Chapter 51: Chapter 51

Cheers erupt from all around us, and cameras flash right next to us, but I don’t pay attention to any of it. All I care about is getting to Preston and finally being in his arms after months apart.

I leap toward him, completely trusting that he’ll catch me.

The moment his strong arms wrap around me, it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I know I’ve missed him in our time apart, but I hadn’t realized how deep missing him went until I found myself back in his arms. I missed him all the way down to my bones, and now that I feel him around me again, I know I can never let him go.

Preston’s hand lifts to cradle the back of my head, keeping me pressed to him as he lines up his mouth next to my ear. “Tell me this is real,” he says, his voice thick with emotion.

I nod, tears already welling up in my eyes. I don’t mind these tears. They’re the happy kind. “It’s real. You just won the Super Bowl, Rhodes.”

He laughs, holding me even tighter. People rush all around us, calling out our names as cameras flash in my peripheral. I barely notice them, too wrapped up in the moment with Preston to care. Something I’ve realized is this isn’t about them; it’s about us. That’s what matters, and that’s what I’ll focus on. Preston runs his fingers through the hair at my neck as he lets out a content sigh. “No. Tell me you’re real. Tell me you’re here.”

I pull away, wanting to be able to look at him with my next words. “I’m here and…” I bite my lip, knowing I could probably wait to tell him somewhere more private but not wanting to. “I love you.”

His eyes go wide, and the smile he gives me is the most dazzling smile I’ve ever seen from him. It shines throughout his entire face, making my pulse spike with happiness. “You mean that, rebel? Because I’m so fucking in love with you that the thought of ever truly losing you rips me open inside.”

I just stare at him for a moment, adjusting the hat on his head so it’s backward. I press my forehead to his, soaking in the moment with him. “I think I’ll always be a little lost. That’s who I am. But I’m ready to be lost with you, Preston Rhodes. Now, tell me you love me again.”

The hand not holding me against his body finds the side of my face. His thumb traces my cheekbone, and that small touch makes everything right in the world. I’ve missed even the smallest caresses from him and how he always has to be touching me. We’ve got a lot of time to make up for, and I cannot wait to start. “I love you, Emma. Everything about you. Even the things you might not love about yourself yet. And I’ll spend every damn day proving to you that every single thing about you is worthy of love. Even the messy parts.”

I cry, tucking my face into the crook of his neck. He allows me the moment, his arms wrapping around me and keeping me pinned to his body. I can hear people yelling our names, their microphones and cameras so close to us they’ve probably heard every word shared between us.

A freeing feeling washes over me as I realize I really don’t care. All I care about is my love for this man, who has been nothing but patient and steadfast in his love for me. Now, I’m ready for the world to know how lucky I feel to call him mine.

I pull away. Our eyes meet, and it’s hard not to let the biggest smile take over my face.

Preston leans in. He lowers his voice and talks next to my ear to try and make our conversation as private as possible. “I really want to kiss you right now, Em, but there’s a thousand cameras on us, and I don’t know if you want the spotlight on you like that or not.”

I don’t use my words to answer him. Instead, I grab his face and pull him in close to me. He smiles as our lips meet. It isn’t the most passionate kiss we’ve ever had, but it’s perfect. The clicks of cameras surround us as more and more people try to get our attention.

We savor the feeling of being the only two people in the world for a few more seconds before the kiss ends. Preston sets me down softly, his hand immediately finding mine.

Before we turn toward the flood of media personnel that want our attention, I reach up and press my free hand to Preston’s cheek. He looks hot as hell in his football uniform and backward hat. He looks happy, and happy looks incredibly sexy on him. “Before we’re overwhelmed by a thousand people congratulating you, I just wanted to be one of the first to say congratulations, Rhodes. You fucking did it. The man I love is a badass and the greatest in the league.”

“I’ll never get tired of hearing you say you love me.”

I smile, spotting Preston’s family waiting to talk to him. I’d been so excited that I ran ahead of them, my poor security detail trailing behind me, trying to keep up as I pushed and shoved my way through people to get to Preston as quickly as I could.

“Good. I plan on saying it a lot now.”

“I like the sound of that.”

“Good. Now, let’s go celebrate.”

The floodgates of media attention open, and I stand next to Preston the entire time, wanting the world to know how proud I am of him. One reporter after the next asks about us and the status of our relationship. Preston handles the questions beautifully, telling every one of them he’s never been happier and that’s all that matters.

I don’t know how long we spend on that field talking to one person and then the next. When the Super Bowl MVP is announced, I’m not surprised it’s Preston.

When he stands at the podium with the trophy in his hand and tears in his eyes, an overwhelming sense of happiness takes over me. He couldn’t have had a better season for his last one. Just by the way his teammates and coaches look at him, I know he couldn’t be respected more.

I let him soak in the moment with his teammates and family. He deserves the attention he’s getting, and I’m just honored I get to share this moment with him. I smile when I realize that from now on, we’ll share all our moments, the big ones and the small. And I cannot wait to experience every single moment life has to offer with the love of my life—Preston Rhodes. My forever. Mine.

Forever used to terrify me. The unknown was even scarier. But now, it’s exciting. Whatever happens, I’ll have Preston, and maybe a forever of unknowns with him is actually the perfect future. It’s real, and it’s ours. And nothing can beat that.