by Vanessa Fox
"How did you know I was here?"
He shrugs. "Katie."
"W-what... what are you doing here?" The words are so hard to spit out. I feel like I can barely speak. My heart is beating out of my chest and my brain is beyond jumbled.
He just looks at me. His eyes graze my features, and he seems to be searching for the right words to say. "I'm... I'm... I just—"
He shakes his head with a huff. "Fuck it."
He climbs back on top of me and lowers his head, pressing his mouth to mine. Electricity shoots through my body, and I'm in utter shock. His kiss is warm, his lips gently grazing mine until I open up and let him in deeper. He caresses my cheek and I instinctively wrap my arms around his torso, pressing him to me. Our bodies sink into the sand, water gliding in and out around us.
Kade breaks the kiss and whispers into my ear. "I missed you."
"I don't understand," I whisper back.
"I don't want to do this without you," he says, cupping my face in his hands. He gazes intently into my eyes. "I'm half a person without you, Willow. I need you."
I can't believe what I'm hearing. "What changed?" I breathe.
He takes my hand and helps pull me to my feet. Wet and covered in sand, our expensive clothes more or less ruined, we step a little ways up the beach where it's dry. Still holding my hand, he turns to me and smiles, his blond hair damp, half his face glittering with grains of sand.
"What changed?" he repeats. "Nothing. Nothing's changed. I was angry before. Frustrated. But I've always loved you, Willow. I've always wanted you. Needed you. Ever since you showed up in Mr. Abbot's American History class, looking all scrawny and nerdy. Somehow, even then, I knew it. I just knew it, as soon as I laid my eyes on you. And nothing's changed. I still know it."
I open my mouth to speak, but I don't know what to say. I'm shell shocked.
"You know me, Willow," he says softly, his green eyes illuminated under the light of the moon. "I love taking risks. I know I may be embarrassing myself. I know there's a good chance you want nothing to do with me, and I wouldn't blame you. But I figured— if there's even an infinitesimal chance that you might want to give this another attempt… I have to take it. Because there's one thing I can't risk, and that's letting you get away without trying my best to win you back."
My eyes are burning with tears and my bottom lip trembles. I realize I can't be taken in by the romantic setting and Kade's mysterious reappearance, like some surreal scene in a movie. I need to hold on to some semblance of logic and common sense, even if my heart is screaming at me to just say 'fuck it' and leap into his arms. "B-but you said… you said we're not compatible. That we weren't meant to be together." It's hard to spit out the words without breaking down and crying.
He smiles. "I was upset. And, to be fair, my brain was more than a little scrambled. But I see clearly now. I'm miserable without you, Willow. I never could get over you the first time. And if this ends right now, I know I never will."
I blink my tears away and take a deep, shuttering breath. "It doesn't have to end."
His face lights up. Grains of sand fall from his cheeks as he grins wide.
"I haven't stopped thinking about you," I admit. "Every minute of every day. It's been so painful. It hurts so bad."
He steps close and takes my face in his hands, gazing down at me with a look of pure love in his eyes. "Neither one of us have to hurt anymore."
Kade leans down and kisses me. I wrap my arms around his waist and pull him in tight. We're both enveloped in the shimmering light of the moon, and like magic, it happens. The pain disappears. The emptiness fills. Whatever loneliness and discomfort I felt before has dissolved in an instant. My heart swells and I feel like it might burst out of pure joy.
He grabs my wrist and guides my hand around to grip his ass. I giggle, feeling the warm blush in my cheeks at his boldness. But then I feel something in his back pocket, and I freeze.
He breaks the kiss and chuckles.
My heart is racing. My jaw drops. "Kade… I—"
He reaches back and pulls it out, dropping to one knee.
"Willow Greene, will you—"
I don't let him finish. He hasn't even opened the box yet as I tackle him, wrapping my arms around his neck, smothering him with kisses. "Yes, yes," I breathe. I don't even need to think about it. I already know. Our lips are fused as we roll together on the sand, waves crashing behind us.
Somewhere in the distance, I hear cheering and clapping. We both glance up to see a group of party-goers having a cigarette break on the veranda. They apparently watched the whole thing, and now they're hooting and hollering in celebration.
"Don't you want to see the ring?" he asks.
Honestly, I don't care. I already received the best gift I could've ever asked for. But I smile and nod, and we sit facing each other on the sand.
He smirks, and there's a guilty look in his eyes. "Your answer might be no after you see this."
He holds out the velvet box and opens it up. Inside is a yellow and green plastic ring with a cherry in the middle.
All I can do is laugh, puzzled.
"I went to a jeweler but I wasn't sure your size," he says. "And I couldn't understand a damn thing the guy was saying."
He pulls out the ring and takes my hand, slipping it on my ring finger. "I got frustrated and left. So in desperation, I had to opt for the vending machine."
It fits perfectly. I giggle, my cheeks blushing. "I love it," I say. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. I brush my nose against his whiskered cheek. "I prefer it, actually."
"That's why you're one of a kind," he laughs.
"Don't worry," I say. "We'll both get our rings soon enough."
He cocks his head and gives me a look. I hold my breath, wondering if it's too soon to make a joke about his Gridiron Bowl loss.
Fortunately his face breaks into a smile instead. He holds up a finger, admonishing me playfully. "You better watch it."
We both laugh, and I crawl into his arms again, pushing him back onto the sand. The world around us melts away as I lose myself in his embrace. It feels like I've just woken up from a long and terrible dream. And like a dream, it quickly fades, and already I can scarcely remember it. All I know now is Kade's warmth, his body pressed against mine, and a promise of a bright future ahead of us. Finally together, finally one. The storm clouds have long passed and they're rapidly disappearing behind us.
There's only clear skies ahead, as far as the eyes can see.
THE END
Epilogue
Kade
My eyes dart over the length of the field as I step back. I set my sights on my wide receiver, Tyrone, standing about ten yards away, his eyes locked on me, focused. I take a deep breath as I snap the pass. It sails over the heads of the scrambling defense. Tyrone leaps into the air and makes a perfect catch, landing on his feet and falling forward on his knees.
His mother, Tammy, squeals with joy on the sidelines. "That's my boy, Tyrone!"
"Good job, buddy!" I shout, clapping my hands.
"I did it!" Tyrone exclaims, hopping to his feet and thrusting the football triumphantly in the air.
I run to him and sweep him into my arms, twirling him 360 degrees as he laughs. The other kids are running around in a frenzy, wrestling with each other, giggling and throwing foam footballs under the warm rays of the mid-morning sun.
"You're getting so good at this," I say to Tyrone. "I swear you're gonna be a first round draft pick some day."
He cocks his bald, gleaming head and gives me a look. "But y'all are so good, no way you'll get the first round pick."
My eyes widen and I can't help but laugh. I have no idea how a six year old can be so intelligent. "You're right, bud. Looks like you might have to play for the Florida Pirates, instead."
"Ew, yuck!" He cringes. "No way, Hose!"
I laugh as I set him back down. He immediately takes off, football in the crook of his arm, zigzagging and dodging the other
kids like a skilled running back. He keeps going, running nearly thirty yards downfield until he reaches the endzone. He lets out a roar of celebration as he spikes the football. Tammy is on the sidelines, rooting for him as she films a video on her cell phone.
I can't help but smile as I admire him. I wasn't lying when I said he'd be a first round draft pick some day. I'd never be so cruel as to promise him something that I know could never happen. But six months ago, the terminally ill Tyrone Banks made a sudden and miraculous recovery. His cancer all but disappeared on its own, and a few rounds of chemo took care of the rest. Now he's as vivacious and spirited as I've ever seen him, his body just bursting with energy, eager to finally release all of the power and strength that had been held dormant inside of him for so long.
Watching him running around the field with boundless, happy energy, like a restless dog finally let off its chain, I know with absolute certainty that that kid will lead a charmed life.
I can't say the same for every other child here, but I sure wish I could. Truthfully, only the healthiest of them even have the privilege of running around with me on the field today. Others must only sit on the sidelines and watch, but we make sure we do everything we can to make them feel included, too. Passing the football back and forth. Practicing audibles. Visits from Randy, the Alpha's red and blue striped elephant mascot.
I won't pretend that every child here will have a happy ending. Some won't. But I can't dwell on that. Today, right now, the warm Georgia sun is bathing all of us in rays of light and hope. The air is clear and fresh. The lawn is fresh-cut and brilliantly green. These kids desperately need it after being cooped up in stuffy hospital rooms for so long. And looking at all their faces, they're smiling. They're laughing. They're having the time of their lives.
I feel tiny arms wrap around my leg. I look down to see Cara smiling up at me with her big, sky blue eyes. "My turn! My turn!" she urges.
"Okay, you wanna catch? Or you wanna run?"
"Hm… I wanna run!"
I find a stray foam football on the grass. I kneel down to eye level behind her, placing my hand on her shoulder. "Okay, you're gonna want to find the hole and slip through it, okay?"
There is no semblance of an offensive or defensive line anymore. Just countless kids running around erratically, their attention spans too short to stick with their assigned positions for long. But we can pretend.
"And remember, be patient," I instruct as she nods seriously. "Don't just plow through. Well, you can if you want. But it's better sometimes to step back and wait for a path to open up."
"Okay, I got it," Cara says resolutely.
"And whatever you do, don't let go of the football!"
"No fumbles."
"No fumbles."
I crouch in front of her, becoming the center. I shout a few made-up audibles that make her giggle. "Texas! Foxtrot! Barbie Doll, Little Mermaid, HUT!"
I thrust the football back behind my legs. She takes it and I step aside, watching her as she bolts like lightening down the field. She dodges two kids wrestling on the grass, and when an older boy, Lucas, spots her and tries to make a tackle, she expertly cuts to the left, leaving him in the dust as she runs her heart out. She makes it about twenty yards before collapsing onto the grass, rolling around in a fit of giggles.
I run to her. She's trying to catch her breath.
"That was amazing!" I say.
I take her hand and help her to her feet.
"I'm too tired to make it all the way to the endzone," she explains through huffed breaths. "But I got a first down at least, right?"
"Absolutely. See that red marker over there, five yards behind us? That's the first down. Awesome job!"
"Yay!" She grins and gives me a high-five. "Hey Kade, can I ask you a question?"
"Of course!"
"How come there are no girls allowed in football?"
I cock my head. "Well, there's no rule that says girls can't play. It's just that when you become a grown-up, boys tend to be stronger and faster."
She squints up at me through the sunshine. "Oh. That's lame."
"I know. But that doesn't mean there can't ever be a girl football player. In fact, you're so good, I think maybe you could be the first one."
Her face lights up. "Really?!"
I laugh. "Yes, really!"
"Woohoo!" She bounces up and down. "I'm gonna go tell my mom! Forget being a vet, I wanna be a football player!"
She skips to the sidelines, a happy bounce in her step.
I take a deep breath of fresh morning air, taking it all in. Looking at the empty stands of Centurion Field, the red seats glowing under the light of the sun, I realize that all of the dreams I've ever had have come true right here on this turf. I used to sit in those stands as a child, watching games with my father, cheering on the bad-to-mediocre Alphas. Their poor performance back then didn't faze me much. Somehow I knew that one day the Alphas would make it to the Gridiron Bowl. Not only that, I knew that I would be the one to take them there.
Fifteen years later, I made my league debut right here on this field and launched the most successful season that the Alphas have seen yet. Heartbreaking last second loss aside. I still did it. And in less than a month, I'll get my chance to make another go at it.
But that's not the only dream I fulfilled here. At the far end of the field, past the yellow uprights, maybe six or seven rows up, I laid my eyes on her again. And so it began.
Her signature, melodic laugh fills my ears. I glance to the sidelines and watch her as she chats with Tammy. She's grinning ear to ear. Her dark brown hair is pulled into a high pony-tail, strands of gold glinting in the sunlight. She's wearing an Alphas blue and red tank top, and sexy jean shorts. I know this isn't the appropriate time or place, but damn, that outfit really highlights her curves and gets my engine revving. I know how we'll be passing the time this afternoon.
Tammy is laughing her ass off and slapping her knee. It must be really funny, because Willow is doubled over in a fit of laughter herself.
She glances up and we make eye contact. Her deep blue eyes still bring my heart to a standstill.
She waves me over, and before I jog to her I take one last look around the field.
All of my hopes and dreams have materialized right here on this field. My field. From my career aspirations, to my goal of starting a modest little charity for these sick kids, to falling deeply (back) in love with my soulmate and making her mine. It's all here, it's all really happening. All these things that once existed as vague, fuzzy notions in some fanciful corner of my imagination, are now fully realized and stand right before me in the here and now.
Looking at it, it all seems so delicate and impermanent. I sometimes wonder if this is really happening. I try not to take it for granted, in fear that at any moment I might wake up to find it was one of those impossibly good dreams— like those dreams where you win the lottery and marry your celebrity crush, only to wake up feeling sorely disappointed in the morning.
But when I slip my arm around her waist and pull her in close, I know it's not a dream. She rests her head on my shoulder, still giggling.
Her hair smells like strawberry shampoo. I can feel her heartbeat pounding against my chest. I lift her chin and our eyes meet. Her pupils dance back and forth between mine. We both smile in shared acknowledgment of the perfection of this moment.
I take her hand and pull it to my lips, kissing the glittering 16-carat diamond ring on her finger.
I know not every moment from here on out will be as perfect as this one. But it doesn't need to be.
Willow is mine, and that's all that matters. Together, we will take on the world.
And if the world was impressed by my rookie year as quarterback of the Atlanta Alphas, let me say this: they ain't seen nothin' yet.
Click Here to join Vanessa Fox's newsletter for updates on her newest books, plus promos and giveaways!
Vanessa Fox is a thirty-something independent romance author who liv
es in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two kids. When she's not writing steamy, angst-filled romances, you can find her with her nose in a book, at the piano playing Chopin, in the kitchen cooking up something tasty (hopefully), or indulging in her Netflix addiction. She also spends way too much time watching NFL games. Her favorite team is the Seattle Seahawks.