Page 57

FIFTY-SIX

MARA

MARCH | OHIO

“Oh, there he goes.”

I stood next to Lacey Korowski, the captain’s wife in Ohio. She’d set us up with a babysitting duo to watch our kids so I could come to the game. This was Jack’s first home game in Ohio, and he was already settling in the way he does: getting into a fight.

“I can’t look,” I squeaked.

Lacey laughed. “I don’t think any of us can. We watch when it’s not our person, but if ours is involved, it’s waiting for it to be over.”

“I’ll just hold on for dear life and hope he’s intact when it’s over.”

Ohio seemed thrilled enough to have Jack on board, yelling for him to be the victor. “Ah, he can hold his own. He’s even laughing, if that helps. It’s over if you want to look.”

And like the jackass he is, Jack waved as he stepped into the penalty box with a towel on his lip. He flipped back his hair in there, and I just stared.

The things that made Jack happy weren’t the same things that made me happy, but that was okay. I took care of him, and he took care of me. And together, that made us unstoppable.

We had love. And we had exchanged rings and papers, so we were bound to each other. Whatever was ahead for us, we’d take it as it came.

After all, that’s what he offered me at the courthouse. One day at a time. No lies, or at least, no more lies from Jack.

Bryce had his weekly check-ins with the kids, and he actually showed up at the appointed time. Jack stayed out of the way, but gave me a wink over my phone screen as Aspen caught him up on what he was up to.

There was work to do to get settled, and adjustments to be made, but one day at a time, we’d do it. Because no matter what, I knew I had him, and he had me.