CHAPTER 29
Paige
The next morning, I sit cross-legged on the sofa with my computer in my lap. Layton said that part of my super-awesome duties as her temporary replacement is to maintain the Facebook page dedicated to the event space at work.
With a scowl on my face, I log in and answer questions, comment on pictures with a bubbliness that feels alien, and because I’m a sucker for pain, I search Dallas’s name.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Momma says, sweeping into the living room. Her dark red hair is piled on top of her head, and she’s wearing a flowing robe with a flower print on it. She’s also holding a tray filled with homemade biscuits and cinnamon rolls. “Hungry?”
“Starving.” I take a cinnamon roll—because who doesn’t need all that sugar and calories to go to their hips?—and cram a quarter of it into my mouth while I click on the first link that pops up. It’s a live notification that Dallas is being interviewed by Becks Ham. Yes, she’s majorly obsessed with David Beckham and everyone, including me, knows who she is.
“Is that him?”
I turn to her, almost not wanting to watch. “Yes.”
But I look toward the video at the sound of the interviewer’s voice.
“Dallas?” Becks prods, keeping her toothpaste-commercial-worthy smile wide as she sits across from the man I love. He looks so good in his suit, his shoulders so wide that his jacket looks like it will split at the seams if he flexes hard enough. “C’mon. Can you tell me if the rumors about a special lady in your life are true? Promise it won’t go any further than our millions of viewers.”
She winks at the camera.
I roll my eyes so hard I’m surprised they don’t fall out of my head.
“Actually, there is someone special.” Turning to the camera, he stares straight into the lens. “Bright eyes, I love you. I want to be with you, out in the open. I want to show you off and kiss you in front of the camera after the game—win or lose. But you know it’s going to be all wins for the Renegades.”
I want to laugh at the cocky remark, but my heart is in my throat and there is no room for it to escape.
Dallas continues, his gaze never wavering from the camera. “I’m done being your secret. If you’ve got the lady balls—and I know you do, baby—then meet me tonight, right after the game, in the Renegades’ end zone. I’ll be the one with the diamond ring.”
I almost choke on my ice. “Oh, my Lord. Did he just tell the entire world that he’s going to propose to me?”
“And that, kids, is how you let a woman know you mean business.” Standing, he yanks off the microphone and swaggers off the stage.
I lift my eyes to my momma’s face. She’s grinning like a possum with a biscuit.
“You will tell that man yes.”
“Duh.”
“Well, what are you waiting for Paige?” she asks. “Go get him.”
* * *
When I arrive at the stadium, Finley is waiting to usher me inside the private box where the owners sit… where I’ll hide out until the end of the game. What happens after that, I have no idea because I haven’t spoken to Finley for more than ten seconds today and that was just to confirm my arrival time.
Thankfully, she and Momma worked everything out ahead of time.
“Let’s go,” she says, all businesslike.
“Are you disappointed in me?” I can’t help but ask.
“That you didn’t tell me before now so I didn’t have to call in every favor owed to me to get you on the field? In a word, yes.”
“What?”
She pushes me along to a lobby of private elevators, pressing the up button and swiping a plastic key across the bottom of it. “All right, so you’re not the responsible one for this PR dream, Dallas is, but I’m slightly aggravated.”
“But you’re not mad because we’re dating, right?”
My sister gives me an odd look. “No. I’m aggravated at calling in favors for your soon-to-be knucklehead of a fiancé. Well, he’s always been a knucklehead, but if he’s willing to go live on Facebook and social media to let everyone know exactly who he loves, I can’t be anything but happy for you.”
The doors open with a soft swoosh. “Oh my gosh. I can’t… who are you?”
“A woman who has found happiness and thinks that grudges shouldn’t be carried forever.”
“Please tell me you and Aiden haven’t—”
“Oh, ugh. Paige. McHugh and I have been done for years. The guy I’m dating doesn’t play football, or any sport… unless you count kickball.”
“Oh?”
Finley’s cheeks turn pink. “He’s a schoolteacher—first grade—and you would know this if we actually took the time to talk. I want you to meet Will. Momma and Bond, too. I know we’re not big on holidays, but I’d really like to spend Christmas with y’all.”
“Not Thanksgiving?”
“Don’t push it.” She grins. “Will asked me to fly back with him to Pennsylvania to meet his parents.”
“That’s so awesome!” I give her an impulsive hug. “This is the best day I’ve ever had.”
“When the game is over, you’re going to have the best night.”
“Dallas doesn’t know I’m here.”
“And that’s going to make it even better when I delay his play for you, just for a bit.” The door opens, and we get out. “Now, listen carefully, because this is how it’s going to go down…”