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CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

ATLAS

I normally hated the pomp and circumstance of a Starlight Cove homecoming game.

There was too much bullshit all around.

All I wanted to do was coach some goddamn football.

But I couldn’t deny there was something worthwhile about experiencing it through Sutton’s eyes.

I’d been on edge all day, and only partially because of the town.

But being on edge whenever I wasn’t near Sutton had become my baseline.

If I could wear her around like a backpack, I would.

Besides that, I worried how she’d handle all this.

Starlight Cove was a whole fucking lot on the best of days.

But this town became an entirely different beast during homecoming.

I didn’t want her to feel singled out or alone, so I’d asked my mom to sit with her during the game.

It could have been the charge I felt in the air, or it could have been that I kept glancing over at the stands every two minutes, but I noticed immediately when Sutton arrived.

Those fears that she would be left out were instantly squashed.

She hadn’t been able to walk more than five steps without someone stopping her.

Where that kind of interaction would have only pissed me off, Sutton met each interruption with a bright smile.

Seeing her here, in my town, being welcomed by the people I’d known more than half my life, all while wearing a jersey with my name on it, did something to me.

Made me want to climb to the top of the bleachers and yell to the entire stadium that she was mine .

I only wished it were true.

Now, more than ever.

Especially since the other night when I’d cracked open my chest, baring my heart to her.

Other than my brothers and mom, Sutton was the only other person in the world I’d shared that information with.

Considering the aftermath that had followed once my family had found out, I never thought I’d be able to.

And then Sutton had come into my life, shifting…

everything.

My gaze was on her when she finally sat next to Laurel, giving her daughter a quick hug.

Seeing them here together, for me?

I hadn’t realized how much it would mean to have the support of my girls.

“Holy shit ,” Trey said.

“Is that a smile?”

I immediately wiped the expression from my face and shot him a scowl.

“I don’t smile.”

“I don’t know, man. Looked like a smile to me.” He elbowed me in the side.

“You were thinking about the Unicorn play again, weren’t you?”

“Fuck off.”

And even knowing Trey’s attention was on me, I couldn’t stop myself from glancing in Sutton and Laurel’s direction once again.

“I knew it.” He clapped me on the shoulder, a broad grin on his face.

“I fucking knew it.”

“You didn’t know shit.” I glanced at the countdown clock.

“And why the hell are the boys still stretching? You should’ve shifted them to isolated position drills already.”

“I’m on it, Coach. You keep making googly eyes at the pretty nurse. I’ll make sure we win the football game.”

I glared at him.

“Stop looking at her, and don’t call her pretty. Unless you want me to tell Alicia what you think of another woman.”

“There’s the vicious Steele I know and love. Knew that smile was a fluke.”

Except, as Trey blew the whistle, calling for the players to group with their coaches, I couldn’t stop my attention from drifting back to my girls.

Nor could I stop the smile as I watched them be welcomed into the place I called home.

SUTTON

I hadn’t known what to expect for Starlight Cove High’s homecoming game.

But I knew, without a doubt, whatever I would have imagined would have paled in comparison.

The entire town went all out for this thing.

Every storefront on Main Street was decorated in the school colors, the café had renamed all its breakfast sandwiches after football plays, and more than half the people in the stands had their faces painted blue or gold or both.

Thank god Atlas had given me a Starlight Cove Sharks jersey with his name to wear, and that he’d picked up a shirt for Laurel from the student store.

Otherwise, we would have been woefully out of place.

The game wasn’t scheduled to start for another thirty minutes or so, but it was already crowded.

Luckily, Atlas had saved us a spot in the first row of the bleachers, or we would’ve been in the nosebleed section.

I’d never been one for football.

Or sports in general.

I’d never even given athletes a second thought.

But I couldn’t deny how hot Atlas looked standing out there on the field.

He wore a dark blue Sharks half-zip, his arms crossed over his chest, brows drawn down, a scowl firmly on his face while he studied the players warming up.

I was all too aware of what it was like to be on the receiving end of all that focus.

My god , the things I wanted to do to this man.

More than half of them were probably illegal in at least fifteen states.

“You know everyone can see you, right?” Laurel said dryly.

I snapped my gaze to hers.

“What? Why?”

“Um…because we’re in public?”

“No, I mean, why would you say that?”

“Because you’re staring at Daddy Grump like he’s a Double Stuf Oreo.”

“Really? Only like he’s a single cookie? I thought I was looking at him more like he was the whole damn package.”

“Gross,” she said, though the word lacked heat.

With a quick glance around to make sure no one was within hearing distance, I leaned into Laurel’s side and lowered my voice.

“I’m starting to question if this thing between Atlas and me is actually fake.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Only starting to? I figured that out weeks ago.”

“You did? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because I didn’t want you to get all in your head about it. Historically, you and relationships haven’t gotten along very well.” She shrugged.

“And I thought this one deserved a fighting chance.”

“You do?” I asked, unable to keep the interest out of my voice.

“Whatever. Don’t make a big deal out of nothing.”

“It’s not nothing. As you’ve pointed out many, many times, I don’t have the best track record when it comes to men. I’m second-guessing myself a little bit on this one. You see this way better than I ever do. So I want to know what you think.”

“I think…” Laurel blew out a long sigh.

“He rescued a kitten, even though he hates cats. He brought me tampons at school and handled my bloody jeans like it wasn’t a big deal. He took care of you when you had a migraine. He scared off guys who wouldn’t take no for an answer—for both of us. I think…he’s actually one of the good ones.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

I breathed out a relieved sigh, reassured that, for once, my instincts hadn’t steered me wrong this time.

Glancing out at Atlas, I found his gaze already locked on me.

That simple eye contact made my stomach flip, even from twenty yards away.

“See?” she said.

Before I could respond, someone shouted Laurel’s name from behind us.

I turned around, finding Cami and several other kids Laurel had become friendly with a few rows up.

With a wave, Cami said, “Hi, Sutton! Can I steal your daughter?”

“Steal away.” I turned back in my seat and wrapped my arm around Laurel’s neck.

Tugging her close, I pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“Thank you, Lolo. Now, go have fun. Holly will be here soon, and Quinn’s going to stop by. Text me when you want to grab your bag for your sleepover.”

“All right. I’ll let you know when we’re gonna leave.”

“Stay sexy?—”

“—and don’t get murdered,” she finished before heading toward her friends.

Laurel had been gone for less than a minute when someone called my name.

“Sutton, hey!”

I glanced over to find a very pregnant Addison Lockhart—formerly Addison McKenzie—striding my way with Quinn by her side.

The two of them were sisters-in-law, and though Addison was the youngest, far tiniest—even with that basketball bump—and only girl in the McKenzie family, it was obvious this little force of nature was the boss of the whole crew.

“Hey, Addison.” I smiled at her.

“How are you?”

“Good.” She sat down on my right while Quinn took the spot to my left.

“I’d be even better if you told me you ripped up that six-month contract and decided to stay forever . It’s my literal dream to have an all-female health clinic. You can’t give me that for a little while and then take it away! After dealing with male incompetence for the majority of my life, I’m over it.”

“Real subtle, Addison,” Quinn said, and I could only laugh.

Addison shrugged. “Subtlety has no place in my life and definitely not when it comes to this.”

“All I’m saying is, I’ve been going with the cool and calm method,” Quinn said.

“Is it working?” she asked.

Quinn eyed me, pursing her lips to the side.

“Too early to tell.”

Addison turned toward me, her eyes bright.

“How about I?—”

“Addie!” Chase, Addison’s husband, yelled from a few spots down the row.

“Quit harassing the new nurse.”

“But I need to get Sutton focused on the prize,” Addison called back, gesturing to me.

I snorted at her deadly serious tone as Quinn breathed out a laugh beside me.

Her husband just shook his head and pointed to his lap.

“What you need to do is get your cute ass over here before I eat the mini donuts I bought for you.”

Huffing, Addison stomped her foot, and I smothered a laugh behind my hand.

“That sneaky bastard knows all my weaknesses.”

“The good ones always do,” Quinn said.

“Work on her for me. I’m counting on you,” Addison said to Quinn before heading over to Chase, who pulled her straight into his lap.

I turned back to Quinn with one brow raised.

“Is this where you beg me to stay?”

“If I thought it would have any effect on you? Definitely. We both know you make decisions on your own timetable. But just so we’re clear, I absolutely want you to stay.”

Mere weeks ago, I was certain my response would have been a resounding no.

But now, hearing my kid’s laughter behind me and feeling the weight of Atlas’s stare at my front, I wasn’t so sure.

I was beginning to love this town.

Not to mention on my way to the same with a certain someone in it.

Before I could seek Atlas out, Alicia strolled up and took Addison’s vacated seat.

Her locs were tied back with blue and gold ribbons, and shimmering gold eyeshadow highlighted her eyes.

“You ready for this? They take their superstitions very seriously.”

I glanced toward the field as our players lined up along the sideline, several ribbing Atlas, who stood still as a statue, his focus solely on me.

“As much as I’ll ever be.”

“Good, because we’re up.”

“Try to keep it PG this time,” Quinn offered as I strode away with a laugh.

Alicia and I made our way down to the field as people cheered in the stands, many students following us as they headed toward their partners.

I strolled up to Atlas, feeling the weight of a thousand stares on my back, and raised a brow at him.

“When you told me about this, you conveniently left out that the entire town would be here to watch.”

He stared down at me, his gaze straying to my lips before lifting back to my eyes.

“Thinking of backing out, trouble?”

“No. Just wondering if you’re going to grope my ass like you have during every other public kiss we’ve shared.”

“Figured I’d save that for home.”

His casual use of the word home in reference to me made my belly swoop, and that only intensified as he stepped closer until our bodies were flush.

Instead of gripping my ass, he cupped my face and leaned down, pressing a soft, gentle kiss against my lips, his eyes open and locked on mine the entire time.

And somehow, that felt like more of a claim than anything else could have.

As the catcalls grew louder around us, Atlas started to pull away.

But before he could get far, I pressed up on my tiptoes, wrapped a hand around the back of his neck, and tugged him down toward me.

“Good luck, Coach,” I said against his lips.

“How about I promise we can celebrate tonight if you win?”

He gave me another kiss as he squeezed my hip, the tips of his fingers brushing my ass.

“With that on the line, there’s no if about it.”

That was exactly what I was hoping for.

By the time I made it back to my seat, Alicia was down at the concession stand grabbing us drinks, and Quinn wasn’t even trying to hide a grin.

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing. That was just tame compared to the other public kisses you’ve shared.”

“I know. He didn’t even slip me any tongue.” Even I could hear the pout in my tone.

She laughed. “I’d make him pay for that if I were you.”

I turned to her with a raised brow.

“I’m taking suggestions.”

She shot me a smirk.

“If Ford leaves me hanging—like he did this morning—I text him something naughty while he’s at work and can’t do anything about it.”

I bit my lower lip, knowing her suggestion would absolutely be playing with fire.

But as I watched Atlas in his element, standing there all competent and confident while he barked orders and did whatever it was football coaches did, I decided it was worth the burn.

Sutton:

Laurel’s staying at Cami’s tonight, which means we have the house to ourselves.

Was thinking about taking out my new toy for a little fun.

Wanna play with me?

Almost immediately after I sent the text, he pulled his phone from his pocket.

I knew the moment he’d finished reading my message, because he snapped his head up, his gaze immediately seeking mine, that furrow in his brow more defined than usual.

Probably because he was shifting on his feet, no doubt feeling the restriction of being on the field.

I pressed my lips together to hide a smile, realizing belatedly what a bad idea that had been.

Not just teasing him, but doing so while he was standing in front of hundreds of people with a veritable spotlight on him.

And considering what he was packing, that would make hiding his…

substantial enthusiasm a bit difficult.

Atlas:

You’re going to pay for that when we get home.

Sutton:

I sure hope so.