Chapter 45
Earlier in the year
A roar builds deep inside my chest. It echoes the whistle that spears through the field.
Logan is the QB and I’m the starting center, meaning I find him right next to me on the field.
The hug we share is tight— I'm not out of his arms yet when Dom jumps onto me.
Rafa and Saint are part of it too. We just won the championship, and we did it together.
We laugh, we hold each other, and we scream each other's names like we need to make sure we haven't forgotten who we are.
Thunder rumbles onto the field from the crowd. Lightning itself runs through my veins. Pride overflows through my chest. All that's missing is my favorite person.
Eventually we break away to pat and hug the rest of the team and coaches.
Cameras get shoved in our faces, but we ignore them.
We're too busy congratulating each other, too happy to slow down, too eager for our loved ones to make it onto the field.
I don't know how long it's been since the whistle confirmed our victory, but it won't feel complete until I get to celebrate it with Pen.
I gaze around, searching for her. From the looks of it, Saint finds his family. Dom goes away, I'm not sure where. I make my way through the chaos. Evie is the first familiar face I see, but she skips past me in search of her boyfriend. I don't even wave at her. If she's here, that means…
My eyes lock with Pen. I've never had trouble finding her in a crowd.
The bond that connects us pulls at me as soon as she's around, calling for me like a compass needle finding its North.
She smiles. Tears fill her eyes. She must think it's silly that she's getting emotional, because she covers her mouth with both hands and scoffs.
She may be several yards away, but I see every single detail. I shake my head at her reaction and smile.
Don't feel silly, Pen.
It's just overwhelming, her eyes tell me.
Then come here. I'll help you feel better.
I open my arms and take a step closer to her.
She takes two. Within the next second, she's as close to me as physically possible.
My hands splay at her back. I pull her to me, needing her heart right next to mine.
I kiss her temple. She grabs at my jersey and clings.
The lightning running through me doesn't go away, but builds until every corner inside of me shines.
Millions of eyes watch the field where we just won, but all I care about are the two deep, beautiful brown eyes staring back at me.
I'm grounded. I have a place I always want to come back to. She's right here with me.
White and blue confetti falls around us.
I cup her face. "I wouldn't be here, if not for you."
She tsks. "Now who's being silly? You did this. You, Bear. You and your friends and— ugh. You're amazing. You're so wonderful. You're the best."
I chuckle. "I wouldn't have tried out for football, if not for the angsty impulse to avenge you."
She laughs. "Do you think Evan knows you owe him your scar and your career?"
"I don't owe him shit. But you?" I put my forehead on hers. "To you I owe everything."
She smiles. The power inside of me responds to it. Sparkling light rises up to my skin. It swells into waves that could break out of me and cover the field. Hell, fill the stadium with my feelings.
Her hands latch to my sides. I'm sweaty, but she doesn't seem to care. Her fingers travel up my torso, to my shoulders, back to my chest, where she fists my jersey and pulls. "You don't owe me anything."
"You've been my anchor ever since we met." An old, familiar ache pulses in my chest. "You found me right when I needed to be found. It set me on a path that changed my life. What is that, if not a gift only you could give me? Because our lives have been entwined ever since."
Her lips slant. It's an up-and-down line. She's never quite understood this part of me, but it's okay. I don't think I've ever fully understood it either.
"It might have been selfishness." Her mouth quirks. "Even at ten I had the wisdom to know you'd be the best friend anyone could ever have. Way too generous. Way too biased."
I shake my head and snort. I kiss her temple and bring her close to me again, until my arms rest on her shoulders. She rests her cheek on my chest, and I take a deep breath.
"Oh, Pen." I squeeze her against me. "I wouldn't choose anyone else to be biased about."
"And I'll enjoy it until you change your mind."
But I don't think I will.