He chuckles. “I’ll miss the camaraderie and the test of my skill. I certainly won’t miss two-a-day practices and bumps and bruises. I won’t miss worrying if I’m going to get my next concussion. I’ve got faith that life is gonna be good for us. Life gave me you. I dreamed of you before I even met you.”
He tips my face up, his eyes searching mine. “I thought I knew everything I wanted before I met you, but I was wrong. We’re starting a new chapter of our story. We’re going to write the book on being happy. The bookstore is ours, not just mine. You have to know that I bought it just for you. We’re gonna make it the best place in New York to come and buy books and see fantastic windows. Are you in it with me? Do you still want me?”
I laugh, a flood of joy hitting me so hard I feel drunk. “God. Yes.”
He laughs, and I smile. “I just don’t want you to get bored.”
“I’ve been talking to my coaches and players. I’m not the only one who’s dealt with a TBI. It’s a lot to think about, but I’d like to bring more awareness to concussions, maybe find ways to prevent them on the field.”
“I could use some help at my luxury gym,” Brody calls out. “I’ll let you make the juice drinks.”
Graham rolls his eyes. “Sorry, they tagged along. The three of us were looking at a place for the gym when Jane called me and said you’d be in today. They insisted on coming.”
I wince. “So your dad knows about the marriage of convenience thing.”
“Hmm. He’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” He pulls my rings out of his pocket. “I’ve been carrying these around with me.” His eyes meet mine. “I have a question for you.”
My nerves flare to life. This moment feels momentous and beautiful. I swallow. “Yeah?”
He types out a message on the typewriter, then whispers in my ear: “I want this to be for us, something to remember. Look at what I wrote.”
Emmy, will you stay married to me? are the words he’s typed. Tears well over and slide down my cheeks as I pull his face to me and crush my lips against his. “Yes,” I breathe when we come up for air.
Cheers go up around us, and I hear Babs crying in joy.
Graham gazes down at me. “We’re gonna make some beautiful magic, darling.”
Epilogue
A few years later
I stir from my nap, the soft sounds of waves crashing against the shore in the distance. My eyes flutter open to the sight of the Prince of Darkness snuggled up on my chest like a fuzzy, purring blanket. Yes, he came with us to Santorini. Our one-year-old daughter (Hazel Darling Harlan) loves him, and Magic travels well.
A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. The damn cat has finally warmed to me, and all it took was Hazel crawling around after me at the apartment. Magic just trailed right along, and pretty soon we got used to each other.
“Hey, buddy,” I say, scratching his head gently.
His eyes peer up at me, and he lets out a little mewl. Slowly and carefully, I ease myself into a sitting position, trying not to disturb him too much. He stretches lazily in a sunbeam before hopping off my chest and onto the cool, tiled floor of the villa Emmy and I bought after our honeymoon. Nestled into the side of the mountains, it overlooks the Aegean Sea and has a private grotto and lagoon below the house.
“All right, Magic”—I smirk—“let’s get you that treat I promised for not shredding my shirt I left on the floor last night.”
As I stand up, the light catches my wedding band, glinting, the weight familiar around my finger. It brings back memories of our honeymoon in Santorini, the laughter we had as we traced cobblestone streets, drank ouzo, and ate delicious local food. I recall her hand in mine, the way her eyes gleamed when she smiled up at me.
“Here you go, you little con artist,” I say as I toss a treat to the cat. He leaps into the air, catching it midflight before landing gracefully on the ground. His half tail swishes proudly as he attacks the treat, then struts back to the couch.
“Show-off,” I tease. “Just remember who keeps those coming, yeah? Emmy doesn’t let you have them.”
I swear he winks at me.
I glance around the bright, airy space of the villa, the sunlight streaming in and making patterns. The scent of sea and salt mingles with the aroma of blooming flowers outside. Emmy picked out this house on our honeymoon as one she’d like if she had the opportunity, not knowing that I planned on buying one. It was a great Christmas surprise that first year.
With a contented sigh, I walk down the hall to the nursery to check on my little angel. I tiptoe into her room, and sure enough, she’s still sleeping, her arm curled around her own special Wilbur that Jane and Andrew picked out. Watching her tiny chest rise and fall, it seems almost impossible that my life could be this idyllic. I’m overcome with gratefulness. Emotion tugs at me as I slide a piece of white-blonde hair away from her face and behind her ear.
“Keep dreaming those dreams, my angel. Daddy will do everything he can to make them come true.”
I can’t believe it’s been a year since she came into our lives. I recall the frantic rush to the hospital to deliver her, the worry I felt for Emmy’s heart, even though the doctor assured us she was fine, as was the baby. Holding her in my arms, I knew my life would always revolve around her. Around Emmy. Around family.
Having a child has only cemented my confidence in leaving behind football. I thought football was everything. I thought it was my passion. Ha. I was so wrong. This. Here. Family is my passion. Being with the people who love me is what makes my world turn.
That circle includes my dad. We’ve spent more time together since his retirement. He enjoys popping into the bookstore to see us and even works at Brody’s gym behind the juice bar.
“Every day with you and your mom is a gift, my darling baby.”
Making sure the monitor is on, I head to our bedroom and change into a pair of swim trunks. I caught sight of Emmy down at the lagoon earlier, the light dancing on her long blonde hair, illuminating her fair skin like the goddess she is.
I take the path that leads to the water, past bright-green shrubs and pretty flowers. We try to spend several weeks a year here. Our staff at the bookstore is solid, especially now that Jane is a full-time manager with Babs. Andrew works there part time while he goes to NYU. He’s determined to pay for his tuition himself and doesn’t mind if it takes him several years.
“Hey,” I call out to her, and she flips up her sunglasses and smirks at me.
“Hey. Nice nap? Is Hazel still asleep?”
I nod.
“Aw, you brought a friend.”
I glance behind me, and Magic sits on top of a rock, peering around the sea as if he’s a king.
“You need some lotion?” I ask as I flop down next to her and take in her willowy long legs and red bikini.
She nods, and I get to work, pouring out the coconut-scented lotion and rubbing it onto her sun-kissed shoulders, down to her spine, to the small of her back. My hand dips inside her bottoms and massages her ass.
She groans and tells me how good it feels, and I chuckle.