Oakley
“Yeah! Come on, Little Bates!” I shout out over the noise of the crowd, trying to be the loudest as my boyfriend shakes his head from his spot next to me.
“You know he hates that,” Jameson says, and we all sit down after cheering like crazy when the Kensley Panthers scored yet another touchdown.
It’s homecoming, and the crowd is hyped.
“Well, he is the younger Bates brother,” Travis tells Jameson, all matter-of-factly, and I slap a big kiss on his cheek.
“You always have my back.”
“Always.” He winks at me, and my heart does this fluttery thing I can’t seem to stop when I’m around him.
“You two are gross,” Garrison says, but he’s grinning like a fool as he kisses Jameson on the mouth and then looks out at the field. “Coach doesn’t look happy.”
I chuckle. “Coach is never happy.”
“They’re winning. You’d think he’d smile,” Travis says, taking my hand in his, and we don’t worry about anyone seeing it. Anyone who matters already knows and are happy for us.
His parents are here at the game, along with all our parents. I even see Kingston Wells and Camden Prescott a couple of rows down, wedding rings shining on their fingers.
We were invited to their small wedding over the summer, and you bet your ass we went and danced the night away, celebrating our former team captains. Kensley has definitely changed a lot for the better over the past couple of years.
After the game, we skip the party and go back to our place—yes, ours. I finally talked Travis into giving up his apartment and moving in with me a couple of months ago.
He was already practically living with me, but it was good to make it official. Really damn good.
As soon as we get into the house, we’re glued together, clothes flying and our lips crushed together. We pass the bookshelf I made him for Christmas that’s now in our living room and head into our bedroom.
We take our time, exploring each other’s bodies and in no rush to get off. When we both come, we continue the lazy kisses as I hold him in my arms and tell him just how lucky I know I am and how much I love him.
“I’m the lucky one, Oakley.”
“Nope.” I kiss the tip of his nose and hold him close. “You’re wrong sometimes. I’m the lucky one.”
He chuckles. “We should sleep. We have a big job tomorrow.”
I smile, thinking about the patio setup we have planned at a house a few towns over. Garrison and Jameson are going along to help. They’re our first full-time employees now, but we’re actually looking to hire a few more.
Travis is still taking business classes and, of course, killing it. He applies it all to our company, and it’s thriving. Everyone wants us to decorate their backyards so they can show them off at the barbecues and parties they host.
“I have a better idea,” I say against his lips with a big smile.
“I can’t go again yet. You wore me out.”
I chuckle and get off the bed, smacking his ass to get him moving. “Come on.”
He doesn’t argue with me this time, following and tugging on some clothes and a jacket before I lead him out to the backyard to sit in our swing and look up at the stars. He rests his head on my shoulder as we sway in the night.
Yup, best life ever. Dreams do come true.