The Guy in the Middle (The Underdogs Book 3)

by Kate Stewart

  All of the fights, the sacrifice, all of the hurt, the heartache, the need, the failures, the faith he lost, the faith he found, it all comes down to this moment. The moment he thought impossible until he saw it for himself and earned it.

  Lance Prescott. The heavyweight champion of the world.

  Seconds after Tony pummels him in celebration, Trevor meets me at the side of the ring, hoisting me up as Rip guides me through the ropes. I rush to Lance, who’s already fighting the growing crowd to get to me. He’s swollen and bloody, but I can read every emotion in his eyes.

  “You did it!” I scream hysterically as he captures me and lifts me effortlessly into his arms. We hug for long seconds as I sputter out everything I’m thinking. “I’m so proud of you. We all are. He saw it, Lance. Your dad saw it. He saw it. Oh my God. You did it.”

  “I know, baby, I know. I love you, I love you,” he murmurs again and again, ignoring the celebration around him.

  “I always knew this was yours,” I say, sobbing into his chest.

  He pulls away and grips my head with his gloves as his belt is set on his shoulder. “And that’s why I’m here. Because I believed you.”

  Seven months later…

  Lance

  I stand in wait for my bride at the end of the aisle with Trevor, Troy, and Theo by my side. The church is only half full because we wanted the wedding intimate, but everyone who matters to us most is here. Three weeks after I won my belt, I moved to New York. From then on, it’s been a whirlwind. Endorsement offers came in, and my staff is losing their shit to keep up. On the other side of things, I keep busy training to defend my title while Harper dances at various shows of her choosing. She’s at the stage where her door is being knocked on now, not the other way around.

  I’ve never been prouder of her than I was on her last opening night before she accepted the roses I brought to her feet. She’s a star, no longer able to mask her talent, she’s now sought after, thriving. Just like I knew she would be.

  Mom leads Dad down the aisle, he shuffles his steps before they take their seats in the first pew. She’s already choking up, and I have to force myself to look away from her, so I don’t do the same. I’m not nervous, just ready. Ready to give this woman my last name, though our life together started years ago.

  “You nervous, brother?” Trevor whispers from next to me, clad in his fitted tuxedo.

  “Not one bit.”

  “Proud of you,” he says, cupping my shoulder.

  “Don’t do that shit now.”

  He chuckles, knowing I’m on the verge of getting emotional.

  He’s caught up with me in size, surpassing my height by an inch. He’s all man now, and cocky as ever, but he’s excelling at school. And I’m pretty sure he’s smitten with one of his coeds. He goes home every weekend to help out at the ranch like I did, though he doesn’t have to. I’ve managed to find capable hands, and as of now, the ranch is in good shape, though I anticipate ups and downs. But Trevor watches just as closely over our legacy. He’s a lot like me, family first, and I can’t think of a better man to be at my side. Troy and Theo stand next to him in matching tuxes, eyeing their wives across the aisle. Laney shifts in her boots, her eyes fixed on Theo as Clarissa shifts uncomfortably in her dress, looking every bit the eight months pregnant she is. Troy chuckles at her constant fidgeting and clears his throat when he catches her answering glare.

  On my side, my parents, Rip, a few guys Troy and I played with at Grand, and all of our ranch hands sit idle, waiting on Harper’s entrance.

  Harper’s side is full to the brim, with half of the dance population of New York. Her mother sits upfront along with Nana, who’s next to René. She winks at me, and I wink back. René mistakes my wink for him and blows me a kiss. I roll my eyes and surprise him by puckering up. I can’t hear him when he speaks, but I know whatever he’s saying is not fit for church. Though I did promise him a dance after the wedding.

  Not looking forward to it.

  Soft music is playing in the background as I take in the décor. Harper went all out, put her soul into this day, planning every detail. It’s then I really notice the sprays and sprays of white flowers that line the pews, and it dawns on me.

  “I picture a grand church, lined with large pillars with high arches hovering above. White roses showing little greenery everywhere. Everything white. All of my family and friends gathered. The perfect music.”

  She wasn’t planning her funeral that night. She saw the end, or rather our beginning. Even when we were unsure of every move we were making, her faith was unshakable.

  Determined not to let my emotions get to me, I avert my eyes from the eager faces lining the pews when the music starts.

  Fucking hell.

  It’s the theme song she danced to years ago, the song that I thought would lead to the end of us. Within a few notes, I can clearly see Harper gliding across the floor of her old apartment, the snowdrift behind her, her angelic hair trailing her frame.

  Determined to keep my shit together, I slowly inhale to steady myself.

  And then she appears, knocking the fucking breath out of me.

  Flowers in hand, walking slowly toward me down the aisle, her dress hugs her every curve and trails in a bed of soft lace behind her. Her hair is down, flowing over her shoulders. Glowing, her brown eyes dart along the pews as she greets everyone with a serene smile. She beams at them in welcome before her eyes drift over and find mine.

  “Damn it, Priss,” I cough out as tears I can’t hold glide down my face. She’s perfect. In every fucking way. This love I feel for her has taken me to incredible heights, and right now, I feel the highest I’ve ever been. Her love has also pressed me, pushed me outside of being comfortable, built me up, tortured me, but not once has it ever left me. It’s the most spectacular fucking emotion imaginable and I could not, would not, have ever felt it like this if it wasn’t for her. Her tears spill freely down her cheeks as she pauses at the end of the aisle, the man who guided her pulling her into his arms and holding her there. His face soaked as he whispers to her before turning red-rimmed eyes to mine.

  “I’ve got her. I swear to you.”

  “I know you do,” her father says as he joins our hands together the way we rehearsed it last night. But in this moment, it means a whole hell of a lot more.

  It’s been a long road of redemption for Ryan Elliot, and he’s still nowhere near together, but we’ve made peace for Harper. Though I don’t expect much of a relationship with him, I’m good with the gift he’s giving me as he puts her hand in mine. He steps away, wiping his face, and I turn to my bride, whose own face is streaking from her tears, eyes searching mine, all too tempted to take her lips.

  “You’re beautiful.”

  “I love you so much,” she says as I do my best to clear her tears with my thumbs. I’m a fucking mess myself, and I’m not the only one. As the music dies, Harper and I hear sniffs coming from all directions and turn toward the pews with concern as laughter fills the church.

  Grinning like fools, we collectively turn back to the priest to guide us. The second I slip the ring on her delicate finger—I feel a sense of peace wash over me. She squeezes my hand, reciting her vows earnestly with a tearful voice, her eyes alight with love as I do everything I can to keep from crushing her to me. I take in her every word. But in a way, I feel like we’ve already been living these vows.

  We’ve been there at our best and worst, through my dad’s sickness, in health, through poverty, and our new wealth, we’ve lived it. We’ve survived it. We fell in love in the thick of adversity and managed to make it to the other side stronger, better, and more in love than ever.

  Feet away from the statue that mirrors the struggle, I marry the woman I love in a room filled to the brim with faith. Faith she kept, faith she still has, faith I now share. Faith that manifested itself because of this love we have and became something I can see.

  “By the power vested in me by God and the State of New York,
I now pronounce you man and wife. Lance, you may kiss your bride.”

  I cup her face, stroking the sides of it with my thumbs before I take her lips to seal our union. As I kiss my wife, I can still hear her voice, as clear as the day she said it.

  “What if this moment, right here, is the moment that changes your life?”

  Theo

  “And now, ladies and gentlemen, a groomsman request. Would,” the deejay cuts off laughing, but you can still hear it on the mic, “Crazy Laney, would you please join your husband on the dance floor?”

  I search the room for my wife and see her head pop to the side of Lance’s broad shoulder before her eyes narrow where I wait for her. And then she smiles when she hears the first few notes of “You’ve Got the Touch,” and I swear I feel every step she takes in her smelly boots towards me. She looks so fucking beautiful in her dress, reminding me of the first night I claimed her.

  Seconds later, our hands are clasped, and we start to move to our song.

  “You walk a thin line, husband of mine.”

  “I’m aware. Have to keep you on your smelly toes.”

  “Enough with that. I put odor eaters in.”

  “Those boots stink. Your feet stink.”

  She rolls her eyes. “I met you in these boots. They’re lucky. I’m not ditchin’ ‘em.”

  “Let’s compromise. You won’t ditch me if I buy you new boots.”

  “I don’t need new boots. And that’s not a compromise.”

  “Laney,” I say, turning her so her dress swishes behind her.

  “Fine. Okay, I’ve done everything. They stink.”

  “Bad. It’s time to let go.”

  “Okay, later tonight. We’ll give them a proper burial.”

  “Thank Christ.”

  Her chin wobbles and I hate the sight of it.

  “Come on, babe. You can’t be that attached.”

  “I am. And that was the most beautiful wedding.”

  “So was ours.”

  She smiles. “Ours was perfect.”

  “Weddings are good luck for us.”

  “True.”

  She glances over my shoulder. “I have an idea.”

  “That’s never good.”

  “Shut up, Houseman. You think Courtney will mind if we do a realest life post?”

  “Who gives a shit if she does? We started it.”

  She grins at me. “True, we did. And look, everyone is back at the table.” She grips my hand and pulls me from the dance floor.

  Minutes later, we’re all groaning as Laney lifts her cell phone at various angles to take pics.

  “Just one more,” she presses in as Lance, Troy, Clarissa, Laney, Harper, and I crowd in for the selfie. It’s when I study the six of us in her screen that nostalgia kicks in hardcore.

  The friendships we have now are far more solid compared to the days where we were finding ourselves and fighting for these women who turned us into the better version of the men we’ve become. In the midst of low self-esteem among giants, I found a woman whose insides shine so fucking bright, all you can see is her. And somehow, I’ve managed to keep her amongst my madness, the chaos I’ve created with my music. The best part is she can hum along to every song because she’s half of my melody.

  Troy managed to woo Clarissa while fighting his own battles, facing his lowest points, gunning for the life he’d always imagined for himself, even when he wasn’t sure he could have it.

  And Lance, well, he’s been the biggest surprise of the three of us. In the worst circumstances imaginable, he fought to become a champion amongst men, a hero to other fighters, to his family, and bride.

  Back then, I didn’t think I knew my roommates so well. Didn’t think I had a thing in common with them. Turns out I couldn’t have been more wrong. Though our stories are vastly different, we all longed for the same thing—to belong—all the while figuring out who we were, trying to prove ourselves and win the affection of the women who would help us figure it all out. We may not have had the friendships we do now, but I have zero doubts crossing paths the way we did was a coincidence. Our stories stemmed from the same place, intertwined, and wouldn’t be what they are if it weren’t for each other. And we’ll be there for each other the way we have been the last couple of years and moving forward. Through every milestone, I’m sure of it.

  “One more guys,” Laney pipes up, and everyone groans and gives up as she continues her search for the perfect picture. Lance and Harper get lip-locked in the back while Troy drunkenly starts talking to Clarissa’s stomach as she rolls her eyes. Laney grins, switching angles in an effort to get it all in. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”

  “Would you be done already?” I strain, my face close to hers in the front.

  “I’m just trying to get a good shot. I need a selfie stick.”

  “I forbid it. And you’ve taken seventy. Choose one.”

  “A few more. It’s not often we get together like this. Oh, I forgot to tell you. I’ve accepted a new job.”

  “Awesome, can you take the pic and we can discuss it later. Wait, you took it, and you’re just now telling me?”

  “The position just popped up.”

  “What is it?”

  “Mother.”

  CLICK.

  #theunderdogsofoharadrive #awardwinningmaestro #NFLdream #heavyweightchampionoftheworld #mrshouseman #plusonecomingsoon #mrsjenner #mrsprescott #grandgirlsstaygrand #grandmanlegacy #friendsforlife #livingourrealestlives

  #THEEND

  USA Today bestselling author and Texas native, Kate Stewart, lives in North Carolina with her husband, Nick, and her naughty beagle, Sadie. She pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance, as well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense. Kate's title, Drive, was named one of the best romances of 2017 by The New York Daily News and Huffington Post. Drive was also a finalist in the Goodreads Choice awards for best contemporary romance of 2017. Her works have been featured in USA TODAY, BuzzFeed, and translated in five languages.

  Kate is a lover of all things '80s and '90s, especially John Hughes films and rap. She dabbles a little in photography, can knit a simple stitch scarf for necessity, and on occasion, does very well at whiskey.

  Other titles available now by Kate

  Room 212

  Never Me

  Loving the White Liar

  The Fall

  The Mind

  The Heart

  The Brave Line

  Drive

  The Real

  Someone Else’s Ocean

  Heartbreak Warfare

  Method

  Romantic Dramedy

  Balls in Play Series

  Anything but Minor

  Major Love

  Sweeping the Series

  Balls in Play Box Set: Anything but Minor, Major Love, Sweeping the Series, The Golden Sombrero

  The Underdogs Series

  The Guy on the Right

  The Guy on the Left

  The Guy in the Middle

  Erotic Suspense

  Sexual Awakenings

  Excess

  Predator and Prey

  Lust & Lies Box Set

  Let’s stay in touch!

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  Dear reader and friend,

  Thank you. The love you’ve shown for these characters propelled my one little comic relief book into a series that’s become one of my favorite writing ventures to date. It’s a gift you gave by voicing your love for this world, and the last two books would not have hap
pened without you. Thank you so much for taking a chance and staying on this journey with me. #icouldnotdothiswithoutyou

  XO

  Kate