Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
I crossed my arms, then uncrossed them. Ivy and Chase were in our periphery, alternately studying my helmet and gazing up at the stadium lights with wide-eyed wonder. They had no idea I’d just gone skydiving without a parachute.
But Cooper did. He stepped close again and set a hand on my cheek.
“Can I do this?”
“Yes.”
“I love you, too. So much.” He cradled my face, looked deep into my eyes, and there it was…
Love. Hope. Friendship. A life together.
There was no “someday” attached. It was all within reach—in a sexy plaid shirt, lumberjack package, and I was done waiting.
I grabbed Cooper’s collar, dragged him close, and fused my mouth to his.
In public.
In the middle of a stadium surrounded by sweaty football players, frazzled or relieved coaches, story-hungry reporters, random strangers, and…Ivy and Chase.
For a few precious seconds, no one paid attention. It was just us in our own little bubble. I made the moment last as long as possible, knowing the world would look different when we came up for air. Millions of people would know I was queer and in love with a man.
And that he loved me too.
A-fucking-mazing.
I’d played at the highest level of my sport, made a lot of money, knew so-called important people, and had traveled the globe. I was grateful for the opportunities that had opened doors and made my biggest dreams come true.
But I had other dreams now and—
“Dad’s kissing Silas!” Chase chirped.
Ivy gasped, jumping up and down. “I knew it, I knew it! I told you they were in love!”
Cooper released me, leaving one arm draped around my shoulders. I was pretty sure my smile matched the wide, unchecked grin on his handsome face as the cameras found us and began clicking away.
Let them.
I didn’t want to hide, and maybe I’d just added some major complications to my career, but I didn’t care. I had everything I needed now.
Right here with this guy.
EPILOGUE
“Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.”― Maya Angelou
Eighteen months later
Cooper
Silas paced the great room, making a loop around the kitchen island. He paused every so often to signal to Marly, our newest rescue pup, to sit, lie down, stay, then quickly rewarded her with a treat before resuming his trek.
“Yeah, yeah. I know. You’re amazing, Ger. I appreciate you. But I’m not moving to New York for the job. Either I commute or I’m out.” Silas plucked the coffee cup from my hand and mouthed, Thank you.
I kissed his temple and leaned on the counter, my gaze wandering from Max, the yellow Lab sleeping on the hearth, to my watch. The kids would be home soon. I almost motioned to Silas to be mindful of the time, but I didn’t want to interrupt negotiations. There was a big sportscasting contract on the line—and the first offer that had interested him since he’d retired for good last year.
So, yeah…Silas had come out. Publicly.
At the end of a game, but at the beginning of regular season. It was a big deal that had caused some big waves in his sport, and truthfully throughout the world, thanks to his ex’s relationship with an international celebrity. That kiss had rocked our worlds and changed our lives forever…and ultimately for the better.
Sure, we could have done without the seemingly never-ending scrutiny of the press, but I supposed we’d known we’d end up on the Internet within minutes of that fateful kiss and that there’d be a price to pay in the form of paparazzi and online stalkers.
For months afterward, fans and reporters had followed Silas between his condo, the stadium, and even to Wood Hollow, where Reg had been forced to barricade Red Oak Lane and the kids’ school from prying assholes who’d aimed long-range cameras at us for the sake of social media content.
Like it or not, Silas became the face of Boston. And Wood Hollow. Especially when the team made it to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, they lost the game, but getting to the championships in his final season in the pros was a perfect ending to a long career.
Once Silas had confirmed that he was retiring for good, the spotlight faded a bit. We had Alli and Liam to thank for that. They’d gotten engaged a year ago and were set to get married this summer in Italy. They were bigger news, and their lives were infinitely more glamorous than ours. Fine by us.
But yes, Silas and the kids and I would be at their wedding. It was a good time for a getaway for us. The past year and a half had been…a lot.
Mill Depot had successfully opened its doors in three locations, but getting the first store up and running had been the most stressful. I’d juggled a lot of balls in the air being a full-time single parent, balancing work life with being in a long-distance relationship, and constantly worrying about protecting the kids from nosy outsiders and hoping Silas was staying sane too. It had been exhausting.