Chapter 48 #2
“Watching the Knights lose our pitch,” I said. “Seeing how quickly the conversation turned to what we needed to fix, what we needed to compromise—while your team was already doing more with less.” I shook my head. “That sat wrong with me.”
She nodded.
“And then I started thinking about my sister,” I said. “About what rugby could’ve looked like for her if someone had bothered to build something that wasn’t an afterthought.” I glanced out toward the water, then back to her.
She smiled sadly, understanding that hardship and missed opportunities. “When did it turn real?” she asked, quieter.
“I think it started at the Buzz shoot we did, the media after that. I hated how it shaped us into gossip when we were just doing our jobs.”
“And you squashed that story… for me.”
“Of course. It made you uncomfortable.” I smirked. “That was a no-brainer.”
Her hand slid across the table, fingers brushing mine, little fires dancing between each touch.
“But I think after that, when I saw those girls at St. Brigid’s, how they looked up to you, how their questions were so different to what boys their age would’ve asked.
” I shook my head. “The lads would’ve been more concerned about what I lifted at the gym, or what protein brand I endorse.
They’re in a privileged position and the girls were more worried about earning the right to be there at all. ”
She stilled, fingers tightening briefly around mine, her focus narrowing as it sank in.
“I couldn’t unsee it after that. The gap.
The way we talk about potential when it’s boys, and permission when it’s girls.
” I traced a slow line with my other hand, along the condensation on my glass.
“I kept thinking, what happens to them if no one steps in? If the answer is always wait, or be grateful, or prove yourself twice over?”
“So you started building it,” she said.
“Quietly.” I nodded. “Talking to the right people. Making sure it wasn’t just a nice idea that fell apart the second it got hard.” I met her eyes. “I wanted it to last. To make it permanent.”
Her gaze held mine, searching, steady. “And you want it here.”
“I saw an opportunity,” I said confidently, then smiled. “It does mean you’ll be stuck sharing a stadium with me for a while, though.”
The side of her mouth lifted, her eyes sparkling. “So you’re telling me this whole grand plan ends with me stuck seeing your face every day?”
I winked. “Lucky you.”
Her teeth captured that plump bottom lip, slowly releasing it. Then she hummed, the sound going straight to my dick. “I guess I could get used to the view.”
I leaned in, pulling her toward me too. I wished there wasn’t a table separating us. “I want to be clear about something too,” I said quietly. “I want more with you. I want you in my life—my bed, in my phone as my girl, my future. I want you.”
Her eyebrow lifted, a spark of challenge there that I’d always crave from her. “Is that so?”
I smiled, big and wide, unable to hide it. “And I want you involved in the program, as much or as little as you want to be.”
Her gaze smoothed, but she didn’t look away. “You’re asking for a lot,” she said, voice light but steady.
“I am,” I admitted, my stomach fluttering out of nowhere.
“Good. I don’t do small asks.” Her gaze dipped to our hands, then back to me. “And for the record? If I’m involved, I’m all in.”
Relief burst throughout my body, giving me goosebumps. I wanted to haul myself over this table and kiss her, claim her for everyone to see. “Yeah?”
She nodded. “I want to be yours as much as I want you to be mine, for real, no secrets.”
Elation filled my body, but I didn’t have time to react because a chair scraped loudly beside us. I had no concept of the world around us, but it was back as soon as Jake’s voice cut through it.
“Well,” Jake announced, dropping into the seat like he owned it, “this feels intimate.” He looked down at our joined hands, and I thought Teddy might pull away, but she didn’t. My heart emboldened behind my ribs.
Evie appeared at Teddy’s shoulder. “You guys!” she squealed.
Micah, Bobby, and Nate followed in after them too. “The group chat is going wild, dude.”
Micah crossed her arms, eyeing us both with that sharp, assessing look of hers. “You realize you’ve emotionally destabilized half the league today, right?”
“I got a bone to pick with you,” Teddy said to Micah, and she held her hands up in surrender.
“I cried. Jake cried,” Evie said cheerfully.
“I did not cry,” Jake protested. “I have allergies.”
Evie patted his cheek, murmuring that it was okay to cry, when Nate chimed in, “You planning on telling us what the hell is going on?”
I looked at Micah and Bobby, sharing a grateful look that they hadn’t told anyone anything yet about us.
Jake leaned forward eagerly. “My current understanding is: you’re staying, you’re building a girls’ rugby empire, and you’ve somehow locked this down.” He gestured between Teddy and me. “Which is awesome. Power fucking couple incoming.”
Teddy snorted a laugh. “Are we officially outed?” she asked, looking at me. There was no fear on her face, just pure happiness.
“I had a feeling by the way Connor always had heart eyes during your games,” Jake said. “Dude couldn’t keep his eyes off you.”
“Thanks, lad.” I coughed, rubbing my neck. “I love looking pathetic.”
Rounds of condolences and reassurances echoed through the group at my expense, but I only had eyes for the girl opposite, who was smiling directly at me.
I laughed. “Think you’re ready for all this, sunshine?”
Teddy nodded. “You and me against the world, right?”
The was a ball of fire burning through my heart. “You and me.”
Evie grinned. “I knew it. Captain-to-captain was always endgame.”
Endgame. I liked the sound of that.