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Nathan finds me in the crowd, and I give him an encouraging smile. A few of the reporters notice and turn to snap a picture of me. Once, I might’ve minded, but not today. Let them look.
Nathan continues, “Maybe she was right, maybe I wasn’t ready, maybe I wouldn’t have been ready. I like to think I would’ve, but all that matters now is what comes next.”
“Well, don’t keep us all in suspense! What comes next, Nathan?”
“I think I’m gonna play some ball, and enjoy all the time I can with my daughter… and her mom.”
“Does this mean you’re off the market for good?”
Nathan glances at me again. “It does, if Izzy will have me.”
Courtney stands up and clucks her tongue in disgust. “Let me know how that works out for you.” Then, with her nose in the air, she struts out.
Lila clears her throat loud enough to get Nathan’s attention as she mouths, five minutes.
“Last question,” He says picking another woman in the back.
“So, would you say Izzy is the one that got away?”
“Of course, I need to check with her about that.” Everyone shares a laugh. “I don’t believe in the one that got away… because I got her back, and this time I intend to keep her.”
“That’s all we have time for today,” says Lila, sparking an uproar of shouted questions, as each one tries to squeeze a little more information out of Nathan. He makes his way past everyone and out to the training field.
CHAPTER 20
Nathan
I’m on such a high leaving the press conference. The look on Courtney’s face when she realized I wasn’t there to grovel at her feet made all the trouble she caused worth it. Plus, Izzy was there, hearing all my answers to the reporter's questions. She was smiling, which I think means that she liked what she heard.
All in all it’s been a pretty good morning., So of course, I somehow manage to roll my bum ankle ten minutes into training. Can’t a guy get ahead?
On the plus side, Izzy is there, rushing onto the field full of concern. She offers to drive me to the hospital. She spends the car ride acting distant, but she’s here, hovering, so I know that she cares. I can tell she hasn’t quite settled into this new reality where we are together, she’s afraid to trust it, but I’m going to do everything in my power to get her there.
We sit in the small triage room, waiting for the results of my X-ray. My ankle feels better already, but I understand them not wanting to take any chances.
Our hands rest closely together on the bed. I’d only need to shift a fraction to hook my pinky with hers, but I’m waiting for her to make a move. I’ve already gone and made my intentions clear about her mother to the whole world, now it’s her turn to do the same.
The door opens and I’m expecting a doctor, but it’s Evan and Rory. Rory comes right up to the other side of the bed, not breaking eye contact with me and says, “Are you really hurt?”
“Not bad,” I say. “Just a typical day in the life of a football player.”
She chews her bottom lip. “Guess we’ll have to go get ice cream after this. It helps with the pain.”
Izzy, Evan, and I burst out laughing, even Rory cracks a smile. Then, she climbs up on the bed and snuggles up beside me.
“Glad you’re all good, man,” says Evan. “I’m expecting a Super Bowl win out of you this year. Can’t have you getting injured before the season even starts.”
“You have nothing to worry about,” I say. “Just being overly cautious.”
A nurse comes in, and Evan steps out to give her room to work. She smiles at Izzy and Rory. “This must be the family? Your daughter looks just like you. You make a cute couple.”
To my utter shock, Izzy moves her hand the inch she needs to grasp mine. She smiles at the nurse, but otherwise, says nothing. Rory, though, launches into a monologue. “My dad is gonna win the Super Bowl, which is like the coolest thing ever. Kelsey’s dad just coaches Little League. But Kelsey’s not so bad, I guess, so I probably shouldn’t say that.”
After the hospital they drop me off at home, but Izzy texts me a few hours later and says, “Rory’s asleep and the patio door is unlocked,” I nearly roll my ankle again at the speed with which I jog across my backyard to our shared wall.
I unlatch the gate and let myself into her yard, urging Murphy to be quiet when he sees me. Izzy opens the patio door, anticipating my arrival. She stands, appraising me. I decide to just go for it. With a single breath of courage, I crush my lips to hers in a wild, relieved, excited kiss, which Izzy returns with equal conviction.
“Mmph, hang on,” she breaks away after a few long minutes. “We are still taking this slow. I don’t want Rory to think this means we’re getting married tomorrow.” She looks a little flushed that the word marriage slipped out. “I—what I mean is—I want the living situation to—”
