Page 97 of Undeniable Love
“I’m thinking of getting a tattoo,” she said around a yawn.
That made him laugh lowly. “Oh, really? Since when?”
“Since…I don’t know. But I love all of yours—especially the one on your chest. Not that I want one on my chest, but I thought maybe something on my ankle could be cute.”
“Like a mini version of mine?” he teased, causing her to laugh.
“Pfft…there is no way to make a miniature version of that. Between the helmet, the football, the NFL logo, and the shadow of the two players, it would take up half my leg! No, I was thinking like a flower or something.” Another yawn. “But I’m not going to decide tonight. I just thought I’d throw it out there.”
“Okay,” he whispered, placing a kiss on the top of her head. “Good to know.”
“Mmm…so what do you have to do tomorrow? Anything?”
“Rest. Lots and lots of rest. I think we’re going to need it.”
“That sounds about right.” And yet another yawn. “Oh, I forgot to tell you, I talked to Maddie before I left this morning. Or was it yesterday morning?” Lifting her head, she looked around. “What time is it?”
“Doesn’t matter,” he said quietly as he guided her head back down to his shoulder. “What did she have to say?”
“Well, I told her what was going on and how this was something I had to do. I apologized for the short notice, but she agreed to a leave of absence for however long I need.”
“Wow, that was incredibly generous of her.”
“I know. We have a great staff at the clinic, and I think this is going to be good for some of the therapists. It will give them a chance to step up and take on a little more responsibility. I kind of feel like I handle too much by myself and don’t delegate like I should.”
“Seems accurate,” he teased, and she pinched him. “Ouch!”
“That’s for being snarky. Anyway, she said that she definitely wants me on the team for the new clinic when the camp opens, no matter what. I told her that was the plan and it would all be worked out in more detail when the time got closer.”
“You really worked it all out, Luce. All of it. You’re here, you covered your job, and…you’re here.” He hugged her close. “That’s the best part.”
“That was the most important part.”
It was Jax’s turn to yawn. “Let’s get some sleep, beautiful. Tomorrow is going to be the first day of this new life for us, and I can’t wait to get started.”
“Mmm…me too. Love you, Jax.”
“Love you too.”
Epilogue
Three Months Later: Three Days After the Super Bowl
The last seconds were complete agony. The tension, a palpable weight pressing down on every member of the Warriors team—players and coaches alike—could be felt by anyone watching. It would take a miracle for them to close the gap and win.
The scoreboard loomed overhead, nothing but a cruel reminder of their dwindling chances at that point. With time ticking away, the team threw everything they had into one last desperate push, but New England’s defense stood firm, denying them even an inch of progress.
The roar of the crowd was deafening as the final seconds ticked down, and the cameras all seemed to take great delight in scanning every disappointed expression on the field. And as the final buzzer signaled the end of the game, Jax and his team did their best to take the loss and be good sportsmen about it. Some of his teammates dropped to their knees, heads bowed in defeat, while others simply stood in stunned silence, grappling with the harsh reality of falling short despite their best efforts.
At that point, the media was only interested in the winners. New England played a fantastic game and they deserved their spotlight. Meanwhile, Jax led his teammates back to their locker room, where they could freely express their feelings without the glare of the cameras.
Coach Floyd turned off the video. “We played a damn good game, and I’m proud of each and every one of you. It was a hell of a season and you should feel good about that. Now, take some time to just relax and enjoy a well-earned break, and we’ll start talking about next year’s training camp in a few months.” He paused, slightly emotional. “Well done, Warriors.”
It was a bittersweet ending to the season and even more so because this was supposed to be his last year. He hadn’t given the final word on it, but…his heart was telling him he needed one more season.
“Wylder!” Coach yelled out. “Got a minute?”
The last time he heard that, it had been one of the worst days of his life. “Uh, sure. What’s up?”