Page 82 of A Match Made In Fall

“That sounds like true love to me,” she teases.

I grin without saying a word.

“You know, I hate what happened with your Achilles, and I know how much you lost because of it. But look what you gained.”

I stare down at Jude, who is still content playing with his toy.

I understand what she’s saying. If my life hadn't taken that unexpected turn, I never would have crossed paths with Austin.

“It’s true,” I say quietly. “I've been thinking about that a lot lately.”

Sammy smiles. “I'm excited to see what the future holds for you two.”

“Thanks. So am I.

The future still feels uncertain, and long distance won't be easy. But right now, that uncertainty doesn't scare me as much because Austin is worth it.

“For now,” I say, lifting Jude into the air, “I'm going to focus on being the best auntie to this little one.”

Jude lets out a loud belly laugh that fills the room.

And while I soak up every second of my sweet nephew's first holiday season, I’m already counting down the days until Austin and I are together again.

CHAPTER TWENTY- TWO

AUSTIN

I’m officially a Seal, and the whole thing still feels both surreal and exciting. It’s been three days since the trade, and I feel like I’ve been walking around in a daze ever since. From the moment I arrived, I’ve been going nonstop. My schedule has been packed with meetings, practices, media obligations, and getting settled into a new city. Tonight was my first home game, and thankfully it ended the way we all wanted, with a 3–1 win. Admittedly this win felt amazing and the best way to begin a chapter I’ve been uncertain about.

The coaches, players, and fans have been fantastic. From day one, they’ve gone out of their way to make me feel welcome. A few familiar faces in the locker room have helped, too. I’ve crossed paths with some of my teammates at tournaments, camps, and league events over the years, plus Rico is here so I’m not walking into a group of complete strangers.

Even with the positive start, there are moments when the reality of everything hits me.

I miss the Bears—my teammates and even Coach Denton’s drawn-out lectures. And more than anything, I miss Isabella.

Saying goodbye to her at the airport will probably go down as one of the hardest moments of my life. We both did our best to stay strong, refusing to make the goodbye any more painful than it already was. But the second I stepped onto the plane, I put on my sunglasses and stared out the window for most of the flight.

We’ve talked every night since I got here and text throughout the day whenever we can. It’s not the same as having her beside me, but hearing her voice helps. I’m counting down the days until I see her again. Twenty days, five hours, and eighteen minutes from this exact moment. Not that I’m keeping track or anything. Although I also set a countdown in my phone.

The strangest part of tonight was leaving the locker room after the game and not seeing her waiting for me. That was one of my favorite parts of game nights. Win or lose, she was there. Walking out and finding an empty hallway was a reminder that this new experience is going to take some adjusting. But that’s part of the job and what I signed on for when I chose this career.

I have plenty to keep me busy as I immerse myself in this organization. Every day brings new systems to learn, new teammates to build chemistry with, and new expectations to meet. Being traded here was an opportunity, and I intend to make the most of it. I want to prove that I belong and that they made the right decision bringing me into the Seals organization.

I’ve already started unpacking, trying to make this place feel a little more like home. But with every box I open, I’m reminded of Isabella. She packed most of my things, and every carefully folded shirt or labeled container feels like a small piece of her made it here with me.

The sound of my phone buzzing pulls me from my thoughts. I grab it almost immediately, smiling as soon as I see Isabella’s name on the screen. It’s late in North Carolina, so I’d sent her a text a few minutes ago to make sure she was still awake.

“Hey.”

“Hi,” she says, her voice slightly raspy.

“Did my text wake you up?”

“No,” she replies. “I was waiting up to talk to you.”

The admission makes my heart beat a little quicker.

“How was the game?” she asks.