Go, baby, go!” I said, but nowhere near as loudly as the crowds around me were shouting. Of course, even though I was in the stands at the Super Bowl, I was there with my young son, and I didn’t want to scare him.

The atmosphere suited him, and he just squealed and clapped. I had him sitting in my lap and facing the field, but I wondered just how much he understood.

I cuddled little Bryan, rubbing my chin gently on top of his head. He had short dark hair, just like his dad, but his blue eyes were mine. A perfect mix of the two of us that I adored as much as Ryder did, or more as he sometimes claimed.

“Baby, look at your daddy go!” I told Bryan, tickling his stomach and making him break out in giggles. “Isn’t he so great out there?”

I had to admit to some awe myself. I didn’t follow football much. Ryder was the only reason I ever had, but considering the condition he was still in just a year ago, it was a true miracle that he could get back in the game and still play so well. It hadn't been a surprise when he’d announced he would be returning. All of his previous baggage was gone, the lawsuit had been paid off, and he was in a good place both mentally and physically. I would never let him go back to the way he was before.

“He is amazing!” Caroline said from beside me once she sat down from cheering. “He just helped his team score. You wouldn’t think he’d been injured at all.”

“Isn’t he getting even better?” Agnes said from my other side. “I watch his games, and I swear I’ve never seen him in better form.”

I just hummed, but didn’t answer. I was thankful for the both of them, and that I hadn't lost touch with my friends once I left the hospital. Though it had been a surprise when they called me up and told me they’d left not long after I did, and gone to a different hospital.

Currently, I was putting my career on the backburner to stay at home with our son and my soon-to-be-husband. But I hadn't given up on my dream, either. I still had plans to stick to being a private nurse, but that was something I’d look forward to in the future. Ryder and I had both decided I could wait until Bryan was old enough to start going to school, at least.

“I still can't believe that is your man, though,” Agnes continued. “And the seats he got us! I’ve never been this close to the field before!”

I shrugged and glanced around. “Ryder told me it’s pretty normal for players to have their families and friends sit close by, though I don’t know if that’s true, or if he just wanted me to be here. And we have known each other since high school, so it’s not anything great. I knew Ryder long before he turned into this superstar.”

Agnes looked starry-eyed, but Caroline just laughed. “Still, you knowing him was a surprise to us, because someone decided to keep shit from her friends.”

I smiled sheepishly. “Well, our history was a little rocky, and I figured it would best be left alone. I honestly never expected to see him again after we broke up.”

She nodded in understanding. I’d told her the story already, but sometimes, I thought she would never forgive me because she’d bring it up randomly sometimes. I knew she wasn’t just trying to give me a hard time over it. She had felt genuinely hurt when I finally told her the truth. I’d promised it was the last time I would do so.

“You guys, watch the game!” Agnes complained besides us. “It’s almost over.”

We both laughed and did as Agnes said. The winner of the game was pretty obvious at this point. Just a few minutes of the game left, with Ryder’s team had a huge lead on the opposing team. Unless some miracle occurred, Ryder’s team would win. But still, even knowing that, the whole stadium seemed to fall silent as everyone positioned themselves for a final play.

I leaned forward, squeezing around Bryan a little tightly until he squirmed in protest so I would loosen my hold. The play was called, and there were loud gasps from the crowd once the ball was on the move. Once the ball fell into Ryder’s hands, even before he made the score, the crowd that supported his team was already yelling out their victory.

I grinned, wishing I could go out there and congratulate him personally. I may not care much for the game, but I could see just how much it meant to him. He really loved the game.

“How long until he gets home?”

I turned to Caroline. “Well, that depends, I guess. On how long his teammates hold him. He did tell me, though, that once he was done, we could meet up at the hotel, and we could go home together.”

“Hey, hey!” Agnes said excitedly, tapping on my arm until I turned back to her. “What are the odds of you getting me some autographs, huh?”

“Um, above average I guess?” I said unsurely. “I’ve never actually talked to his teammates before…”

“Haven’t they ever shown up at your place?”

I looked over at Caroline, and she was curious as well.

“A few times, I just don’t talk to them. Either I’m not there, or I’m busy elsewhere doing something.” I wouldn’t tell her that last was just a lie, though. I avoided Ryder’s teammates on purpose because they were all intimidating.

“Oh, don’t look now, but lover boy must be the impatient type.”

I furrowed my brow at Caroline’s sudden statement, trying to make sense of it. Then Agnes squealed, louder than Bryan had the entire game, and I looked forward. Ryder, with his helmet off, was walking toward us in the stands.

I smiled at him as I forgot the stadium full of people. I stood up, Bryan in my arms, and stepped down to the railing that separated the stands from the field.

“We’ll look after your stuff for you,” Agnes said as if she was trying to whisper, but then it was loud enough for others to hear.

I glanced back at my friends to shoot them both a smile, then went over to where Ryder was already waiting for me.

“Hey, there,” I said brightly. “Should you be here?”

He looked over his shoulder, back at his teammates, then grinned at me. “I don’t know, and I don’t care. I wanted to see you guys. I’ve missed being away from home.”

“Well, you’ll be coming back after this, right? Bryan’s missed you.”

He arched his eyebrows, grin turning into a smirk. “Was he the only one?”

I rolled my eyes as I let out a short laugh. “Of course not. I missed you, too.”

Ryder leaned over the railing, and I leaned back without thinking. Our lips met in a soft, slow kiss, and I didn’t miss the sound picking up behind us. Especially when it made Bryan squirm in my arms. Ryder pulled away slowly, his eyes still closed, like he was savoring the kiss, and I bit my lip on the smile that wanted to stretch across my face.

Then he opened his eyes and winked at me.

“So, I was wondering,” he said conversationally. “What do you think of a spring wedding?”

He arched an eyebrow, waiting for an answer, but I was taken aback by the sudden question, my jaw dropped.

“Spring, as in, within the next couple months?

“We don’t want to worry the little guy that his parents wouldn’t stick together, after all.” He reached for Bryan, and I held our little boy out for his father to take on reflex.

Bryan squealed when Ryder held him up high, and Ryder laughed. Seeing them both like that always made my heart flutter, and I smiled.

“Let’s make it within the next two weeks,” I proposed.

He turned to me with eyebrows arched, but then he was grinning again. “Deal.”

Ryder held Bryan between us, and he kissed me before we both placed a kiss on our giggling son’s cheeks.

* * *

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