Page 134 of False Start

And that knowledge nearly knocked me to my knees every time I thought about it, no matter how many weeks it’d been.

My chest squeezed as Madelyn laughed at something Sebastian was saying, and then as if she felt me watching her, her warm brown eyes searched the room until she found me staring back at her.

Time slugged to a stop, the noise muting around us as her lips curled up into a soft, knowing smile.

Mine.

She was mine.

My rib cage expanded with the thought as I made my way to them, ready to sweep her up into my arms for the whole room to see. But Sebastian barreled into me first, crushing my legs in a hug.

“That. Was.Awesome!” he said, bouncing up and down with eyes the size of coasters. “We could seeeverythingfrom our seats! When you ran that one play, the one where you spun and shoved your hand in that guy’s face?” Sebastian made a noise I’d never heard, something between a squeal and an evil laugh. “It was the best! I want to come toeverygame!”

I bent down next to him, flicking his hat. “I think you’re my good luck charm.”

“Next time, you gotta get a touchdown when I’m here.”

“What do I get if I do?”

“Hmmm… breakfast in bed! I’ll make it!”

“You’llmake it, huh? So, what am I getting? Cheerios?”

“Froot Loops!”

I laughed, plucking at his jersey. “I like your style, by the way.”

“Wouldn’t wear any other number,” he said proudly with a toothy grin — one that showed evidence that he’d be losing his front teeth soon.

Madelyn squeezed Sebastian’s shoulder. “He wanted to make sure he hadthisspecific one, too. Not the white one. It had to be the navy.”

“These ones are the coolest,” Sebastian said matter-of-factly.

I winked at him, and then pulled my girl into my arms, inhaling the sweet scent that was so uniquely her. Tea and ink and citrus. I pressed my lips to her hair, feeling whole again.

“And what about you,” I asked. “You enjoy yourself?”

“Eh, it was alright.”

She smirked with the tease, but that didn’t stop me from digging my fingers into her side and tickling her mercilessly. Giana watched the whole ordeal with a soft smile on her face, like she both couldn’t believe what she was witnessing, and like she’d seen it coming all along.

“How did Clay do?” I asked, tucking Madelyn under one arm and Sebastian under the other.

“Beastly. He got an interception that wasalmosta pick six. Sadly, they didn’t win, but he seemed in decent spirits.”

“You see him tomorrow?” Madelyn asked.

Giana nodded. “Yes, and it still feels like too long. I swear, my hormones make me needy. We both fly home in the morning, and I’ve got just a few more weeks before I won’t be flying at all.”

“I can’t imagine you sitting still,” I remarked.

“Oh, trust me. I won’t be. I’ll be bossing Clay around to get the nursery painted and organized. If he thinks Coach is a hard ass, just wait until he sees me at thirty-eight weeks pregnant.”

We all laughed at the image, and I made a mental note to check in on my soon-to-be-dad friend. I knew he was excited, but I wondered if he was nervous, too. I wondered if he felt the way I did — like he wanted to be the best dad possible, all while understanding that he was forsuregoing to fuck up.

We stayed and visited for a while longer before Giana was ready to head to her hotel, and we were ready to brave the madness of the paparazzi on our way out to the parking lot. I’d asked Madelyn if she wanted to leave separately, if she wanted to avoid the spotlight for a while longer, but she’d wrapped her arm in mine and held Sebastian’s hand and said she was done hiding.

Cameras flashed as we made our way through the stadium — though there were fewer gathered now than there had been right after the game ended. I knew Giana would be houndedin the morning, everyone wanting to know who Madelyn was. Sebastian stole the show, grinning and waving at every camera we passed. I had a feeling he’d have no problem with a life that came with a bit of spotlight, but I still wanted to protect him at all costs, to make sure he never felt like his privacy was invaded.