Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 121095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Take Luca’s proposal, for example. I thought I was bringing my boyfriend home to our off-season family home in Columbus for a simple Sunday night dinner with the fam. But what I got instead was my surprise engagement party, attended by every person who’s ever loved me, besides Roman, Iris, and Maverick. Those three all wanted to be there, of course. We’ve all felt like family for quite some time by now. But unfortunately, Satan’s team had just advanced to the Super Bowl by then. For a second time. Fucking hell. So, Satan was kind of busy getting ready for that. But other than those three, everyone else most important to me was standing in my parents’ living room when I opened their front door.
Confused at the sight of all those familiar faces smiling at me, I turned to look at Luca standing behind me with a question on my face, and that’s when my sweet boyfriend sank to his knee on my parents’ porch, held up that breathtaking ring, and begged me to become his wife. When I shrieked out my yes—the easiest yes of my life—Luca slid that massive rock onto my finger, followed by his treasured mathlete medal over my head, and gave me the kiss of a lifetime.
It was a perfect proposal. Emotional and magical. And I know everybody witnessing it felt that way, too. Even Lincoln looked teary-eyed when he hugged us both afterward. Although, full disclosure, when I said, “Hey, Linc, I guess this means Roman Maguire’s going to be your brother-in-law, huh?” he gruffly snapped at me to “shut the fuck up.” But even that retort was a fabulous moment for me. I’ve never laughed so hard in all my life.
Later that night, when Luca and I were alone in my childhood bedroom, I gushed to my new fiancé about his proposal, the party, and the ring, but I also mentioned my concern that he’d spent way too much on my flashy diamond.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“I love it. But—”
“Then that’s the end of the discussion,” he declared. “I’m a high roller now, baby. What else is all my superstar money for, if not to spend it on my fated mate?”
What could I say to that? Nothing. So, I fucked his brains out and let it go.
Luca’s not Roman when it comes to the zeroes in his bank account. But who is? Also, he’s not quite the “superstar” he claimed to be, either, though he’s certainly well on his way. Once Moriarty got traded to the Admirals in a blockbuster deal right before the trade deadline last season, Luca became the Mastodons’ biggest star, and he’s been expertly parlaying that popularity into an even bigger, national profile. Indeed, Luca’s becoming so in demand these days as one of the most liked and recognized players in the NFL, the Mastodons recently sealed a multiyear deal with him intended to keep him in blue and black for many years to come.
Luca was beyond thrilled when he inked his long-term deal with the team, obviously, since he loves playing for the Mighty Mastodons with all his heart. But his new deal was equally thrilling for me, too, not only because I love him, but because it meant I can continue working alongside my father and boyfriend—sorry, my fiancé—and also for Ginny, too, without any kind of long-distance situation with Luca ruining our fun.
After the roaring success of my first season as a dynamic duo with Ginny, she recently gave me the green light to hire three new people for my analytics department during the off-season, with all of them reporting to me. And not only that, but Bellamy has become pretty tolerable to me. He’s still not my favorite person, but he’s also not quite as big a blowhard as I originally thought. Once he started showing me genuine respect and actually listening to me in meetings, thanks to Ginny, I slowly let my guard down and returned the favor. The result has been a slowly formed professional relationship that’s working for the benefit our mutual goal: making the Mastodons as great as they can be so we can make a run for the Super Bowl in the very near future.
“You’re thinking about football, aren’t you?” Luca murmurs, drawing me out of my thoughts.
“No, I’m thinking about how much I love you. And football.”
Laughing, he kisses me again. And predictably, that one kiss leads to lots more. But before we get too hot and heavy out here in this ocean, we’re interrupted by the sound of Luca’s mom calling to us from the sandy shore.
“Hey, lovebirds!” Ava says. When we break apart to look at her, my future mother-in-law raises the colorful cocktail in her hand, whoops, and performs a cute little shimmy. “Come to the beach! It’s Fiji Bowl time!”