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CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

SAWYER

“I ’m so fucking proud of you, Kitten. I genuinely can’t think of anyone more deserving of their place on Team USA, and I know you’re going to kill it.”

Standing in front of the fireplace in their living area, Jack sets a kiss on his girlfriend’s forehead. The entire friend group is here—me, Collins, Jenna, and Archer.

Jenna pumps her fist in the air, ready to make a run toward Kendra, but Jack holds his hand up, asking her to wait a second.

Sitting on the opposite couch, Archer leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, one brow raised at me in question. Next to him, Collins wears the same expression, as does Jenna.

Jack swallows thickly, his body language anxious. Reaching out, he takes Kendra’s left hand in his, interlacing their fingers, but not speaking.

“A-are you okay?” Kendra asks, cocking her head to the side and studying him carefully.

Jack swallows again.

Oh fuck. He’s gonna do it.

He smiles, trying to get ahold of his nerves. “I didn’t plan on doing this right now, but you know me—my mind runs away with an idea, and I can’t help myself.” He pauses and inhales a deep breath, his eyes meeting hers. “Especially when it comes to you.”

On the final word, he dips his right hand into his pants pocket, pulling out a small black box.

Kendra’s free hand covers her mouth, muffling her gasp.

“Fuck me, our boy Jack is getting motherfucking married!” Archer exclaims, and every head snaps his way.

He sinks back into the couch, cringing at himself. “At least … I think that’s what’s happening.”

“You really are a twat at times, aren’t you?” Jack shakes his head at our goalie, although I can tell he’s amused as he slowly drops to one knee, eyes returning to Kendra.

“Wait.” She stops him with a hand underneath his arm. “There’s only one time I want you on your knees for me, and this isn’t it. Look me in the eye while you ask me.” Her voice is barely a whisper, and the room is deadly silent as we all look on.

Jack takes their still-joined hands and hovers it over the box. “Pop the lid, Kitten.”

I steal a quick glance at Collins—a palm over her mouth and her eyes glassy—and I witness a little more of her hardened exterior melt away in the face of pure love.

And that’s what Jack and Kendra have—the kind of love written about in books.

When Jack releases her hand and Kendra opens the box, the gateway to her emotions bursts open, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Is it a ruby?” she asks.

Jack plucks the yellow gold band from the box, a single large ruby set on top. “Matches Scarlett.”

While Jack grins and a laugh bursts from Kendra’s chest, I conclude Scarlett is some kind of inside joke I do not want to know about.

“I’ve had it for a few months now, Kitten. I was convinced the right time would be when we headed to your mum and dad’s for Thanksgiving, but then I got this urge to ask you tonight, in front of all our friends and in our home. Plus, your brother has been calling me nonstop since I got the ring, wanting to know if I popped the question. I think, deep down, I knew you were it for me the second I laid eyes on you in college. Even if you barely knew my name.” He pockets the box and wraps his hand around the nape of her neck, bringing her forehead to rest against his.

As she takes her hand back, they both hold the ring between them, and Kendra releases a gentle sob. “I always thought you were hot, especially your accent.”

Everyone laughs briefly, including Jack.

“I bided my time and waited for you to work out that you deserved an upgrade to someone who would treat you like the queen that you were. And I was lucky enough for that guy to be me.”

Jack removes his hand from the nape of Kendra’s neck, tipping her chin up to look at him. Just as she wanted, they’re eyeball to eyeball, and it’s the most intimate proposal I’ve ever seen, only something soulmates could pull off.

“Marry me, Kendra. Let’s forever eat chili late at night and quote Friends while sitting on the couch. Let me ply you with Yorkshire Tea and take you to some of the best bakeries in England. Let’s make a home in the US and maybe, one day, fill it with our children. And even if, you grow to hate clotted cream and get tired of sitcoms, let me stand beside you as you take different paths in life. As Ross would say, we can pivot together.”

The second that word leaves Jack’s mouth, my eyes are back on Collins, and this time, she has hers on me.

A tear falls from her left eye, shining in the soft light of the apartment, and she quickly swipes it away.

I’ve never seen Collins cry. I need to go to her, my arms itching to wrap around her frame and pull her into my body.

But this is Jack and Kendra’s moment, so I keep my ass firmly planted on the chair, my attention locked on the girl I shared my best night with.

“Yes,” Kendra replies.

The single word sends my starting center into full golden-retriever mode as his eyes grow wide and he quickly pushes the ring onto her left finger, the fit as perfect as they are together.

“You hear that?” He tips his head toward the ceiling. “I’m marrying Kendra Hart and making her a Morgan!”

“Yeah, you are, Baby!” Kendra wraps her arms around Jack’s neck.

He picks her up, looping her legs around his waist, and spins her around in a circle.

Archer and Jenna immediately leap to their feet, flying across the room to congratulate them, and I take a second to let them all hug it out before I join them myself.

“I think you need to copyright your pivot moment so no one else uses it.”

I turn my head away from the group to find Collins standing in front of me. Her eyes are still glassy, but her face wears a cute smile.

I rise to my feet and hover over her while the others continue going crazy.

My left hand palms her hip, and I grin down at her, loving the way she relaxes beneath my touch. “Maybe I should copyright it; it definitely has an impact.”

The temptation to lean down and kiss her is overwhelming, as is the tent forming in the front of my jeans.

Collins drops her eyes to the bulge, her lip pinned between her teeth when she looks back up at me. “We should go congratulate the happy couple,” she whispers, her voice full of lust.

I nod once and summon all my willpower to release my tightening grip on her hip and, consequently, break the spell between us. Although I’m already running through options and my best opportunity to get her alone—as soon as fucking possible.

“Lead the way, Baby Girl.”

* * *

“Where are you going to get hitched?” Archer asks.

He, Jack, and I stand in the kitchen while the girls gather in the living area, inspecting Kendra’s ring for the hundredth time.

Collins is animated, excitement written across her face while she holds Kendra’s left hand in front of her.

You can’t convince me this girl doesn’t believe in love.

Jack speaks, pulling my attention back to the boys. “How much do you know about your coach?”

Archer side-eyes me, and I throw him a blank look, unsure what the location of where they get married has to do with Jack’s stepdad.

“Errr …” Archer scratches at his temple. “I guess I know a bit.”

Jack shakes his head, smiling around the lip of his beer bottle before taking a quick pull. “One thing you need to know about Jon: if anyone—and I mean, anyone —he knows is due to get hitched, he wants to organize the entire thing from start to finish.”

I take another look at my goalie, not entirely sure I’m hearing Jack right. Either the single beer he’s had went straight to his head or I’m hallucinating from zero sleep, courtesy of banging Collins all night.

I reach forward and take the bottle from Jack’s hand, setting it down on the counter beside me. “That’s enough alcohol for you; we’re heading on a seven-day away series tomorrow, and I want my center in good shape against Dallas.”

Jack frowns and grabs the bottle back. “I’m being serious. The guy is addicted to weddings. I haven’t even told Mum and Darcy I planned on asking Kendra, for fear of Jon turning up at my door with five wedding planners and a fucking six-tier cake. Only person who knows is Ollie, Kendra’s brother.”

“Oh, Darcy’s going to be pissed when she finds out you didn’t tell her beforehand,” Archer chimes in, a devilish smile tracing his lips. “Your sister is a little like me in that way.”

Jack sets his own bottle down behind him this time, one brow raised as he turns back to Archer. “And what way would that be, Moore?”

The use of Archer’s last name has my goalie grinning harder, loving how easy it is to goad Jack about Darcy.

He shrugs and crosses his ankles, leaning back against the fridge. “I’m just saying, we share a lot in common, is all. When she’s around, I can tell she wants to talk with me; we vibe with each other.”

Blowing air into my cheeks, I’m powerless to prevent the explosive laugh, and I bend over and release it. “I’m sorry.” I hold up a hand. “Give me a second.” I point in Archer’s direction. “It’s just his reference to vibing. Seriously, this entire conversation is awkward as shit.” I laugh again.

When I rise back to my full height, two pairs of eyes bore into me. The first pair—Jack’s—holds nothing but disdain. The second—Archer’s—sparkles with amusement.

After a second or so, Jack folds his arms across his chest, attention momentarily flicking over my shoulder and toward the girls as they continue talking in the other room. “Let’s get this all out in the open, shall we? Especially since Darcy is now single?—”

“Wait, she’s not with Liam anymore?” Archer interrupts Jack.

“You know damn well she isn’t,” Jack replies with an eye roll. “As I was saying”—he pins Archer with a stern look—“it’s obvious you’re hot for my sister. So, here’s your chance to admit it without hiding behind jokes.”

Jack falls silent while he awaits Archer’s response.

Running a hand across his mouth, Archer quickly realizes his best friend isn’t fooling around.

He drops his head between his shoulders and inhales a long breath. “I’ll admit she’s pretty.”

“And?” Jack adds.

“And … nothing,” Archer finishes. “She’s pretty, and she’s fun to be around, but I’m not the type of guy who would suit her. She likes guys who are serious and want long-term. Plus, I think Coach would put my balls in a vise if I buried my dick in his stepdaughter.”

I can’t be certain, but I’m ninety-nine percent sure Jack is about to puke on his kitchen floor.

“I-I literally have no words for you right now,” I say to Archer, glancing over my shoulder and catching Collins as she disappears down the hallway, no doubt heading for the bathroom.

“Yeah, me too. Other than to say, I really regret bringing up this entire conversation,” Jack agrees. “Although I will say this: you’re wrong about Jon putting your balls in a vise.”

Archer looks mildly hopeful, although I can’t say I share the same optimism on his behalf.

Jack leans closer to Archer. There’s a tinge of playfulness in his expression, but you can’t mistake the serious edge. “It’ll be a joint effort with me.”

Archer’s shoulders shake, silent laughter rippling through him. This guy isn’t intimidated by anyone, yet despite knowing how reckless he can be, I can tell he gets the message loud and clear— don’t touch Darcy Thompson.

“So, what you’re saying is, you both want to touch my balls.”

“For fuck’s sake,” Jack drawls. “No, I don’t want to touch your hairy balls. I do, however, want you to stay away from Darcy because she just had her heart broken, and she doesn’t need a fuckboy messing her around for a one-time thing.”