“I just had to be sure. I don’t have anything to go back to in Miami. BU has a great marine biology program. But…” She bit her lip, looking down.
My insides took a nosedive. With my fingers, I guided her chin up. “What? Is it the money? I’ve been saving, and with the intern job, we’ll be fine.” I’d pick up a high-end modeling job if it meant she would move to Boston. Of course, nothing naked that would ruin my career.
“No.” She sighed. “I didn’t think of this until now. What about your family? How will they feel about you and me living together? I know they offered me a place to stay. But will me being around your mom all the time be too much of a reminder of the past? Will she relapse?”
It was a logical worry. “She can’t stop talking about you or how much she wants to see you. You’re good for her, Lizzie. We’re good for her. I believe we bring out more of the good memories for her too. And seeing her sons happy makes her happy. Aside from that, we both need to be closer to campus.” My stomach wouldn’t settle until she said yes.
She wrapped her arms around my waist. “I want you and me to be happy too. I choose Boston.”
“Don’t mess with me,” I teased.
She lifted up on her toes then softly kissed my chin. “I can’t live without the other half of my heart.”
I devoured her mouth as my own heart beat a wild cadence. At that moment, all I could think about were Lacey’s words. “When you do find that special girl, you’ll never be the same. Or maybe you’ll be less of an ass.”
She was right on the first account, but I’d always be a lovable ass. Even more so now that Lizzie was by my side.
Epilogue
Kelton
Oranges and deep reds colored the trees surrounding the lake. The fall weather was warm with the sun beating down on us.
“Okay,” Kody said. “I’ll throw the ball to Kelton. He’s the fastest. We only need one more touchdown to win.”
Since March, I’d looked forward to our Sunday gatherings at my parents’ house. Not that I hadn’t liked spending time with everyone before Lizzie had re-entered my life. But now that sense of family I’d always had inbred in me had multiplied tenfold. My mom beamed with happiness every time Lizzie showed up. Even more when she saw us together. That alone made me as giddy as a schoolboy.
Kody, Dillon, Josh, Zach, Allie, and I were on one team. Kade, Kross, Rafe, Lacey, Bee, and Lizzie stacked the other.
“Break!” Kody clapped his hands.
We fanned out into position, which was wherever we wanted to be. I made a point of facing off with Lizzie. I stuck out my tongue as I readied my stance to run.
“You plan on using that?” she asked as she rolled her eyes.
Kody yelled hike. I took off, sidestepping her then raising my left arm in the air, signaling to Kody to throw the ball to me.
When the football landed in my hands, the spectators, consisting of Mom, Dad, and the very pregnant Chloe, shouted for me to run. I hesitated, watching Lizzie pump her legs, her hair blowing in the breeze. I grinned as she got closer, debating whether to stay put so she could tackle me or run for the woods where she would chase me. Then I could have my way with her.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Zach.
He sprinted, catching up to Lizzie. “Run, you ass,” Zach shouted at me.
Lizzie was two feet from me when I tossed the ball to Zach.
“Go!” Chloe yelled as Zach hugged the ball, heading for the end zone.
Lizzie dove hands first into me, knocking me backward. Before I fell, I reached out and grasped her wrists. No way was I going down without her. I landed in a pile of leaves with her on top of me.
She giggled as we tumbled around like two dogs play-fighting.
I bit her ear. “I do plan on using my tongue when we get back to our apartment tonight.” We’d found a brownstone in Boston that had three bedrooms and was close to BU. Since we couldn’t afford the rent on our own, Kade and Kross had stepped in as roommates. Kade was stoked at the idea of not sleeping on the couch at Rumors. And now he had a place for when Lacey came home on weekends. As far as Kross, he trained constantly in Boston. So he was happy not to drive back to Ashford after a hard workout. We’d asked Kody if he wanted to get in on the roomie action, but he preferred home for the time being. He’d said he needed the solitude to write songs.
Chloe walked by us to hug Zach, who’d scored just before the others tackled him.
“Is it weird to see your former girlfriend pregnant?” Lizzie asked.
I jumped to my feet then held out my hand. “No.” It wasn’t a lie. I wanted the best for Chloe.
She took hold of my hand. “What if I was?”
I almost dropped her hand. “Come again?” My heart left my chest. The music from the trees’ leaves died. I hadn’t even thought about starting a family. We both had school. She’d registered at BU once Terrance had returned the three hundred thousand dollars, and she’d paid her debts, including the money owed from her trust to the IRS. “Don’t mess with me,” I said, holding my breath.