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)
“Okay, first of all, it’s not silly and it’s not a simple grudge.”
Roman looks deeply amused. “Rivalry. So sorry, little Buckeye.”
“No, it’s not even that.”
“Uh-oh, Roman,” Ava says. “Looks like you just pulled the pin out of Chelsea’s grenade.” To me, she says, “Tell him, honey. What is it?”
“It’s a religion. A moral code. A way of life.”
“That’s right!” Ava shouts, raising her glass. “Even if the Buckeyes are inferior in every conceivable way, I fully respect your unwavering loyalty to them!”
Everyone laughs at that, even me.
“Thank you, Ava. I think.”
“Man, you’re fun to tease, Chelsea Parker,” Roman says. “Now that you’ve got that out of your system, get over here. With Iris out and Nicola taken, I need you.”
“Roman, come on,” Luca says. “Don’t do this to her.”
“It’s fine,” I say. “I’ll survive.”
“No, Luca’s right,” Ava declares. She addresses Roman. “This is Chelsea’s first time on a family vacation with us, so we all need to pretend we’re nice and easygoing so we don’t scare her away. Once she’s got a wedding ring on her finger and she’s been totally duped, we can reveal our true colors. But until then, be nice, Roman.”
As everyone laughs, Roman rolls his eyes. “Fine, I’ll let Chelsea off the hook, just this once. But only because Iris just now shot me a look that made it clear that’s her wish, too.” He shoots a wink at his pregnant wife. “Yes, dear. Message received.”
With a sigh, Roman scans the faces on the beach, and this time, his dark gaze settles on his mother. “Tell the truth, Mom. Are you too far gone on happy juice to throw a reliable dart?”
Ava scoffs. “Booze only increases my accuracy.” To emphasize her point, apparently, she mimes throwing a ball in a way that makes the drink she’s holding in her other hand slosh violently.
“Mom, you’re obviously not in top form.”
“Who would be better, though? You can’t have Iris, Chelsea, or Nicola, so I’m still your best option.” She addresses the other women on the beach. “No offense, ladies.”
“None taken,” they all reply. Everyone here knows full well the Maguire boys got their insane athleticism from both parents but their killer instincts from only one: their darling mother.
“Okay, Mom. Shimmy on over here.”
“Whoop! Let’s go, Roman’s Wreckers!” With the requested shimmy, Ava dances exuberantly toward her team captain across the sand, and the draft continues. But after a few back-and-forth picks, Marco breaks protocol and picks Luca and me as a twofer.
“A twofer?” Roman bellows. “We never agreed that’s possible.”
“Oh, come on, Satan,” Ava teases. “Just pick two players yourself and let’s get this show on the road.”
Roman turns to his father. “Ref? What’s the ruling on the field on the twofer?”
Edward raises his cocktail like a referee calling a foul. “The twofer on the field stands!”
Half the beach cheers wildly while the other half boos and feigns heartbreak. But in short order, we continue with the draft to completion.
“Okay, huddle up, team!” Marco commands, and our newly formed team crowds around our fearless leader, while Roman and his team do the same across the beach.
“What’s the play, Parker?” Marco stage-whispers in the huddle, surprising me. “Roman’s being ridiculously competitive—”
“Surprise, surprise,” Luca interjects.
“So we’ve got to come out guns blazing and shut him up.”
“Shock and awe, baby,” I whisper with a nod.
Marco mimics my nod. “Let’s do something tricky that will singe Satan’s hair off.”
“Love it.”
It’s hilarious for Marco to refer to Roman as Satan in my honor, considering how much he adores his cousin. Not to mention, it’s ridiculous for a Super Bowl–winning tight end in the NFL to ask me of all people to call our first offensive play. Marco’s an offensive player, after all. Surely, he’s got a boatload of great trick plays to suggest for our initial plan of attack. But, hey, since I’m not one to back down from a challenge, and since Nicola’s now insisting I should play quarterback out of the gate, instead of her, to “rub salt in Satan’s wounds,” I’m more than willing to throw out an idea.
I draw my suggested play on my palm with my finger, and everyone in the huddle expresses delight at my silly, fake-out switcheroo of a play. Marco whisper-barks a series of assignments, letting each of us know our duties on the play, and while he does that, I lean my cheek against my fiancé’s broad, hunched-over shoulder next to me and sigh happily, suddenly feeling total and complete fulfillment.
I don’t know how I got so lucky as to have found the great love of my life, along with a career I’m obsessed with and family and friends who not only love me but also love the man I’ve chosen as my life partner. The only thing I know for sure is that whatever happens next, whatever twists and turns fate chooses to throw my way, I’ll tackle all of it with Luca, my forever teammate, as we march down the football field of life toward our very own happily ever after.