Epilogue
Tessa
“Yes! Yes, yes, yes!”
I’m bouncing on the balls of my feet, my hands in the air as Riggs throws a touchdown pass to Porter, solidifying the win for the Bandits. It’s the last game of the regular season, and though the team already locked up their playoff berth, this win makes them number one in their division and ensures they get a bye week in the first round.
I’ve put these season tickets Riggs gave me to good use, making sure I’m here, decked out in his number at every single home game. My friends don’t enjoy the sport as much as I do, but they’ve humored me, allowing me to drag them to most of the games with me, including today’s.
I turn toward them with a huge smile, smacking their hands in high-fives as the crowd roars around us. The energy is electric as the Bandits score the extra point. As the special teams unit sets up for the kickoff, Roxy grabs my arm to get my attention.
“Maybe now we’ll finally get to meet some of Riggs’ teammates,” she yells over the crowd noise.
I nod, then lean in closer to her ear. “Riggs said he wants us to host a dinner party to celebrate once they clinch the number one seed. I’ll let you know the details as soon as they’re set.”
Though I’ve gotten to know some of Riggs’ friends at team functions and a few social events, they’ve been so busy since training camp started during the summer, we haven’t had time to get them together with my friends so everyone could meet. When the guys were free, my friends have been busy, and vice versa.
But with the regular season coming to an end, and the guys now locking in that first round bye, Coach Nesbit promised them a full weekend off with no practice or team meetings, so we can finally plan that barbecue we’ve been talking about for the last few weeks. Though Riggs still owns the house next door, he’s basically been living with me ever since we declared our love for each other on his front lawn in front of Peanut the goat.
I turn my attention back to the game to see the Bandits defense stop their opponents for the fourth time without giving up a first down.
Turnover on downs…
I smile at the thought, then find Riggs on the sideline looking up at me with a matching smile, like he’s somehow read my mind. I lift my pointer fingers in the air, giving him the sign for “number one,” and he raises one fist and punches it into the air.
The crowd goes wild as Riggs and the offense walk back out onto the field. They’re killing time, letting the clock wind down so they only have to take a knee twice to end the game. Roxy nudges me with her elbow, and I look over to see a security guard standing beside Skye, who’s at the other end of our group.
“Miss White, could you come with me, please?”
I look back at the field to see the offense lining up, then back at the guard. He gives me a smile and waves his hand to urge me forward.
“Mr. Malone would like you to come down to the sideline.”
“Oh!” I gasp, then nearly knock Roxy over as I try to scoot by.
I’ve never been asked to be down on the field before, and it’s an opportunity I don’t plan to waste. Being there in the celebration, wrapping Riggs up in my arms as everyone cheers…it’s a bucket list moment.
The guard ushers me along, both of us speed-walking so we don’t miss the last play. At the bottom of the steps, another guard waits, unlocking the gate when he sees us coming. The first guard gives me a farewell wave as the new one leads me to the sideline where the team and coaches are already hugging and shaking hands.
I spot Miles, who’s already seen me and is waving me over frantically. Thanking the guard, I rush over just in time to see the center hike the ball into Riggs’ waiting hands. He hits his knee, and the entire stadium shakes as the crowd goes insane. The remaining Bandits on the sideline rush the field, but Miles holds me back with a hand on my shoulder.
I look up at him, but his gaze is on the field. When I turn my eyes back, the sea of football players and staff parts in one fluid motion. My breath hitches when I see Riggs, still on one knee in the middle of the field, his helmet on the ground beside him. Miles gives me a little shove, and when I look up at him with wide eyes, he grins and jerks his head toward the field.
“Go on,” he says.
The energy in the stadium shifts, the crowd suddenly going silent as I slowly walk toward Riggs. Blood whooshes through my ears in time with my heartbeat as I get close enough to see the earnest expression on his face. His chest is heaving like he’s nervous, but his smile is real as I come to a stop in front of him.
“Tessa,” he says, and I startle as his voice is projected through the stadium’s sound system.
That’s when I see the tiny microphone pinned to the neck of his jersey. Lifting my gaze back to his, I tilt my head.
“Is this another prank?” I ask, though the way my heart races proves I already know the answer.
“No. No prank this time,” he says with a smile as laughter from the crowd echoes around us. He reaches out to take my hand, squeezing it comfortingly. “Tessa, I’ve been in love with you since high school, when a miscalculated bet put me in your orbit.”
His eyes slide to the left, and I look over to see Grady Hollis standing there grinning as he gives me a wave. Those two have come a long way since their altercation at Coach Nesbit’s house. Grady ended up apologizing to both of us, admitting that he’d fallen into an old habit of being jealous of Riggs. He also admitted he was an asshole in high school, and that he’d grown enough to know he didn’t want to be that person anymore. I wouldn’t call him and Riggs buddies at this point, but they were working on it.
When I look back at Riggs, I see his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows thickly. My eyes start to burn with emotion, all the love I feel for this man raging like an inferno inside me.
“I know we got off to a rough start, but even when you were leaving lewd messages all over my yard, I knew you were the one for me. The one I’d cherish for the rest of my life, if you’d only give me the chance.”
My breath stutters on an inhale, and Riggs grips my hand tighter as his other hand comes out from behind his back. Resting in his palm is a small velvet box, the lid tipped open to reveal a beautiful diamond ring that sparkles like fire under the stadium lights.
The air swells with sound as the crowd reacts to the sight of the ring on the jumbotron, but the pounding of my heart drowns out the sound as Riggs holds the ring up and gives me a soft smile.
“You’re the love of my life, Tessa White. I’m already the happiest man on earth, just being able to love you and be loved by you. But I want forever. Will you marry me?”
I dive forward, wrapping my arms around his neck as I tackle him to the ground. The stadium erupts in cheers as I straddle his hips and press my mouth to his in a hard kiss. He holds onto me tightly, kissing me back with what’s probably a little too much passion in this public arena, and the crowd cheers even louder.
“Is that a yes?” he asks with a grin when I pull back to meet his eyes.
“Yes,” I shout, then kiss him again.
“Nice sack.”
Our kiss ends as we look up to see Miles grinning down at us. The rest of the team has closed in, circling us with wide smiles as they slap each other on the back. I slide off of Riggs, and he jumps up before helping me to my feet.
He pulls the ring out and drops the box to take my left hand, sliding the magnificent piece onto my finger. Lifting my hand, he kisses it, keeping his gaze locked on mine.
“You can sack me whenever you want,” he says in a low voice.
“Promises, promises,” I reply with a laugh.
His dark eyes heat up with even more promises as he stares at me, and I find myself fidgeting as desire floods my system. Riggs laughs and pulls me into a tight hug.
“God, I love you so much,” he whispers into my ear.
“And I love you,” I say, hugging him even tighter.
I thought that bet all those years ago was the worst thing that would ever happen to me. I’m happy to admit, I was wrong. Without it, I doubt we’d be where we are today.
And I never would have learned how much fun it is to be in a heated prank war.
Oh, and the war isn’t over just because we’re happy and in love. We still prank each other regularly, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Ready to go home, future Mrs. Malone?”
I look up at Riggs with a deadpan expression. “I’m ready, Future Mr. White.”
A laugh barks out of him, and he nods slowly. “Mr. White. I love it.”
It’s my turn to laugh. “And I love you. Forever and always.”