“Well, then, what are we waiting for?”
Felicity drove me to Bell’s. I think Jason was happy to stay behind given that I couldn’t stop crying. Asher hadn’t only played with my emotions, he’d completely wrecked them.
“Hey, Jerry,” she said as we entered the bar. “I think you might have something for my girl.”
“Hey girls, why don’t you hop on up to the bar and I’ll be right with you.” He disappeared out back while we got comfortable on the stools.
Felicity reached over and took my hand in hers, squeezing. “It’s going to be okay, Mya.”
I was starting to get that.
It wasn’t just about Asher’s grand gesture, it was about the way Jason and Cameron stepped up to look out for me, and the way Felicity and Hailee were always there no questions asked. Maybe I would always be the odd girl out in Rixon, but they only ever made me feel like I belonged. I’d built a family for myself here, a life, and that was something I would always be grateful for.
“Here we go,” Jerry reappeared, carrying a black drawstring bag. He dumped it on the bar and handed me a note. “I’ll leave you two girls to it.” He gave me a knowing wink before busying himself at the other end of the bar.
“Is everyone in on this?” I asked incredulously.
“Only the important people,” Felicity replied. “Well, don’t just stare at it, open it.” She motioned to the note in my hand.
* * *
I know football isn’t your sport. I know it pained you to wear my jersey at the exhibition game, to stand in the bleachers supporting me. But you did it anyway. You constantly pushed yourself out of your boundaries… for me.
You chose me.
You fought for me.
* * *
I thought I was fighting too. I thought because I almost beat the shit out of Merrick, or because I barely spoke to Vaughn in New York, or because I went against my dad’s orders by being with you, that I was fighting too.
But I realize now it wasn’t enough.
I wasn’t enough.
And I’m so fucking sorry, Mya.
* * *
So let me show you I’m ready.
Meet me at the place where young men who think they have it all figured out become Gods and Kings.
Because this King is ready to claim his Queen.
* * *
I sucked in a shaky breath, his words reverberating through me, leaving me breathless.
“Now that one, I did not see. Holy shit, I think I picked the wrong Raider.”
“Felicity!” I nudged her shoulder as we both read it again. “The place where men become Gods and Kings… what does he—”
“The football field, where else?” she said as if there was no question.
And she was right.
Of course she was right.
“Are you ready?”
“I think so,” I choked out over the huge fucking lump in my throat.
“Well before we go, you should probably look the part.” Her eyes dropped to the bag on the counter. “You’ve come all this way; you might as well go the whole nine yards.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Asher
“She’ll be here,” Cameron said as we stood centerfield waiting for any sign of Mya and Felicity.
“And if she doesn’t show?”
“She’ll show,” he said with absolute conviction.
“How can you be so sure?” I asked him, bouncing on the balls of my feet.
My heart had been in my throat all fucking day. It had all seemed like the perfect plan when I was putting it all together, but now as I stood on the football field, surrounded by my teammates, I wasn’t so sure.
If she didn’t come... fuck, I didn’t want to fall to my knees and cry like a pussy in front of them all, but I was pretty certain that’s exactly what would happen.
Cam was on his phone when he glanced up. “Showtime.”
“They’re here.” My pulse spiked.
“They’re here.” He gave me a reassuring nod. He’d been great about this whole thing. Jason too. It hadn’t been easy aligning all the pieces, but we’d called in some favors here and there, and I may have dropped my father’s name once or twice; but this was it, make or break.
“Okay,” I said jogging into position. “See you on the other side.” It was impossible to see her, my vision blocked by the wall of bodies all facing the bleachers where I knew Hailee and Felicity had led Mya to wait. I could imagine her standing there in my jersey, wondering what the fuck was going on.
At least, I hoped she was.
“Who are we?” Jason roared.
“Raiders,” my teammates voices echoed through the air.
“I said who are we?”
“RAIDERS.”
“And what are we?”
“Family.”
“And what are we gonna do?” Jason glanced back at me, giving me a sharp nod.
“Get the girl,” they yelled in unison.
“I said what are we gonna do?”
“Get the girl!”
Adrenaline pumped through me as the guys began to close rank, jogging into two lines—offense and defense—until they were stacked in front of me in a long vertical ladder leading straight to Mya.
Grady glanced back, shooting me a shit-eating grin. “You got this, bro,” he mouthed, and I nodded.
I’d done some questionable things over the last four years. Partied too hard. Fucked too many girls. And partied some more. I’d lied to my friends and played a role in a game I never wanted any part of. I’d grown bitter and resentful and I’d dealt with it the only way I knew how—by plastering on a fake smile and making some lame ass wisecrack and raising a glass to the perfect life everyone thought I had.
But this, standing here waiting for my cue, was the first time I felt at peace. There wasn’t a single doubt that this was the right decision.
Now all I had to do was convince Mya.
The opening beat to Whatever It Takes by Imagine Dragons boomed over the PA system and slowly, pair by pair, the two lines separated until I could finally see her.
Mya.
My Mya wearing my number, staring at me as if I’d lost my ever-loving mind.
Maybe I had.
Maybe this was an over-the-top cheese fest of epic proportions. But she deserved it. Mya deserved to know unequivocally that I loved her and that I chose her. And what better way to show her than in the presence of my teammates. My brothers.
My Raiders family.
I jogged toward her, high-fiving my teammates on the way down. When I’d first asked them to help me out, they’d all given me a ton of shit and Grady had asked to see my newly grown vagina. But Jason, being Jason, had soon insisted they fall in line. We were a team. And if one of us needed help, we stepped up. End of.
Slowing my pace, I came to a stop just in front of Mya.
“Hi,” she said softly.
“Hi, yourself.”
“I... I don’t even know what to—” Her eyes widened to saucers as they finally took me in. “Asher...” she croaked.