Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“I don’t think you gave me much choice in the matter.”
“I sure didn’t,” I say, clutching the lapels of his jacket. “Not that you’re complaining.”
He cups my face. “Nothing to complain about when I got you.”
Lordy, just when I thought I couldn’t love him any more, his words tickle my soul. Forever is looking pretty damn good for us.
But then the fight song comes on, and when my dad wraps his arm around Dart, I take Sabine in mine, and all together, we sing for our Vols.
As a family.
While nothing could make me happier than being at the game with my family, the Vols winning really is the cherry on top. As the stadium clears out, we all stay in the box eating dinner like we’ve done since I was a kid. My parents hate the traffic, and since we’ve always had a suite, we stay and eat so that nothing goes to waste.
When Daddy stands, wiping his mouth, he explains, “I’m gonna take Dart and Sabine around, show them the stadium before y’all gotta head out.”
“Cool!” Sabine gushes, and I send her a smile.
“Don’t be surprised when you decide this is the school you want to go to,” I warn her as Dart kisses my temple.
“Like you’d let her go anywhere else?” he says against my skin before kissing me again.
I grin up at him. “I mean, are there other options? It’s the best school ever.”
He chuckles as he kisses my lips and then rushes to catch up to my dad and Sabine. Once they are out the door, I look across to where my mom is watching me, her lips curved up in a pleased smile. “He makes you so happy.”
Breathless, I nod. “He does. I love him very much.”
“I can tell,” she says, exhaling. “I owe you an apology for questioning y’all. If I had spent even a second around you two, I would have known never to doubt you.”
She holds my gaze, her eyes full of guilt. “I am sorry, darling.” I shrug, and she adds, “For everything. I guess since I’d have a hard time living without my best friends, I thought the same of you. But darling, you don’t need anyone.”
“I need him,” I say, my heart swelling in my chest.
She gets up as I do, and we hug tightly. No matter how much she gets on my nerves and always butts in, I love her deeply. “I am so proud of you.”
I hold her closer. “Thanks, Momma.”
She takes my hands in hers. “Come on. Let’s catch up with everyone.”
We walk hand in hand out the door and through the stadium. Memories of running through this place as a child hit me, each one including Josie and Lindy. Some good and some bad, but now that I know Dart and Sabine are here, we’re making new memories. Better ones that will forever live in my heart. When Mom turns toward the tunnel that leads to the field, I glance over at her.
“Did Daddy get clearance to show them the field?”
“Yes, from my understanding,” she says. “You know he likes to show off.”
“True,” I laugh as we head down the tunnel to the field, but my laughter falls off when my eyes meet his.
Dart stands in the middle of the field, surrounded by orange and white flowers, the bright lights of Neyland Stadium illuminating his gorgeous face. To his left, Sabine has her new orange violin to her cheek as she runs her bow across it, the melody of “Tennessee Orange” filling the space around him as she gets lost in the music. My heart basically comes out of my chest before I look at my momma.
Tears spill down her cheeks as pride fills her gaze. She tips her head toward Dart and whispers, “Go on, darling. Your forever is waiting.”
She kisses the back of my hand and then lets it go as my eyes meet his once more. A small grin pulls at his lips, and the world falls away. A feeling I still haven’t gotten used to, even though it happens a lot when it comes to him. I will myself to move, closing the distance between us, his smirk growing as Sabine plays in all her glory.
Sabine’s eyes land on me, and my heart shatters when she mouths, “I love you.”
As she gets to the chorus of the song, I stop right in front of him. My tears tumble over my cheeks as our eyes lock, excitement and love coursing through my body. “I was wondering how long you were going to make me wait to be your wife.”
His face breaks into a grin. “What are you talking about? I just wanted to have a nice song played in the middle of a field with flowers—just to see you smile.”
“Lies,” I accuse, and his eyes burn into mine.