Page 22 of The Playmaker (The Legends of Fire #1)
EIGHT MONTHS LATER
M y legs are on fire as I sprint further down the field. I turn, ready to catch the ball that is supposed to be soaring through the air right at me. It's there! I see it through the bright stadium lights and catch it with ease.
The crowd is booming tonight. It's the Super Bowl finals, and I am in the zone mentally and physically. Emotionally I've never been happier, and after the game tonight when I see Avery, I intend to be even more happy.
The thought of my little benchwarmer, my girlfriend, my…everything being here tonight fuels me with the energy I need to dodge two players and gain another yard for my team. The Phantoms will win tonight. It's our year, our time.
The game cuts to a commercial while each team regroups for sixty seconds on the sidelines.
"Killin' it out there, Carter!" Hawk pumps me up.
"One more play like that, and we're the champions," Coach tells me, tilting his head in a slow nod that says, I'm proud of you .
I glance up at the jumbotron and see ESPN on the screen, Avery's face smiling and reporting on the game. She's a natural, being promoted the first month she started working there. I love seeing her shine.
Hawk chest bumps me as the sixty seconds comes to an end.
It's now or never.
And ten minutes later, we did it! We won.
I stand there as my teammates surround me with cheers and grins and masculine shouts of victory.
It hits me all at once, this big and life-changing moment.
The Super Bowl that I led us to, the Super Bowl that inches me closer to what everyone says I'm made for: the Hall of Fame.
I let out a warrior cry of victory and join my team in jumping up and down and clapping each other's shoulders.
I see her, then, my beautiful girlfriend walking toward me, microphone in hand, her cameraman Juan trailing behind her. That's Avery for you, always helping others even when she doesn't have to. One word from her and he was hired.
She kisses me quickly as Juan counts her down for her Live on the field segment.
"I love you so much," I murmur. The first time I said it I was so nervous, but now, it feels deeper each time those words pass my lips.
"I love you." She smiles.
As she faces the camera, I look for Hawk. He winks and sidles over to me, slipping a small box in my hand.
She gives her update and then turns to face me, asking me how it feels to win the Super Bowl.
Our Live feed is on the Jumbotron and being broadcast around the world for sports fans watching the game.
"It feels incredible," I say. I look at the camera. "For Riley, my not-so-secret little sister, thanks for trusting me to be both a brother and a parent. For my coach and team, this is all because of you. The first of many wins! "
Then I face Avery. "And for you, Avery."
She looks confused as I open my palm to show the small box. Her friend Pen elbows her way toward Avery, reaching for the mic just as Hawk does. She gives him a pout and wrenches the mic free, holding it between Avery and me as I open the box to reveal a stunning diamond ring.
"I love you, Avery Monroe. Your spirit, your heart, your passion, and all the ways you bring light into my life. I can't imagine not living the rest of my life without you by my side."
I see tears in her eyes as I drop to one knee.
"Avery, my girlfriend, my little benchwarmer, my everything, will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?"
She pulls me to my feet and crushes her mouth against mine as the crowd goes wild.
"Yes!" she says between kisses. "A million times yes!"
Somehow I manage to slide the ring on her finger and lift her in my arms, spinning her around.
As I place her feet on the ground, Riley appears with her bodyguard—the very one I had threatened to hire for her—and Mrs. Mathews.
Hugs are long and warm. This feels right, my family around me, no more secrets.
As Hawk and Pen continue to fight over the mic and who is going to wrap up Avery's live segment on the field, and Riley oohs and ahhs over the trophy, I cup Avery's face with my hand, holding her close.
"This is forever, baby." And I mean every word.
"Forever," she agrees.
She takes my hand and places it on her stomach. "Forever, for the three of us."
Her eyes shine up at me as I process what she just said.
"You mean…?" I gasp and almost shout it out to the world that she's going to have a baby, but she silences me with a kiss .
"I thought you once told me 'no more secrets'?" I tease her, my fingers splayed out on her midsection.
"Our secret, for now," she murmurs against my lips as she leans in for another kiss.
This is one secret worth keeping.
I can't believe I'm going to be a dad! My whole life was turned upside down the moment Avery waltzed into it. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
I hold my soon to be wife in my arms while confetti rains down on us and cheering still fills the air.
Tonight, I won more than the Super Bowl. I won at life, at love, and as long as my beautiful Avery is by my side, every day will feel like a better victory than the day before.