Blake stops up ahead and looks down, his body slumping with a heavy sigh and I realize that he must have found them.
My heart breaks. He looks absolutely shattered.
Slade holds back as I race toward Blake, hurrying to be by his side.
I step in beside him and the emotions hit me like a wrecking ball. It all comes flooding back and I find myself latching onto Blake’s hand while he clutches mine all the same.
We stand there for what could be minutes or hours with Slade standing back, giving us this moment as a family.
It’s exactly what I needed.
Blake starts talking, just as I thought he would, telling mom and dad about our lives, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the amazing. As he talks, I feel that weight lifting off me and before I know it, we’re laughing together, sitting in the grass by our parent's headstones, laughing about all the good times growing up.
Before I know it, the sun is setting and Slade steps in. We must have been here for at least six hours. “Come on,” he tells me, giving me a warm smile as he takes in the happiness on my face. “I called Rivers. He’s invited us for dinner.”
My brows shoot up in excitement as Blake helps me to my feet. “Really?”
“Yeah, Virago. He’s invited Noah and his girl, Henley, too. Said we could crash the night if we wanted. Then you guys can come back here in the morning and spend all day if that’s what you need.”
I look to Blake who nods, not nearly ready to have this moment over.
“Alright,” I smile, stepping into Slade’s warm arms. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
We walk away with Blake trailing behind and my heart feeling as one, all the small little cracks slowly disappearing.
I miss my parents so damn much, but today has empowered me and I’m walking away feeling as though nothing and no one will ever have the power to hurt me again.
I’ve finally come full circle.
For a while, I believed that this shitshow all started and ended with Maria, but I was wrong. This is the moment that proves once and for all, that it started with the love my parents had for me and Blake and that’s exactly how it will always be.
There is no end, just the rest of our lives living in peace, happiness, and love.
Six Years Later
I stare down at the court, screaming for my man as the game cuts into halftime. It’s been an incredible season. It’s his second year in the NBA and to say that he’s kicking ass is an understatement. His name is mentioned on ESPN every two seconds, he’s getting sponsorship requests every other day, and his ego is the size of our fucking huge-ass house that was bought with money that was earned.
It’s insane.
I knew this was always going to be his life. It’s what he worked for, what he dreamed about, and I had all the faith in the world that he was going to make it happen, but there’s no way I could have foreseen the incredible fanbase that came along with it.
He has girls lining up for his autograph after every game, even if it means waiting out in the cold for hours. Every week we have trespassers trying to get into our home, we’ve had to hire bodyguards and have one of the best security systems money can buy. Just yesterday we found a fan hiding in the back of Slade’s SUV. Don’t get me wrong, we love his fans. The majority of the time he can sign their shirt or whatever they’ve got on them, smile for a photo and they’re on their way. Other times, you’ve got to lay down the law.
The cheerleaders come out to center court and do their thing as Slade’s team takes a quick, well-deserved break. They’re up by six and it’s been an intense game. The opposition is fighting hard. Every time my boys get the ball through the hoop, the other team is quick to challenge them and win back a few points.
The next two quarters are going to be tough, but I know Slade and his team will pull through. They always do. They earned their reputation for being the best and prove it every time they step out onto the court.
Damian and Blake fall into a conversation about the players as I glance over at my best friend sitting beside Blake with his fingers laced through hers. Luce’s hand rests on her precious little baby bump as she stares down the man walking up and down the stands with soda, boxes of popcorn, and hotdogs.
This whole baby bump thing was a bit of a surprise and came from an accidental, drunk one-night stand. Ever since Luce found out that she was pregnant, the two of them have been inseparable, and honestly, I kind of like it.
They’re perfect together. At eighteen, I never would have admitted that, but now, it’s everything the two of them need. They’re going to be great parents. I can’t wait to corrupt this child with all my devilish ways and laugh as I watch Blake trying to deal with it.
His life has been just as crazy as I knew it would be.
Just as he always dreamed, Blake was signed to the NBA. It just so happens to be for the team which is one of Slade’s biggest competitors. Shit has been intense over the last few months between the two of them, their teams went head to head a few weeks ago and unfortunately for Blake, Slade came out with the bragging rights.
Nessa’s high-pitched laughter erupts and I shoot my gaze over to her to see her looking up at the jumbo screen.
A smile tears across my face.
The kiss cam.
God, I love that thing. I’ve been caught on it far too many times at Blake’s games when I’m sitting in the stands with Slade. He always puts on a show for the cameras and the crowds love it, but today, it’s not me on display. It’s Blake and Damian.
The two of them have finally realized that they can’t live without each other and have built an indestructible bromance. It’s irritating as all hell.
Damian’s eyes light up like the fourth of July as Blake looks horrified, knowing the guy beside him far too well. Damian starts leaning in and throwing caution to the wind, Blake shrugs it off and goes for it.
I gawk in horror.
Their lips crush together as Damian’s eyes fly open. He hadn’t expected Blake to play along but the crowds are cheering for them so they give it a second longer.
Slade stares at the screen looking like he’s about to race up here and kick both of their asses. I mean, this is maybe taking the bromance too far. I haven’t had enough to drink to be dealing with this.
The guys break apart with a laugh as Nessa, Luce, and I stare with our mouths dropped open. Damian licks his lips, batts his eyelashes, and gives Blake a seductive little pout. “I knew you were always into me.”
Blake bounces his brows, playing into Damian’s little game. “Wait till you see what else this mouth can do.”
Okay…and now I need another drink.
I hop up and start making my way down to the court as I consider my options. I could find the bar which the rest of the stadium is queuing at or I could walk an extra two minutes to the VIP bar for the players and their guests. It's bound to be practically empty.
There’s hardly a decision to make.
I get to the bottom and start heading for the VIP area. We have a box that we sometimes use that has its own personal bar staff, but for games like this, we like to be in with the action and able to smell the sweat. Well, at least Nessa likes to smell the sweat. She’s batshit crazy like that.
I cross past Slade with his team and I hardly get three steps past them when they all stand and start crowding me. I scrunch my face up and groan. The whole team is a bunch of shit stirrers. They laugh and chant my name, huddling me within their big bodies and making it impossible to get free.