Chapter 28

WHITLEY

Aubrey and I spend most of the day wandering around New Orleans. They have an amazing French Market where we find anything and everything. I found all sorts of scented candles specifically made here. My favorite is Creole tomato.

All along Jackson Square, there are artists selling their work and men who look like statues, painted from head to toe in gold or silver. We sat and listened to some amazing street music that can’t be heard anywhere else. My favorite place though, was the absolutely beautiful St. Louis Cathedral. Walking inside and seeing it all was just breathtaking.

We have to get back and get to the Superdome early because, for some reason, Kendrick needs me there before everyone else. He says it’s in case of my nerves or my head. I tell him I’m fine, but, being the overprotective brother he is, he doesn’t listen.

Aubrey leaves with my mom and dad to grab an early dinner while I get dragged to the Superdome with Kendrick.

“Where’s Gabriel?” I ask.

“Coach called. He had to go in early to go over some plays,” Kendrick says.

“Damn, he’s serious today.”

“It’s the Super Bowl, Whit.”

“I get it, but it’s still just a game.”

We’re getting out of the car, and he freezes.

“Just a game? Did you say just a game? This is my career. This is Gabriel’s career. This is what every player works for, and only a small percentage get to relish what it feels like to be here.”

“Okay, okay.”

He looks at his phone and sends a text. He puts it back in his pocket.

“Let’s go.”

We get to the gate and see several guards. I already have my pass around my neck, but they just nod, opening the gate and letting us in. They shut it as soon as we pass.

“It’s so quiet and dark,” I say.

“Yeah, with it being so early, the lights aren’t all on yet.”

We walk through the tunnel to the field. Nobody is here. The stadium lights aren’t even on.

“Kendrick,” I ask.

About that time, all the stadium lights come on. I look in front of me and see a red carpet rolled out to the middle of the field. Kendrick and Gabriel’s teammates are lined up on either side of the carpet. They are in full pads and their black jerseys. They even have their helmets on.

What catches my eye, is that each one is holding a flower, and each flower is different. One may be a rose, a tulip, or an orchid, but each one is different. With all their gear on, I can’t tell where Gabriel is right off. I guess that’s the point.

As Kendrick walks me down the red carpet, I take the flower from each player. By the time I make it close to the end, my arms are full. Gabriel steps out from the side in a solid white suit. My breath catches in the back of my throat.

Kendrick takes the flowers from my arms and kisses me on the side of the head. He then steps to the side with his team. I walk the remaining steps to Gabriel, and he looks down at me.

“Do you know what a victory formation means?” he asks.

“Yeah. It’s when the quarterback takes a knee and ends the play.”

He nods.

“It’s time for me to take a knee, Whitley.”

I watch as Gabriel gets down on one knee and takes out a small black box. All of a sudden, I can’t breathe.

“I’ve waited a long time for you. We’ve been through a lot together, and I want you to know my love for you will never end. This play may be over, but our lives are just beginning. I need you. I need you to be my wife and the mother of our children. You complete me. Whitley, will you marry me?”

“Gabriel! Of course, I’ll marry you!”

He stands and slides a huge rock onto my finger before kissing my lips hard. I hear all the players hollering behind us. I’m pulled away by my parents, who were hiding off to the side watching with Aubrey and…

“Devyn?!”

She runs up and slams into me, hugging me like there’s no tomorrow.

“I didn’t know you were here!” I shout.

“It was a surprise. I missed you so much, Whit.”

“I’m so glad you’re here.”

“I knew Gabriel was going to propose. I wasn’t going to miss it! I wanted to come sooner, but I had to finish finals so I could graduate.”

“Graduate?”

“Yeah, I went back to school and got my degree in teaching. Elementary education, specializing in children with learning disabilities.”

Kendrick walks up.

“I’m so proud of you, Dev,” he says.

She grabs Kendrick by the collar and hugs him. She lets him go and smiles at both of us.

“I want you two to meet, Tate,” she says.

“Who’s Tate?” I ask.

“He’s my boyfriend. Has been for the last two years.”

Gabriel, Kendrick, and I walk over where my parents are talking to a nice-looking man with sandy-blond hair and glasses.

“This is Tate,” Devyn says. “Tate, this is my brother and sister, and well, this is my future brother-in-law.”

“Oh, I know who you guys are. You’re my favorite team. Just don’t tell anyone in Florida that,” Tate says.

“Tate graduated last year in architecture. Now that I’m done, we’re actually thinking about moving more west,” Devyn says.

Kendrick's head pops over to Tate.

“West? How far west?” he asks.

“Well, I kind of have my hopes on California. I know Devyn has been talking my ear off about being closer to family,” Tate says.

“You two can stay with me while you get settled, especially since Whit now lives with Gabriel.”

“That’s a great offer. I know Devyn would love to spend more time with you. I already have an interview in Los Angeles in a couple weeks.”

***

As I sit in the stands, my mind is somewhere else. I’m with my whole family, and I still can’t believe Gabriel asked me to marry him. He made sure to tell me it wasn’t because I’m pregnant. He knows how my mind works. He already had this planned before we found out. That’s why he’s been on the phone a lot lately.

The crowd gets antsy all of the sudden, and I look up to the big screen as I hear the music to our campaign start. I hear a lot of oohs and aahs. Devyn is on one side of me, and Aubrey on the other.

All you see at first is Gabriel’s face and bare chest. Then the screen goes black and the Maxx-U logo appears in the middle. It goes back to Gabriel, only this time, it starts from his feet and scans up his body, over his toned legs to those tight, white boxer briefs and up his chiseled chest.

As it makes it up to his face, he looks at the camera with a sultry smirk and winks. He turns his head, and I’m walking out toward him in the same men’s boxer briefs and a white, button-down shirt. The shirt is flowing out because I’m unbuttoning it as I’m walking.

“Damn, Whit,” Devyn says.

The camera turns just as I take the shirt off and throw it to the side, showing Gabriel smiling. Then the camera moves again and shows my hands on his chest. There’s some cleavage as Gabriel leans down to kiss me with his hands on my ass. Just as he picks me up and walks toward a bed in the background, the screen goes black once again, and the Maxx-U logo pops back up.

I hear Aubrey and Devyn at the same time.

“Holy shit!”

“That was hot, Whit!”