Page 41

Three and a half years later

T he moment slipped into their house, muscled arms scooped her up and spun her around, the smell of her vanilla shampoo heavy in the air. Landon liked to use it when she was gone for too long and he missed her.

She giggled, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. “Hi,” she murmured, leaning down to kiss him.

He pulled away. “‘Hi?’ I haven’t seen you in weeks, and all I get is a ‘hi?’” Landon set her down, using a finger under her chin to kiss her.

After a season working as both the assistant choreographer for the Sirens and the head coach at San Jose State University, her public social media account dedicated to choreography had gone viral. had been asked to travel during the offseason to choreograph and teach pieces to teams all over the country, which paid more than both of her jobs combined, so she’d stepped back from her work with SJSU.

She now had three seasons of assistant choreography with the Sirens under her belt plus the many teams she’d choreographed for on her tours over the last couple of years. The only problem with said tours was that Landon’s training camp started during them, so they were apart for a few weeks before she came back in June for Sirens tryouts.

“Hello, my most handsome husband. I’ve missed you so much, and I’m glad to be home,” she responded when they finally pulled away for air.

“Mm, much better.” He kissed down her jaw, then her neck. Her body flushed at the contact she’d been missing. “Mark my words: this is the year I retire so I can go on tour with you every offseason.”

“You’d better win another championship if you don’t want your brother’s record hanging over your head forever,” she joked. Landon had two championship wins and records of his own now. It had taken some time to get used to their new relationship, but now that the brothers were on good terms, it was a running joke that Colton still had one more than him.

Landon had stopped caring a long time ago. He and Colton had a broadcast channel offering them more money than he’d know what to do with to be commentators together when Landon retired. Even though he wouldn’t admit it, knew he was excited to get into broadcasting.

“I could not possibly care less about that if it means I get to do this every night,” he whispered, his voice gravelly. Landon flipped her so her chest was pressed to their front door, a hand drifting from her stomach down until his finger found her center over her yoga pants. “If we didn’t have dinner reservations, these would already be off.”

“That’s never stopped you before.”

He groaned. “Unfortunately, it will today.”

frowned. “Why?” She faced him. “What’s different about today?”

Landon looked away. “Nothing. Just don’t want to miss our celebratory dinner.”

“You’re a horrible liar. What did you do?”

“I can’t be excited to celebrate the fact that my wife is about to be head choreographer for the same team I’m playing for?” ’s eyes narrowed. “Alright, alright, fine. But you have to pretend you’re surprised.”

“What?”

“I bought out Bella Stagione for the night,” he said, referring to their favorite restaurant. “Your family, my family, and some of the girls are going to be there. It was supposed to be a surprise, but…”

smiled, slipping a hand into Landon’s hair and kissing him softly. Against his lips, she murmured, “But you can’t keep a secret from me to save your life.”

“Exactly.”

“I do need to shower and get changed before we go…”

Landon bounded up the stairs to their bedroom before she finished the thought. “I’ll get the water running!”

laughed, slipping her shoes off and following him. By the time she made it to their bathroom, he was waiting for her in the shower. Almost nothing had changed about his body—still muscled beyond belief, maybe more so now that he’d been putting in the work at practice, and couldn’t take her eyes off him. Especially not when she saw the little K on the inside of his Adonis belt, still red.

“I told you I missed you. And I’d been wanting to get it for a while.”

His smirk was so familiar, so missed, that she ripped her clothes off and joined him. He pulled her into his body, his wedding ring warm against her cool skin.

A year and a half ago, after a hard-fought win, he’d made sure the Sirens created problem after problem so couldn’t go home until everyone in the stadium had left. Cora had asked her to grab something she’d forgotten from the field, and that was when Landon had shown up behind her, down on one knee with a sticky note that read Will you marry your favorite asshole on his best behavior?

A month later, they’d gotten married at the courthouse with Ikaika as their witness because Landon couldn’t wait for her to be his wife. The engagement sticky note had been added to the rest of them on a piece of cardstock paper framed in their bedroom.

“I’m gonna take a nap right here. Hold me up,” she murmured. Her flight from New York had felt like it had taken an eternity.

Landon chuckled. “No, you’re not. But close your eyes and I’ll get you cleaned up.”

She listened, enjoying the feel of his fingers massaging shampoo into her hair and soap into her skin. When he finished, he helped her dry off, then took his own shower while she blow dried her hair. smiled when she saw the sticky note on the bathroom counter.

I love you. And I’m so proud of you .

Emotion built in her throat, but she knew it would be a long night if she couldn’t get it in check. Everyone she loved would be at the restaurant to show their support of her, including her parents, which meant there would be lots of emotions to get through tonight.

“I love you more!” she called as she moved to her walk-in closet.

finished her hair and makeup, then threw on a burgundy midi dress and white heels. She was adding her favorite gold earrings when Landon emerged from his closet in a suit.

He put a hand on his chest, his eyes drifting over her. “I know this is inappropriate right now, but I’m already thinking about taking that off you tonight.”

She laughed. “That’s not very best behavior of you.”

He nodded. “You’re right. But let’s get going anyway because the earlier we get there, the faster we can leave and I can get you on your back on the dining table.” Like the thought of it was getting to him, he shook his head, holding a hand out for her. grabbed her clutch and took it.

When they got to the restaurant, Landon turned to her. “Remember. Act surprised. You thought it was dinner with just me.”

“I will.” She leaned over the center console, kissing him. “I’m grateful you did this, but so you know, I would have loved dinner with just you.” Jokingly, she added, “You are so getting laid tonight.”

Landon pumped his fist, then ran to her side of the car to help her out. “Let me see your surprised face.” complied. Landon sighed. “Well, nothing we can do about it now.”

They entered the restaurant, Landon’s hand on her lower back. When they reached the back room, the lights flicked on, and the smiling faces of almost everyone she loved met her.

“Surprise!”

tried her best to look surprised, sure she wasn’t doing a good job, but she was quickly swept into hug after hug. First, her parents, each whispering about how proud of her they were after years of showing up for every game they could to watch her choreography in action. Landon’s grandparents, who’d taken her in like one of their own in the last few years. Colton and Lucia, with five-year-old Lyla. The little girl handed her a card with a drawing of , Lyla, and Lyla's little brother, two-year-old Liam.

Next were Cooper and Maya, who she’d grown especially close with over the years. Their twin two-year-old boys, Wells and Lucas, each held one of their hands. noticed the small bump Maya tried to hide in a loose dress, and when she hugged her sister-in-law, she whispered, “Congratulations.”

Maya pulled back, apologetic. “I was trying so hard to keep it hidden. I really didn’t want to steal any of your thunder. I’m so happy for you.” Maya squeezed ’s hands.

“Take my thunder, I couldn’t care less. I’m just glad you’re here.” nodded to her bump. “Are you finally getting the girl you always wanted?” Maya’s eyes filled with tears as she nodded. pulled her in for another hug. “I’m so happy for you .”

Seeing her nieces and nephews was one of her favorite parts about the whole family coming together. She and Landon had agreed they didn’t want children, especially after all she’d seen working in the emergency department, so getting to pick them up, twirl them around, listen to them giggle, made her happy. loved being the fun aunt.

“KayKay!” After Maya was Zoe, Eleanor, Aurelia, Jordy, Nova, and Kennedy. They all hugged her, Zoe the tightest, and promised to circle back so they could catch each other up. They often got drinks together, but with on tour the last couple of months, she hadn’t talked to them as much.

Next was Cora, and when they pulled apart, both had tears streaming down their faces. “It’s been an honor working with you, . I’m so proud of the choreographer you’ve become, and I can’t wait to get my season tickets every year knowing you’re going to carry on the Siren legacy for me. You’ve made retiring an easy choice.”

“Thank you for believing in me from the beginning.” dabbed at her face, laughing at them. “I know I’m going to see you all the time—I don’t know why I feel like this is goodbye.”

Cora waved her hand dismissively. “You know if you ever need me, I’ll be there. Plus, with Angelica leaving and no director selected yet, well, you may be seeing me at tryouts in a couple of weeks.”

“Are you serious? Have they been talking to you about it?”

Cora nodded. “They have. It’s a big move and I’m not sure how many years I can give, but it would be fun.”

“I would love that.”

“We’ll see what happens. I’ll call if I hear anything else in the next few days.”

Then there was Akoni, who’d flown in for the evening. They’d been getting together every couple of months for dinner and drinks, and, especially after she’d left medicine to do what she loved, their relationship had grown significantly. Now he was the one complaining about medical school, though it was obvious how much he loved it.

Finally, when she’d made it around the room, she got to Ikaika. Ikaika, who had been her best friend for most of her life, and who had, in a way, given her the husband she loved so much. threw her arms around his shoulders, holding on tight.

“I’m so proud of you, Keeks. More than you could ever know. It’s everything you’ve worked so hard for, and it’s so deserved.”

“Thank you,” she whispered. “I didn’t think I’d see you until later.”

“I can’t stay for long, but I had to be here.” They shared a meaningful look. A lot had happened in Ikaika’s life the last few years, and was glad she’d been allowed to be a part of it.

When made it back to Landon, he gave her that charming smile, pulling her against his side. Almost every important person in her life stood in front of her, conversing.

As if reading her mind, Landon said, “I didn’t let Josie know early enough, but she’ll be here in a couple of days. She was hoping to stay with us. I figured that would be okay.”

turned to him, smiling as she slid her arms up over his shoulders. “I’m surprised. Does that mean you only have two days to do all the things you’ve been texting me you want to? I’m not sure there’s enough time for that.”

“If I never let you out of the bedroom, we just might make it work.”

“There are children at this function,” Colton said from beside them, and Landon and laughed, reluctantly moving away from each other.

Landon pulled out her chair, then motioned for everyone to sit around the large table. Before long, they were all talking, some about Landon’s final year and his and Colton’s potential future as commentators together, some about dance, and some about other things entirely. listened to it all, sitting back and sipping her water as she watched.

Landon, likely noting her quiet observance, leaned over with a cocky smirk and whispered, “Aren’t you glad you fell head over ass for me?”

rolled her eyes but couldn’t hold back her smile. He was right, after all. Five years ago, she never would have imagined such a fulfilling life could be hers. But it was.

And it had all started because she’d gone tumbling over her tight end.