off. We’re having a moment here.”
Evan shrugged with his arms open wide. “It was Haley’s idea, dragging us all out to get your lazy ass moving. Don’t disappoint.”
Finn released Haley, backing up a few steps, then took off across the field.
His strides long, each footfall was light and mobile.
Snagging the football from Evan, Haley adjusted her body and passed as high and far as she could.
Cutting across the field, Finn snatched it from the air and hit the ground running, taking off for the end zone.
The End