Chapter 22 #2
"Meant every word." I set her down but kept my arms around her. "This win is ours. Yours and mine. Because you helped me get here."
"You got yourself here. I just held your hand along the way."
"Best hand I've ever held." I kissed her forehead. "Come on. Let's get out of here before the media circus finds us."
We snuck away while the team was still celebrating, finding a quiet spot on the far side of the stadium where we could see the field but avoid the chaos.
"I'm so proud of you," Rosie said, sitting beside me on the grass. "Not just for winning, but for facing your fear. For taking those shots."
"I almost didn't. Both times, I felt the panic rising." I took her hand. "But then I thought about everything we've talked about in therapy. About how fear is just information, not a command. And I thought about you, believing in me."
"I always believe in you."
"I know. That's what makes it possible." I pulled her closer. "Thank you. For everything. For the playlists, for the early morning pep talks, for the Pilates sessions, for loving me even when I was a mess."
"You're still a mess sometimes," she teased. "I love you anyway."
"Good. Because I'm planning to be your mess for a very long time."
She laughed, that beautiful sound that never failed to make my heart skip. "I can live with that."
We sat there watching the sun set over the field, the championship trophy gleaming in the distance, both of us thinking about how far we'd come.
"Derek?" Rosie said eventually.
"Yeah?"
"I added a new song to our playlist. For today."
"Yeah? What is it?"
She pulled out her phone and played an acoustic cover of "We Are the Champions."
I groaned. "Really? That's so cheesy."
"It's perfect and you know it." She was grinning. "Besides, you said you'd pretend not to like my song choices but secretly love them. It's kind of our thing."
"It is our thing." I kissed her. "Play it again."
She did, and we sat there listening to the cheesy, perfect song, both of us champions in our own ways.
ROSALIE
The championship celebration party at the soccer house that night was unlike anything I'd experienced. Usually, I felt anxious at parties, out of place, and uncomfortable. But tonight, with Derek's arm around me and no more secrets to hide, I felt like I belonged.
"Rosie!" Nova pulled me away from Derek, Ivy, and Daisy in tow. "We're doing shots. Don't argue."
"I don't drink."
"It's a celebration! One shot won't kill you." Nova was already pouring something that looked suspiciously strong.
"Fine. One." I took the shot glass, grimacing at the smell. "What is this?"
"Don't ask questions. Just drink on three." Nova raised her glass. "To the championship!"
"To Derek scoring the winning goal!" Ivy added.
"To love and friendship!" Daisy chimed in.
"To new beginnings!" I finished.
We downed the shots together. I immediately regretted it, coughing as the liquid burned down my throat.
"That was disgusting," I gasped.
"But you did it!" Nova hugged me. "I'm so proud of how far you've come this year, Rosalie. Seriously."
"What do you mean?"
"Last year, you were this shy girl who barely talked to anyone. And now?" Nova gestured around. "You're here, celebrating with us. Dating Derek openly. Teaching Pilates. You're living your life instead of hiding from it."
Her words hit me harder than the shot. She was right. I had changed. Somewhere between the injury and now, between losing my identity and building a new one, I'd become someone different.
Someone I actually liked.
"Thank you," I said, hugging her back. "For being my friend. For not giving up on me when I was terrible at maintaining friendships."
"You were never terrible. Just traumatized." Nova pulled back, grinning. "Now come on. I heard Maddox challenging Dex to a dance-off, and I need to witness this disaster."
We found Derek and Maddox in the living room, surrounded by a crowd of cheering teammates. Music pulsed through the speakers. Some ridiculous pop song that had everyone hyped.
"I'm telling you," Maddox was saying, "soccer players have rhythm. We're basically dancers."
"You're basically delusional," Derek shot back, but he was laughing.
"Prove it then. Dance battle. Right now."
"Oh, this is happening," Max appeared with his phone out, ready to record. "Winner gets... I don't know, bragging rights?"
"Winner gets to pick the next team bonding activity," Maddox decided.
"Deal." Derek spotted me in the crowd, and his expression shifted. "But I'm bringing in a ringer. Thorn, get over here."
"Oh no." I shook my head. "I don't dance at parties."
"Come on, Thorn. Show them what you've got."
The crowd started chanting: "Rosie! Rosie! Rosie!"
I looked at Derek, at his encouraging smile, at the way he believed I could do this. And suddenly, I wanted to. Not because I had to prove anything, but because it looked fun.
"Fine." I stepped into the makeshift dance circle. "But if we're doing this, we're doing it right. Someone change the music to something with actual rhythm."
Max scrolled through his playlist. "How about this?"
An upbeat electronic song came on, and I felt my body respond instinctively. This was different from ballet. It was looser, freer, more spontaneous.
"Watch and learn," I said to Maddox, and let the music move me.
The crowd went wild as I executed a series of moves that combined ballet technique with club dancing. I wasn't performing, wasn't trying to be perfect. I was just moving, just feeling the music, just having fun.
Derek joined me, and we moved together naturally, as we did in the studio, but with more playfulness. He spun me out and back in, dipped me dramatically, and the crowd lost their minds.
"Okay, okay, you win!" Maddox called out, laughing. "I concede. Soccer players are not dancers."
"Speak for yourself," Derek shot back. "I'm clearly an exception."
"You're clearly dating a dancer," Aaron corrected, appearing beside us. "That doesn't count."
But he was smiling. Really smiling. And when he looked at Derek and me together, there was no anger or resentment. Just acceptance.
"Having fun?" Aaron asked me.
"Actually, yeah. I am."
"Good. You deserve it." He squeezed my shoulder. "Both of you do."
The night continued in a blur of celebration. At some point, someone started karaoke, and I found myself singing a duet with Derek to some cheesy love song that had everyone swaying and singing along.
"You're full of surprises," Derek murmured as we finished, his forehead resting against mine.
"So are you." I kissed him softly, not caring that everyone was watching. "Thank you for tonight. For making me feel like I belong."
"You do belong. You always did." He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "You just needed to believe it."
Later, when the party had mellowed, and people were scattered in smaller groups talking and laughing, I found myself on the back patio with the girls.
"Can I say something sappy?" Ivy asked, slightly tipsy. "I love our little group. Like, I really love you guys."
"Oh god, drunk Ivy is emotional Ivy," Nova laughed.
"I'm serious! Both Rosie and Daisy have grown so much this year, it just makes me emotional to watch you girl shine again.”
"Okay, that's definitely the alcohol talking," I laughed, exchanging a grin with Daisy.
"No, she's right," Nova insisted. "You've both transformed. And it's been beautiful to watch."
"You guys are going to make me cry," Daisy said, blinking back tears.
"Good tears though, right?" Ivy asked.
"The best tears." They hugged, and it made me emotional to watch the two sisters reconnect. I looked at these women who'd become my friends, my support system, my chosen family.
Derek appeared in the doorway. "Sorry to interrupt, but Coach wants to say something."
We all headed back inside, where Coach had gathered the team in the living room.
"I'll keep this brief," he started. "This season wasn't easy. We had injuries, setbacks, and internal conflicts. But we pushed through it together. And tonight, we're champions because we never gave up on each other."
He looked directly at Derek. "Some of you faced demons this season. Overcame obstacles that would have broken lesser people. Derek, I'm especially proud of the courage you showed tonight. That penalty kick? That was more than just a goal. That was you refusing to let fear win."
The room erupted in applause.
"And Max," Coach continued, "thank you for being a leader who knows when to be tough and when to show grace. That's what great captains do."
More applause and cheers.
"Finally, I want to say that this team is more than just soccer. You're a family. And like all families, sometimes you fight. Sometimes you hurt each other. But at the end of the day, you love each other enough to work through it."
His eyes moved to Derek and Aaron, standing side by side.
"That's what makes a championship team. Not talent, not skill, though you have both in abundance. What makes you champions is your willingness to show up for each other, even when it's hard."
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of his words settling over us.
Then Max started a slow clap that built into thunderous applause.
"All right, enough serious talk," Coach said, grinning. "Enjoy your night. You earned it."
As the party resumed, Derek pulled me aside.
"Want to get out of here?" he asked. "Go somewhere quiet?"
"Read my mind."
We slipped out the back door and walked to his car. The November night was cool but not cold, perfect for a drive with the windows down.
"Where are we going?" I asked as he pulled out of the driveway.
"You'll see."
He drove us to the hiking trail where we'd watched the sunset what felt like a lifetime ago. But instead of hiking, he pulled out a blanket from his trunk and spread it on the grass at the trailhead.
We lay side by side, staring up at the stars.
"I've been thinking," Derek said after a moment. "About what Coach said. About family and showing up for each other."
"Yeah?"
"I want that. With you. Not just dating, not just whatever we're calling this right now. I want to build something real. Something that lasts."
My heart started racing. "Derek."
"I'm not proposing," he said quickly. "I know we're young and we have school and careers to figure out. But Rosie, I need you to know that this isn't temporary for me. You're not temporary."
"You're not temporary for me either," I said softly. "You're it. The person I want to build a future with."
"Even knowing I'm going to have bad days? Days when the PTSD flares up and I'm not fun to be around?"
"Even then. Because I'm going to have bad days too. Days when my hip hurts, and I grieve for what I lost. And you'll be there for those days, right?"
"Always."
"Then we're even." I rolled onto my side to face him. "We're not perfect, Derek. We're both still healing. But we're healing together, and that's what matters."
He kissed me then, slow and deep and full of promise. When we broke apart, he reached into his pocket.
"I got you something. It's not an engagement ring," he added quickly at my expression. "It's a promise."
He held out a small box. Inside was a delicate silver bracelet with tiny soccer ball and ballet slipper charms intertwined.
"Derek," I breathed. "It's perfect."
"The jeweler said she could add more charms as we go. Build our story." He fastened it around my wrist and kissed the inside of my wrist. "I figured we could add one for every major milestone. Good and bad. Building a visual reminder that we're in this together."
Tears streamed down my face. "I love it. I love you."
"I love you too, Thorn. More than I thought possible."
We lay there under the stars, our lips locked, legs tangled as we explored each other’s bodies like we had all the time in the world. This time, there was no rush to our moves, no fear of getting caught or someone calling us. It was just us two and the stars.
He slid into me with practiced ease, making me moan his name over and over, like my favorite prayer.
My fingers curled into his messy hair as I held onto him, before pushing my hips up and flipping us over.
I straddled him with a wide smile, watching the pleasure on his face as I sank all the way on his length, before circling my hips in a slow, seductive way.
His fingers dug into my hipbone, and I loved seeing him lose control with me. Loved seeing all the different sides of him and getting to know him better.
“Faster, Thorn,” he groaned, his fingers moving to my butt cheeks, massaging and urging me on.
I obliged, watching in awe the pleasure on his face that I could give him and no one else, the honest and open expression, and the safety we both had with each other to be whoever we wanted to be.
Leaning down, I kissed his face with a sweet smile that was in full contrast to the way he stabbed his hips seeking a faster release.
Derek’s hand moved up my back, all the way to my breasts, cupping them, before sucking on my nipple.
A loud moan escaped me, and he grinned victoriously around my tensed buds.
“Come for me, Thorn,” he muttered over my breasts as he sucked on my nipple harder, making me see stars with my eyes closed. “I want us to come together.”
Our bodies moved in unison as we picked up a faster pace, our pants and moans, mixing until we both reached our climax seconds apart.
I collapsed on top of him, feeling him fill me up before his cum dripped down my thighs. But neither of us moved to untangle each other as Derek drew lazy circles on my back, slowly lulling me to sleep.
We stayed like that until the sky started to lighten, until the first hints of dawn colored the horizon. Then we drove back to campus, exhausted but happy, ready to face whatever came next.
Together.