Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 135539 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135539 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
“No . . . Truly? What did she say?” Her rapt expression has me smiling, my mind sinking back into the memory of Nanna’s indulgent look when I’d told her of my plan.
“She didn’t laugh or tell me I was being foolish. She just nodded and said sometimes that’s the way of it. That Grandpop Charles had pledged his love to her when they were thirteen. And since I appeared serious about the matter, she was going to give me her ring for you.
“Took it off that weekend. Said her knuckles were getting too big for it and she wanted to remove it before she couldn’t. Put it in a safe and, when she died, left it for me in her will.”
With a little noise of pleasure, Pen presses her lips to my neck and hugs me. Her breath is warm on my skin. “You floor me sometimes, Pickle. You really do.”
“It doesn’t freak you out?”
“Why would it, when I loved you just as long? It’s more like . . . sometimes I wish I’d opened my eyes a little more and really seen you then.”
“I think about that too, wishing I’d realized sooner that you actually liked me instead of the hate thing.” I grin at her sour face. “But we’re here now. That’s all that matters in the end.”
“You’re right.” Gently, she spreads her hand out over my heart and looks at the ring I claimed for her long ago. I never thought I’d be able to give it to her. In truth, I never actually tried until I opened that door one rainy night, and she finally looked at me.
Call it pride, or perhaps it was the fear of rejection. But I held myself back from Penelope for too long. No more. I’m all in. Come what may.
Pen’s voice cracks with emotion when she finally speaks. “My whole life I was content with sitting back and watching others shine. I’d resigned myself to watching you too. Then you came along and pulled me right into the sun, made me feel beautiful and treasured. With your beautiful soul, immense talent, and tender heart. You’re the best person I know.”
Hell. I curl into her, holding her hand to my heart. I can’t wait any longer.
“Penelope?”
“August.”
I meet her eyes. “I don’t want you to take the ring off.”
She pauses, lips parting on a breath. A gleam enters her eyes. “You don’t?”
“No.” I stroke her wrist where her pulse beats as fast as mine. “I never did. But it’s a delicate thing asking the girl you’ve loved forever to marry you when you’ve only been together for a little while.”
Pen swallows thickly. “I can see that being something to consider.”
I nod, looking down at the ring, then back at her. “So I’ve been waiting. Letting you get used to the idea of you and me.”
“But you didn’t need to get used to it?” She gives me a look of total understanding and growing impishness.
“No,” I say easily. “I knew from the start. We were inevitable.”
“Like Thanos.” It comes out weepy but happy.
A smile pulls wide. I feel it to my toes. “Yeah. Only not evil.”
“But perfect.” She threads her fingers through my hair. “We were always going to be perfect together.”
Our kiss is soft and reverent before I pull back. She’s the most beautiful thing in my life. Always was. “So fucking perfect. Marry me, Penelope? For real and forever?”
Her smile blooms. “I love you, August. For real and forever. And I’m never taking this ring off.”
“You’ve made my life, Sweets.”
“That’s good. You’ve made mine too, Pickle.”
You see that guy? The one lying next to the most perfect woman in his world? The one smiling at him like he brought her the sun? When really, it’s she who gave him everything he ever wanted? Yeah, that’s me, lucky bastard that I am.
Am I entertained?
You bet your ass.
* * * * *
Playlist for Only on Gameday
A selection of songs that inspired Kristen Callihan in writing this book.
“Rocket Man,” Elton John
“Teen Spirit,” Nirvana
“Bad,” U2
“Satisfaction,” Rolling Stones
“Take a Chance on Me,” ABBA
“Summer Samba,” Astrud Gilberto
“L.A. Woman,” The Doors
“Old Enough,” The Raconteurs, featuring Ricky Skaggs and Ashley Monroe
“Night and Day,” Ella Fitzgerald