Page 24 of Flag On The Play (Gridiron Warriors #5)

FINLAY

I have no idea if she saw it. No idea if she’ll slam the door in my face. But I can’t stay away. Not after saying what I said on national television. Not after finally telling the truth.

I knock softly against the wood. The sound feels too small for the hurricane inside me.

The door swings open, and there she is. Eyes red and swollen. Tracks of fresh tears visible on her cheeks. My chest cracks right open.

“Can we please talk?” My voice is low, almost breaking.

Her hand grips the edge of the door like it’s the only thing keeping her upright. “Why now, Finlay?” Her tone isn’t sharp; it’s tired. Wounded. “Why not before the world knew? Why not before you broke me?”

I take a step closer, but stop when she subtly leans back. I could tell her it’s because she kept ignoring my calls. I could say it’s because when I was trying to reach her, she hid. But I won’t because this is all on me, and she deserves someone who understands that.

“Because I was scared,” I admit, my throat tight. “Scared of losing everything I’ve worked for. Scared of letting my team down. Scared of what it would mean for you if I didn’t handle it right. And I handled it so wrong.”

She lets out a humorless laugh that slices through me. “You handled it by disappearing. By letting me think I was nothing more than a mistake you had to erase.”

I run a hand over my jaw, fighting to keep my composure. “You were never a mistake.” My voice catches. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And I’ve been too much of a coward to stand in front of you and say that until now.”

Her eyes flash with pain and disbelief. “Do you have any idea what it’s been like for me? Walking into work with people whispering that I seduced the golden boy of football? That I ruined his career? Every single rumor felt like proof that you didn’t care enough to fight for me.”

I take another step forward, closing the gap between us. “I cared so much, Nova, it terrified me. And then I lost you anyway. I thought maybe you’d be better off without me.”

She shakes her head, tears spilling faster. “You don’t get to decide what’s better for me. You don’t get to disappear and then waltz back in because you finally feel ready.”

My heart pounds so hard I can feel it in my fingertips. “I’m not here because it’s convenient. I’m here because I love you. Because every day without you has been hell. Because I don’t want a Victory Bowl ring if you’re not the one I get to come home to.”

Her lips part, but no words come out. She looks away, like she’s afraid to let herself believe me.

I reach for her hand, gently curling my fingers around hers. “Tell me it’s too late, Nova. Tell me to walk away, and I will. But if there’s even the smallest part of you that still loves me, let me fight for you this time.”

She stares at our joined hands, and the silence between us is deafening.

Finally, she whispers, “You broke me, Finlay.”

“I know.” My voice cracks again. “But I swear to you, I will spend the rest of my life putting you back together if you’ll let me.”

She doesn’t say anything, and I’m starting to worry that I’m losing my chance here. So I just go for it.

“I tried to talk to you. I called, texted, left messages, and you didn't answer.

I knew what I had to do, and it wasn't just convincing you that I'm sorry.

It was convincing the world that the girl they thought they were talking about isn't you.

I should've done it immediately. I should've realized how hurt you were, but I fucked up and I've been trying to fix it since you walked out of my penthouse.

Now, the world knows I love you. They know this is real.

It's on you now, Nova. The next play is yours. "

"I’m hurt and angry and disappointed."

"So am I," I reply.

"But, damn it, Finlay, I still love you, and that makes this so much harder." I place my hands on her face as my eyes bounce between hers.

"Give me one more chance, Nova. One more time to prove I am the guy that you thought I was. I promise you, I swear on my football career, that I will not hurt you again. I will not disappoint you. I will support you and love you for the rest of my life. Please, Nova, I can't breathe without you."

"I'm still hurt, but I can't just let you go. You're the right guy who fucked up in all the wrong ways. You're trying to fix it, and I can't ignore that. I can't ignore what my heart wants either. I love you, Finlay, and I'm scared, but I'm more scared of losing you."

Her words hit me harder than any tackle I’ve ever taken. My chest is tight, my throat burning, and I’m not sure if it’s relief or the ache of knowing I’ve put her through hell that’s got me this wrecked.

“I’m scared too,” I admit, my voice rough. “Every damn day since you walked out, I’ve been terrified you wouldn’t come back. I’ve been terrified I ruined the best thing that ever happened to me.”

She doesn’t move away when I lean down, pressing my forehead to hers. Her breath is shaky, her hands gripping my shirt like she’s afraid I’ll disappear.

“You didn’t ruin it,” she whispers, “but you made it harder than it needed to be.”

“I know.” My eyes squeeze shut. “I keep replaying it all in my head. What I should’ve done, what I should’ve said. I should’ve protected you better, should’ve had your back from the first second. I don’t care about the noise, Nova. I care about you. Just you.”

Her lips part, and I see her fighting the war in her head. The side that wants to guard her heart and the side that wants to throw it at me all over again.

“I don’t trust easily, Finlay,” she says softly. “And you made me feel safe. Then in one night, that safety was gone.”

My heart splinters. “I’ll spend the rest of my life making you feel safe again. You want me to prove it every day? I will. You want me to shout it from every stadium in the league? Done. I’ll wear you on my sleeve, in my heart, everywhere. Just don’t let go of me.”

Her eyes glisten, tears catching in the low light. “God, you make it hard to stay mad at you.”

“That’s the plan, Wilde,” I murmur, brushing my thumb over her cheek again. “I want to be the only thing that’s hard in your life because you make me hard.”

A laugh slips from her, the first real one I’ve heard from her since this mess started. She shakes her head, but she doesn’t pull away.

“Don’t screw this up again, Reed.”

“Not a chance.”

When I kiss her this time, it’s not desperate. It's grounding. It’s the kind of kiss that feels like the first breath after being underwater too long. She tastes like home, like forgiveness, like the future I’ve been begging for.

And for the first time since that damn article, I know we’re going to be okay.