Page 40

Chapter forty

Landon

ESPN notification – San Jose pulled off a win in week fifteen, which puts them in prime playoff position. Could this year finally be the one for Myles Young, Landon Beaumont, and the rest of the Sentinels? Here’s why we think a championship is on the table…

Bay Area News 5 – Who is Keala Lōkahi-Price? The woman who is taking the internet by storm…Savannah Blake and Ikaika Lōkahi among celebrities speaking on behalf of changed playboy Landon Beaumont.

A couple of days after Keala’s collapse and his subsequent virality, Landon was trying to enjoy his Tuesday off when the shrill scream of a fire alarm startled him. He was pretty sure Ikaika was at the facility, and Keala had been recovering at her parents’ house since being discharged a day and a half ago, so unless Chowder had suddenly become a chef, something was wrong.

He tossed on a pair of sweatpants and hurried across the hall, noting the door was unlocked like it always was. When he finally made it into the kitchen, no one was around. Mixing bowls and utensils were strewn all over the counters beside casserole dishes full of baked and not-yet-baked food. Sticky notes were stuck to the counter in front of each dish, though nothing was written on them yet. He looked toward the balcony doors and found Keala with her hair in a ponytail using one of the doors to fan the room. With the cool December air pouring in, the fire alarm stopped in no time.

She turned, and he took in the pink tinge to her cheeks. There were no dark crescents below her eyes, and she looked surprisingly healthy considering where she’d been less than forty-eight hours ago. His gaze dropped to the apron she wore, which read Don’t make me poison you.

Landon grinned at her, enjoying the way her cheeks turned an even darker shade of pink under his scrutiny. “I thought we agreed you aren’t allowed to cook.”

Keala groaned. “Damn fire alarm. I wanted to surprise you with a bunch of food on your day off but…”

“But you decided it would be more fun to tempt fate. Again.”

“I think I’m actually getting worse at this if I’m being honest.”

They stared at each other, smiles fading. “I’m glad you’re feeling better,” he murmured gently. “I’m sorry I wasn’t at the hospital when you woke up, but with everything going on in the news and me outing us, I didn’t know if you’d want me there.”

“I would have come to see you sooner if my parents weren’t so insistent that I rest and recover yesterday.” Keala walked up to him, grabbing his shirt, and pulled him down to her level. “And don’t you dare apologize to me for caring. For doing everything you did to fix it. I can’t believe you would have given up football for me.” And then her lips were on his and his hand was buried in her ponytail. Landon picked her up and set her on the counter, keeping his mouth pressed to hers.

He’d missed her so fucking much.

He pulled away, about to vocalize as much, but she cut him off. “I want to say something in case what you said on TV was because you were trying to save my job and not because you meant it.” She set her hands on his shoulders. “I’m sorry that I ran. I found out when we were in LA that a pregnant woman died the same way Ikaika’s sister did. During a shift I switched from. I blamed myself for not being there and recognizing the signs, but…the obstetrician told me there was nothing I could’ve done differently. Still, to me, it was proof that my focus was being pulled from work, and running was easier than facing the fact that…”

She looked away from him. “The fact that I was working a job I hated for people who had never asked me to do so. I took on two extra shifts to make myself feel better and not have to think about how much I missed you. I told myself it was because showing up to work and proving I was there and willing to take on anything meant they’d think of me for promotions and raises, but it’s clearly…Well, that thinking is going to get me killed. I see that now. So, I quit.”

Landon took a step back. “Wait, what? You quit your job at the hospital?”

Keala nodded. “I quit. I told them this wasn’t what I wanted to do, and they understood. Healthcare is tough on anyone, but especially those who aren’t in it for the right reasons.” She bit her lip, wringing her hands before saying, “I’m not running anymore. I choose dance. I choose you. I love you so much, and I’m sorry it took a major health scare to come to that realization. You make me so happy, and I love you more than anyone or anything,” she said, repeating his confession back to him. “I will never let something as trivial as a job come between us again.”

Happiness burst in his chest at the words, and he stepped toward her, kissing every inch of her face until she was giggling and trying to kiss him back.

“You’re not mad at me?” he asked.

“Of course not. You literally put everything on the line on national television for me. When I met you, you couldn’t express when you were slightly upset, and for me, you told the world how much you care about me. How could I ever be upset with you for that? I was so worried you’d be mad at me after how I left. I came up with a plan to use the favor you owe me for cheating at pumpkin carving to beg for another chance.”

He chuckled. “Keep your favor—I could never be mad at you.” He remembered what she’d said at the start of her speech. “And I meant every word, Keeks. I’ve never lived outside of an apartment since leaving home. It was college apartments to penthouses to here. But since you”—he scratched the back of his neck—“I’ve been thinking about getting a house.” He paused for a beat, watching tears form in her eyes. “I was so terrified of disappointing you that I couldn’t tell you until I had to, on live TV apparently, but I want to try for us. I know there’s a chance that I fuck it up, but you make me want to put in the work despite knowing there’s a long way to fall.”

Keala put a hand on either side of his face, setting her forehead against his and smiling. “You could never disappoint me. And I won’t let you fall. Not without me.”

He kissed her again, sweet soft kisses for what felt like forever. All the fines in the world for leaving the game couldn’t take this feeling away from him. All the yelling and tense conversations with the franchise were well worth it if it meant he got to keep her in his arms like this. It had taken the team all of a few minutes to realize what an asset he’d been, this season especially, and they had put the conversation to bed.

Sure, he hadn’t made any friends with the higher-ups with the stunt he’d pulled, but they wouldn’t be getting rid of him for a while yet. And with all the positive press he and Keala were getting, he wasn’t too worried about their future.

Still smelling something burning, he asked, “Is there something in the oven?”

She shook her head, pointing at the sink. “Not anymore.”

“Now that this has happened twice, I think we can agree that it’ll be my job to cook.”

Keala rolled her eyes. “Fine, yes. I won’t cook ever again. You can’t take baking from me though.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it. Those red velvet cupcakes were so moist.”

She laughed. “Ew, don’t say moist.” After a moment of smiling at each other, she said, “I’m sorry I didn’t do something more, but you’ve taken all the grand gestures from me, what with declaring your feelings publicly to save my job and everything. Plus, I don’t know if you’ve been outside”—she laughed, likely recognizing the impossibility of him not having seen the zoo of reporters outside—“but there are an awful lot of people out there, and I didn’t want them to be a part of my big thing. It was hard enough sneaking out of my parents’ house.”

“You snuck out of your parents’ house?”

“They are being very supportive of my life choices but are treating me like I’m twelve and can’t take care of my health right now, so yes.”

“Wow, my bad behavior is rubbing off on you.” He smirked. “I like it.”

Keala’s phone went off across the kitchen. “Damn alarm didn’t do me much good, did it?” she muttered as she jumped off the counter and walked over to it. “Oh,” she said when she picked it up, brows furrowed.

“What happened?”

“Cora’s been on the lookout for choreo jobs for me. Mainly local but putting out feelers with all her contacts.” She answered the phone, and after a few mm-hmms, she turned to Landon, a bright smile lighting up her face. “That sounds amazing. Thank you so much, Cora.”

Landon braced himself to find out she was moving across the country, doing the math on his contract. When Keala set her phone down, she whispered, “Brooklyn got a head choreographer job at Houston. The Sentinels assistant choreographer job will be open at the end of the season.” She paused, disbelief between her brows. “Cora gets to choose her assistant and…I’m the only candidate she’s considering.”

“You’re going to stay a Sentinels Siren?”

She smiled wider, if possible, and threw herself into his outstretched arms. “I’m going to stay a Sentinels Siren.”