Page 24 of (La)Crosse My Heart (Sweet Sports Kisses #7)
Eight Months Later
It’s amazing how one small choice can lead to so many great ones.
Moving to Utah was the best thing that could’ve happened to me. It’s like I’m a new person, and I can’t stop smiling about it.
We made it through the season and the guys lost in a heartbreaker to the Rattlers in the championship game. But the number of people who’ve gained interest in lacrosse over the past several months has increased way more than I thought it would.
Creating content to highlight the guys is definitely my passion, and it’s pretty great that I get paid for something I love so much.
One of my posts featuring Clark went viral, far surpassing the original one that started all of this in the first place.
I focus on the course in front of me, making sure to keep my feet moving.
Running my first marathon hasn’t been easy, and there were a few times I thought I might as well quit, but then I think of Clark facing his fears and pushing through the hard, and I keep going.
One mile, then two, and now I’m almost to the finish line.
He was supposed to join me here but tore some of the tendons in his ankle a few weeks ago while playing basketball with his roommates. But he made sure to be there to support every one of my longer runs to train for this, and I can’t wait to see him at the finish line.
My ear buds died around mile twenty and I’m just trying to keep my brain focused on the steps ahead.
“Go Jessa!” a voice calls from the sidelines. I turn to see a somewhat familiar face. It takes me a second or two to recognize Milo from the event we did last spring.
I wave and keep moving forward. We’re getting closer and the crowd is louder, giving me a shot of energy to pick up the pace.
I see Burton first, his height making him stand out. Then Stack and Finny. Jackson is leaning over to hear something Nora is saying to him. But there’s no Clark.
The finish line is less than fifty yards away and I push myself that last little bit, hoping Clark will be there.
There are a lot of people at the finish line, and I bend over, trying to get the air back into my lungs. Someone walks over and puts a medal over my neck.
“Congratulations on the finish. Enjoy your medal.” I glance up at the woman and give her a weak smile. I stand up as I try to catch my breath, scanning the crowd for Clark.
He promised he’d be here. What would’ve held him up?
I try no to be too disappointed, knowing that he’s never given me any indication that our relationship had become stale. It’s hard to let go of that past trauma though, but I’ve been working on it.
I glance down at the medal and hold it up, wondering why I would be given a gold one when I was probably middle of the pack in my age group.
The words, “WILL YOU MARRY ME?” are engraved on the front of it.
I frown, wondering if I’d gotten the wrong medal.
Then there’s a cheer from the crowd that causes me to turn around. There, walking out from behind the roommate squad, is Clark. He’s limping because of his foot, but he’s dressed in one of the suits we bought last year, looking like he just stepped out of a magazine. I can’t believe he’s mine.
I want to hug him, to tell him I’m so happy he’s here, but he’s wearing the suit and I’m covered in sweat.
“I did it!” I say, grinning as I half-stumble over to him.
“Yes, you did amazing.” He smiles, but it falters a bit. “Well, I have a question for you.”
“Please don’t ask me when I’ll do another one of these. Right now, I’d say probably never.”
He chuckles. Keeping eye contact with me, he slowly bends down so he’s on one knee. And then it’s like everything starts clicking.
“Jessa Lynn Stratton, will you be my forever interviewer and the love of my life by becoming my wife?”
He opens a small box and there’s a cheer from the audience closest to us. I clap my hands over my mouth, trying to will away the tears fighting to take over.
The guy hadn’t been late and hadn’t missed my finish. He was prepping to propose.
“Yes, Clark. That is one offer I can’t refuse.”
I pull him up and give him a kiss, ecstatic that I’m actually getting married to the man I adore more than any other on the planet. The yin to my yang. And the one I can’t imagine my future without.
“If you didn’t say yes, I was going to take him for you,” Nora says with a laugh.
“I don’t think Clark can handle either of you feisty ladies,” Stack says, grinning at Clark.
He rolls his eyes. “She said yes,” and then he leans forward and gives me another kiss on the lips. “How about we head back so you can change? Maybe we should go do something to celebrate.”
“You’re injured and I’m already as stiff as the Tin Man. Maybe takeout and a movie night?”
“What my fiancé wants, my fiancé gets,” he says with a little wink.
I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy. We walk out of the finish line area and I turn to him, lifting the medal so he can see it.
“How long have you been planning this?” I ask.
He gives me a half-smile, looking almost shy. “I knew I’d marry you the moment you stood up for me in that press conference last year. I was hoping to run the marathon with you and do a whole elaborate thing, but I had to make do with what I could physically do for you.”
I pause a moment. “You knew clear back then?”
His look is sheepish, and I lean over and kiss him again, this time making sure it’s filled with all the promise of my love now and the future.
“I love you, Jessa,” he whispers, taking my hand in his.
“I love you too, Clark.”
Who knew a leap of faith would lead me to one of the best outcomes in the future? From irritation to love, I’d do it all again.
I hope you fell in love with Clark and Jessa. I had so much fun writing their story!