Chapter Twenty-Four
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
MAC
T he chat with my teammates is absolutely blowing up this morning. Apparently, waking up to a message from me announcing that I have a girlfriend was the last thing they expected. As I scroll through their reactions, I can’t decide whether to laugh or be slightly offended. A few of them are already placing bets on how long this will last, which is both annoying and ridiculous. I shut it down immediately, assuring them I’m all in. I have no intention of sabotaging this. I’ve spent years away from Vivian, and I’m done wasting time.
After the twins’ intervention, it was like a weight had been lifted and the pieces aligned to bring Vivian and me back together. The party had faded into the background the moment we found each other again. We spent the rest of the night side by side, making up for all the lost time.
This morning, the first thing I did was text her, asking her to meet me for breakfast. I have a strong sense of urgency to figure out how we’re going to make this work. I know we have time before I head back to Tennessee, but I don’t want to leave anything uncertain. We’ve come too far to risk letting the doubts take over.
When I walk into the café, my eyes instantly find her. The sight of her hits me in a way I can’t describe. All different emotions spread through me, a mix of relief, excitement, and something deeper. Just knowing she’s been here all along feels surreal. I regret the time we lost, but maybe we needed it. I’m sure I needed to become the man she deserves.
She looks up as I approach, her face lighting up.
“Morning,” she says, standing to greet me.
I don’t hesitate to wrap my arms around her, holding her tight, burying my face in her neck as I breathe her in.
“Good morning,” I mumble.
For a few perfect seconds, we stay wrapped up in each other, and it doesn’t matter that we’re in the middle of a restaurant. When we finally pull apart, I take my seat across from her, unable to stop myself from staring at her. She looks beautiful, wearing a simple bright pink sweatshirt and a white baseball cap. There’s just something about a woman in a baseball cap. “How are you feeling today?” I ask.
She grins, her eyes sparkling. “A little tired, but good.”
“Same,” I admit.
As I look across the table at Vivian, a warm feeling spreads through my chest, solid and unwavering. This is it. I know it with every fiber of my being. And there’s no way I’m letting it slip away. The noise of the café surrounds us—but I’m focused on only her.
We place our breakfast orders, our conversation flowing effortlessly as we talk about the party last night and the way everything seemed to fall perfectly into place.
“So, I told my teammates about you,” I say casually, adding a packet of sweetener to my coffee .
She arches her brow. “Oh really? And what exactly did you say?”
I smile as I lean back in my chair. “Just that you were a huge fan of mine.”
She rolls her eyes, her expression changing into a scowl. “You did not.”
I chuckle. “Yeah. I’m kidding.”
“Good,” she says. “But just so you know, I’ll make sure I set the record straight when I come to Tennessee.”
I don’t even try to hide my excitement. “I love hearing you say that. In fact, I want to start planning—if you’re ready.”
Her face lights up, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she nods eagerly. “Yes, I’d love to. In fact, I was just thinking—I probably do need your autograph.”
A rush of excitement surges through me, making my heart race. This is what I’ve been waiting for—the beginning of something real. The next chapter of our story is finally unfolding, and I can’t wait to turn the page.
“It’s good to be back,” I say, stretching my arms overhead. “I’ve missed beating you on the court.”
Kyle scoffs, flipping his racquet in the air. “Well, you’ve been too busy with your girlfriend .”
I smirk. “Ah, and the pot meets the kettle. You’re one to talk—engaged and up to your neck in wedding planning.”
He grins, shaking his head. “You’re right. But seriously, how’s it going with Vivi?”
I let out a slow breath. Just the thought of her makes me giddy—it’s kind of embarrassing.
“Better than I ever could’ve imagined,” I finally say. “ We’ve talked about it a lot, and I think we’ve got a solid plan for when I leave—lots of quick visits here and there, at least in the beginning. And I’ll be back here more than I have in recent years, so you’d better get used to seeing this face on a regular basis.” I flash a grin.
Kyle nods. “I know I’ve said this before, but I’m sorry about how I acted.”
I shake my head. “You don’t have to say anything. And honestly, you had every reason to be concerned. I know Vivian is probably too good for me.”
Kyle arches a brow. “Probably.”
I roll my eyes but can’t help laughing. “Anyway, I’ve never been happier.”
“Good. Now enough of the emotional stuff, let’s do this.” He heads onto the court, bouncing the ball against the ground.
“I’m ready,” I announce.
And I am ready—ready for whatever lies ahead. The highs and the lows—because with Vivian by my side, I know anything is possible.