Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 113330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Reflexively, as the Thunderbolt in the end zone leaps and dances around in celebration, I bolt to my feet, screaming and cheering, along with everyone around me. And guess what? I do all of it—bolting up, screaming, and cheering—without Luca or anyone else needing to poke me.
For several seconds, the massive screen in the stadium displays the player who scored the touchdown. But when a different camera takes over, we’re treated to Roman jogging happily toward the touchdown celebration. When he realizes he’s being shown on the big screen, he leans into the camera, sticks up his pinky with one hand and three upside-down fingers with the other, and shakes both hands into the camera with his tongue hanging out and a goofy, blissful look on his gorgeous face.
“Mavvy!” I shriek, clutching my chest. “Daddy did that for you and me! That was an ‘M’ for Maverick and an ‘I’ for Iris! You and me, buddy!”
“Because we’re Daddy’s lucky charms!” Maverick screams. Overjoyed, he hugs me like he just won a life supply of Legos, and I squeeze him back with unadulterated glee.
By the time we break apart, I’m crying tears of joy. Partly in reaction to Roman’s secret hand signal to Maverick and me. But mostly because I’m so fucking relieved Roman is having a fantastic game. He doesn’t express doubt or vulnerability very often with me or anyone else. But I know those emotions are in there, somewhere, lurking. Whispering to him. Fueling him, yes. But, also, sometimes, weighing him down. Seeding doubt. Hopefully, this first touchdown as a Thunderbolt is a sign, like Ava is adamantly screaming now, of all the fantastic things to come for Roman this upcoming season.
Luca nudges my shoulder. “You and Maverick were just on TV. My buddy just texted me.”
“When?”
“While you were hugging about the touchdown.”
I sigh with relief. If the world was going to get a glimpse of me at this game tonight, as Roman predicted, I’m thrilled the camera caught me celebrating Roman’s first touchdown as a Thunderbolt, and doing it with Roman’s adorable son. In fact, I couldn’t have orchestrated a better moment for the world to take stock of me, as Roman’s girlfriend, if I’d tried.
“Commercial break,” Luca says. He flops into his chair, so I do the same and take a long slug of my cocktail. A moment later, however, as I’m leaning forward to chat with Nicola and Ava down the row, someone taps me on my shoulder from behind.
“Excuse me,” a female voice says.
I turn around to find a smiling, lovely woman with a little girl of about ten in the space behind my seat. “Sorry to bother you,” the lady says, “but you’re the runaway bride from the video, right?”
My stomach revolts. It’s the first time in a long while anyone’s recognized me, thanks to news cycles being lightning fast these days. I thought I was done with this.
“I hope it’s okay to ask,” the woman continues when my tongue is too tied to speak. “But my daughter is hoping to take a selfie with you. I’ve always told her how important it is to stick up for herself, no matter what, and when we saw your video, we felt like you were a great role model of a strong woman doing exactly that.”
My skin erupts with goosebumps, as my heart leaps and bounds inside my chest. Of all the things this woman might have said to me, I never in a million years could have foreseen that. “Thank you,” I choke out. “That means a lot.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Ava pipes in, leaning into the conversation from two seats down.
“Hell yeah,” Luca adds with a squeeze of my shoulder.
“Uh, yes,” I say, rising from my seat. “I’d be honored to take a selfie. Thank you for asking.” I don’t know who she is. But if she’s in Roman’s box, I’m guessing she’s someone important, which is all the more reason to feel relieved and excited about her request.
I get up on unsteady legs and lean in for the smiling shot, and both mother and daughter thank me profusely before giving me a hug and politely walking away and slipping out the door of the box.
When they’re gone, Ava grabs me and pulls me into a hug before I return to my seat.
“That was the daughter and granddaughter of the team owner!” she whispers into my ear.
“Oh, wow. How exciting.”
Ava takes my face in her soft palms. “I’m so proud of you, love. And so happy for me.” When I cock my head, not understanding her meaning, Ava smiles and explains, “Happy that my son has finally found the perfect woman to bring into our family.”
Chapter 35
Roman
Three Weeks Later
The fact that Iris’s birthday tomorrow falls smack in the middle of my bye week is a godsend. It means I’ve got a few well-timed days off to celebrate the Birthday Girl.