Epilogue
Damien
One year later
What a year it’s been. My football career has boomed. Since becoming the team’s starting tight end, they offered me an extension on my contract. I would have been a fool not to take it with the money that came with it. Besides, I’m doing what I love and am as close to my hometown and family as I can be. Plus, Tanya and I have never been stronger. Now, it was tough at times being apart, but we did our best to see each other whenever we had spare time. I even have to tip my hat off to my eldest brother and his wife. They brought Tanya to New York whenever they were coming here, which just happened to coincide with my home games; sneaky devils.
Speaking of a sneaky devil, I’ve got something planned for Tanya after today’s game, which I made sure that she and as much of my family are attending. Small price to pay for the tickets to have as many of them here to witness.
I’m currently at my locker in the team’s locker room, double checking for the umpteenth time that I brought the diamond engagement ring I had designed for Tanya with me. I hope she loves it. The diamonds are in the shape of a flower.
“Hey, Shaw. Coach is waiting for us.” One of my teammates says.
I close my hand around the ring and respond, “Right. I’m coming.” Coach will be holding the ring in his pocket until after the game.
Tanya
“This has been an amazing game, hasn’t it, Ellie?” I ask my best friend just as the game clock ticks down, leaving one minute. Our team is leading by seventeen points, and they have the ball—the win belongs to them.
She nods with a smile. “You bet it is. Hey, who’s that coming towards us?” She asks.
A guy from the security team comes towards me. “Excuse me, Tanya, Damien Shaw’s girlfriend?”
I look at him, perplexed. “Uh, yeah, that’s me.”
He nods. “Please come with me.”
I follow his lead and watch the end of the game as we walk. When he escorts me down to the actual field, I glance around the crowd of people who have come on the field after the win, and the players, looking for Damien. I spot him being interviewed by a sports reporter from one of the largest sports stations around. As if he can sense I’m near, he turns his head and smiles, and signals for me to come closer. When I’m within his reach, he reaches out and takes hold of my wrist and pulls me toward him.
“Hey angel.” He says, then lays a sweet kiss on the top of my head.
“Well, Shaw, are you going to introduce the lady to us?” The sports reporter asks, and I don’t need a mirror to know my face is flushed. I could feel the heat radiating from it.
“Sure, just give me a second. I was planning to do this a different way, but you snagged me before I could,” Damien says to the sports reporter, then turns to me and gets down on one knee.
“Oh, my God!”
He grins. “This is Tanya. The woman I love with all of my heart and soul. My best friend, the love of my life, and MINE. Tanya, will you marry me?”
“Yes! I love you too!” I proclaim instantly.
He places the gorgeous ring that happens to resemble a flower on my left ring finger, then envelops me in a hungry kiss while everyone around us cheers and looks on.
“Witnessed live, Damien Shaw is off the market. You can literally hear hearts breaking across the country,” is the last thing I hear before I’m lost in Damien’s kiss.
THE END