Chapter Six
SULLY
Ineed to convince Tate that I want to keep him. Forever if he’ll let me. I don’t care about the distance. I don’t care about anything beyond seeing if we can turn this into something magical, something worth holding on to beyond this weekend.
I have this urge to claim Tate in front of all of creation, make sure everyone at this wedding knows who he belongs to.
I’ve never felt this way about someone before.
Never felt the urge to claim someone, make them mine, have someone think Tate when they think of me.
It sounds like such a gift to be tied to Tate, to his adventurous spirit, his hurt heart that, when healed, will carry me within the safe confines of its walls.
Everything about Tate is beautiful to me.
The way he grins toward me when he thinks I’m not looking.
The way he cares more for Olivia than for himself at times, so evident in his ability to put himself through hell at this wedding after the fresh wounds caused by his idiot ex-husband.
“What are you thinking about?” Tate asks with a teasing laugh. His fingers press hard between my eyebrows. My lips twitch with a restrained grin. “You look angry!”
“I was just thinking.”
Tate chuckles and jostles his shoulder against my arm. “Well, think about something better. Like tonight! You, me, and that big bed of yours.”
I squeeze his hand tighter at the mention of this evening.
One more night. I want every night for the rest of his life.
Jesus. Sweat prickles at the back of my neck as we mingle with the crowd at cocktail hour.
Looking down at my watch, I realize I’m almost late to the wedding party photos.
A couple of the other wedding party members are leaving, so I take that as my cue to follow.
I kiss Tate’s cheek, biting my lip when a warm flush steals over his face. “I’ll be right back. Duty calls.”
“Ah, actually.” Tate holds on tight to my bicep, then shakes himself and follows me toward the back of the property. “I’m supposed to be in some family photos too. I’ll join you.”
I tuck Tate’s hand into the crook of my elbow as I guide us back toward where I can see the photographers starting to take photos.
I’ve never seen Bailey radiate so much happiness before.
After a squeeze to Tate’s hand, I head toward them.
The photographers expertly move around, snapping away as we pose for staged photos, and take some candid ones.
I can’t help but watch Tate even as I’m having fun with my friends.
When my time is over, I pass by him as he heads toward Olivia, and I let my hand skirt across his hip.
The hiss he lets out makes me bite my lip to contain my grin.
“You really hit it off with the brother of the bride, huh?” Colton teases where he stands beside me, arms crossed over his broad chest.
My gaze zeroes back in on Tate, because I can’t help but stare at him, even when he’s not the center of attention. To me, he is.
“Yeah, I really did. He’s special.”
“Good for you.” Colton bumps his arm against mine. “I can’t believe this is going to be your last year with the team. Did you wait just to have one year with Bailey?”
“Nah,” I say with a smile. “I think I was waiting for something else to come along.”
“Disgustingly sweet.” Colton makes a retching noise, but I ignore him. All I can focus on is Tate as he smiles for the photographers and my heart skips approximately ten thousand beats when his grin doubles in size as he catches sight of me.
When the photos are over, I wait patiently for Tate to find his way to me. Until I can’t wait one more second. Grabbing Tate by his hand, I tug him deeper into the gardens, trying to find exactly where we were that first night. His laughter rings loudly behind me as I drag us deeper.
“Sully!” Tate says breathlessly.
I swoop down to kiss him once we’re alone, needing to taste his laugh. His grin widens against my mouth, his fingers working their way into my hair to tug me closer. He smells like sweat and spice and how can a scent be so comforting after only a few days?
“What’s gotten into you?” Tate murmurs against my mouth.
“Be mine. Be mine for real. I don’t think this was ever just a fling for me. I… I want you. Do you want me too? Please say you want me too.”
Tate blinks up at me in total shock, his fingers still tightly buried in my hair. “Sully?”
“Please be mine.”
“I…” Tate pauses and looks down at my chest like the secrets of the universe are buried there.
A little furrow appears between his brows before his gaze flicks up to mine.
“I don’t know if I know how to be someone’s.
Not well. I work too much, don’t prioritize travel, don’t always prioritize the relationship. ”
“Can I ask you something?”
Tate smiles despite the tears gathering in his eyes. “Sure, Sully.”
“If we dated, if we put in the effort for this, do you actually think I’d get mad at you if you had to cancel a date for work? Would you get mad at me if I was tired from a game and didn’t want to go out?”
“No, never,” Tate reassures quickly. “I’d probably want to video-chat with you, make sure you’re okay. Send you some night cookies via delivery, but I wouldn’t get mad.”
I shrug my shoulders in answer. “I think that says it all.”
Tate’s eyes flick between mine, searching for some answer that I pray to god he finds.
Seemingly happy with what he sees, Tate leans up to kiss me again.
This kiss is softer, a sort of vow. His lips glide over mine, gently, like waves lapping at the shore.
When I pull away, I lean my forehead against his to stare down into his eyes.
“I want to make this work. I’ve got one year left in Seattle, then I can go wherever.”
“Well.” Tate looks shy for a moment, that beautiful blush stealing its way across his cheeks.
“I was thinking of trying to move to Seattle? It’s up to Olivia.
If she has kids, I want to be close by… I know Bailey is at the whim of the league but I think he wants to end his career at Seattle, go out on a high note. ”
That’s true. Bailey has told me he’s not willing to be traded again. Seattle or bust.
“I’m willing to come to Portland. Your career is there. It’s not that far of a drive between Portland and Seattle. We could keep my house there so we could visit on the weekends.”
Tate’s smile turns shy. “Wow, you’ve put some thought into this.”
“Had trouble sleeping the other night and thought a lot of big thoughts.”
“I like it… I like that I’m worthy of future plans with you.”
“Damn it, Tate. You’re worth all my plans.”
Before he can argue, I take Tate into my arms to kiss him again.
This kiss isn’t soft at all. I need to show Tate with my mouth that he’s every thought I’ve had but never dared to put into words.
Tate moans into my mouth, letting me tug him closer to my body.
But someone clearing their throat has me jumping away.
Tate’s cheeks are a deep crimson as he turns to look over his shoulder. God, his cheeks somehow get redder when he realizes we’ve been caught by his father.
“Dad,” Tate squeaks.
His father waves. “The reception is going to start soon.”
I watch as he disappears back toward the villa. Once he’s gone, I take Tate’s face between my palms and turn his head back toward me. “Do you get it now?”
“Yeah,” Tate replies wistfully.
I tangle our fingers together and drag him back toward the villa.
The reception has way more people than I’d expected.
The dance floor is packed, wine is flowing, and Tate is pressed tightly to my side all through the reception.
I can’t pay attention to anything but him.
When it’s my turn for the best man toast, I almost forget how to speak.
So many eyes on me. But my attention focuses on Tate and that makes it a little easier.
“I’ve known Bailey since we were teens. Back then, I didn’t have any family, and Bailey took me in without a second thought.
He’s always been that kind of guy. He’ll give you the shirt off his back without a second thought.
He’s the one that everyone looks for in a crowded room.
The day after his first date with Olivia, he called me and fervently told me I’ve met the one.
And you know what? I never once questioned him because I knew if Bailey thought he met the one, he sure did.
” I keep my eyes on Tate as I speak this next part.
“Bailey told me a few days ago that when you meet the one, sometimes you just know. And I know without a doubt that he’s right.
Sometimes souls just know one another. Olivia and Bailey were made for one another, made to share this life and I wish them nothing but happiness.
I’m thankful to call Bailey my best friend, and now thankful to call Olivia my best-friend-in-law, if that’s a thing. ”
Everyone laughs as I give Olivia a light hug, then squeeze the crap out of Bailey. I make my way back toward the table, sitting down beside Tate with a relieved sigh. His hand wraps around my wrist, squeezing tight, rooting me back in reality.
As the night winds down, people leave, but the dance floor has a few couples remaining. I tug Tate to the dance floor with me, needing to share a dance with him.
The band plays a drowsy, romantic song as we sway on the dance floor.
I tug Tate closer against me until it feels like he could blend into my body.
With his cheek pressed to my chest, we sway, and Tate’s fingers stay tangled in my dress shirt.
I can feel his heart pounding against my chest, like a runaway train about to jump off the tracks.
“Sully,” Tate says shakily, breath leaving him in a rush.
“Tate.”
“Please don’t break my heart,” Tate asks, voice a soft plea. “I can’t take another heartbreak.”
“No, sweetheart. I won’t. You’re safe with me.”
Tate whimpers softly and pushes himself tighter against me.
We sway and sway some more, ignoring the sounds of those around us, just two lonely souls finding something unexpected among the Tuscan hills.
Did I think I’d find love when I came to Tuscany for a wedding?
No. But I did. Tate’s tender heart beats the same fragile tattoo as mine.
When I finally pull away to look down at Tate, his eyes are red-rimmed, and his gaze is raw with want.
I brush my thumbs under his eyes. “No more tears.”
Tate smiles through the tears. “No more tears. Dance with me some more?”
He doesn’t have to ask me twice. I twirl him around the empty dance floor, grinning when he lets out a joyful laugh at my antics.
We end up back how we were, tangled together as we sway to a beat of our own making since the band is packing up.
I glance over toward the table to find Olivia and Bailey leaning their elbows against the table, pressed together tightly as they watch us with blissful looks on their own faces.
Olivia leans back to place her hands over her heart, then tips her head at me in what looks like thanks.
Tate misses the entire interaction, which I’m grateful for because this moment is just for us.
I twirl him some more, and as he grows sleepy, I tuck him under my arm and guide him back toward the glowing villa in the distance.
We walk slowly together under the night sky, the stars a dappled comfort in the sky.
And that night, I fall asleep with Tate tucked in the circle of my arms. He smells like expensive cologne, wedding cake, and wine, but also a little like me. I’ve finally found a home to call my own, and it’s not a place but a person.