Six months later
Vibrant streaks of pink and orange painted the sky as dusk settled around us. I breathed deeply as Wyatt led me up to the press box. He pushed open the door and we walked inside.
“It’s musty in here, we better leave that door open,” I advised.
Wyatt propped the door open with the doorstopper and then ran down the hallway. I had a feeling as to what he was up to tonight.
“Um, the first game isn’t for months, aren’t we a touch early?” I joked.
“Roll with it. I’ve got all your favorites—cinnamon Pop-Tarts, candy bars, popcorn and white wine.”
“So, this is going to be our tradition apparently,” I teased, taking a seat in one of the metal chairs.
He smiled placing a glass of white wine in front of me. “Something like that.”
“What no can of wine?”
“They don’t sell that brand anymore,” he informed, cracking open his beer.
The lights over the field came on one by one and Wyatt threaded his fingers with mine. My entire body shook, exploding like a burst of colors through a kaleidoscope. Just beautiful.
“Last year when we came here, we were sneaking around like a couple of teenagers,” Wyatt reminded.
“Horny teenagers,” I added, setting aside my glass of wine. I planted myself in Wyatt’s lap capturing his lips with mine.
He moved his hands to my ass, squeezing and pulling me closer. “Hold that thought, sweetheart.”
My brows pinched together in confusion. “Hey, you’re the one who has your hands on my ass. All I did is kiss you.”
He laughed. “Fair enough.”
The faint sound of drums and trumpets caught me off guard. My eyes darted to the field where a crowd had gathered—white and blue jerseys lined the field. Seconds later the school band marched through playing the school fight song. The cheerleaders were the last to appear on the field carrying a large white banner.
“What is going on?” I asked, pushing off of him.
“Just watch.”
I swung my gaze back to the field where I spied Luke standing front and center, smiling and clapping along with the all the other players. The band slowed their tempo and all the players’ started singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
When they hit the chorus, they inserted Westmore for West Virginia doing their best to draw out the town name to cover all the syllables.
The cheerleaders flipped the sign when the players sang the chorus for the second time. ‘Will you move in with me?’ was painted in bright blue letters ten feet high.
My eyes popped wide and my hands flew to my mouth. Wyatt stood, pulling my hands away from my mouth. I stared at him for a beat.
His hands shifted to my waist. “So what do you say?”
“Are you sure about all this? I mean, we haven’t—what about the school board? What about your contract?”
“The school board reviewed my contract,” he interrupted. “It seems that they had several written letters, phone calls and a mass number of students and parents speaking out on my behalf. I got the call this morning and they extended my contract for two more years.”
“Are you serious? That’s amazing.”
Wyatt’s hands framed my face. “My days are better when I can kiss you good morning and goodnight. I want you and Luke to move in with me.”
The band had long stopped playing. It felt like a hundred pairs of eyes were on the two of us. I’d loved Carter deeply, but I loved Wyatt with a kind of intensity that I never knew was possible. I found love for the second time. I’d found love where it wasn’t supposed to be, and I loved him beyond words.
“Mom,” Luke yelled up to the booth. “Would you just say yes already? It’s a real simple word to say, y-e-s.”
The crowd of students roared with cheers and applause and they chanted over and over, “Say yes. Say yes.”
Luke loved Wyatt too, and if this made him as happy as it made me, then it was just as simple as that. My heart tripped up and collided with my ribs.
“Yes,” I answered, throwing my arms around his neck. “I’ll . . . we’ll move in with you.”
“I love you,” he whispered in my ear.
“I love you too,” I said, burying my face in his neck.
Crowds and cheers roared out and Wyatt’s chest rumbled with laughter. I don’t know how long we stood there holding each other, but the kids had long departed the stadium.
Wyatt dipped his head to kiss me. “You want to go home?”
I nodded, smiling against his lips. “Since I’m moving in, let’s discuss the matter of a rug in the master bedroom.”
“Yes, dear.”