Page 155 of Unwritten Rules

Music flickering to life over the speakers makes me freeze, eyes blown wide open to take in Nate’s smiling face.

“Don’t worry, baby.”

The familiar beat of The Beach Boys’ “Don’t Worry Baby” jumps to life, making the entire stadium vibrate around us.

“Oh, my God.”

I spin around on the spot, my eyes returning to Nate to find his hand held out for mine, as back in London on my roof garden.

“May I have this dance?”

Launching myself into his arms, I snuggle in tight with my arms wrapped firmly around his waist. “Always, Nathaniel.”

We dance slowly in circles as the song plays around us, and just before it ends, I pull my head away from his chest to look up into his eyes while smirking. “Why a baseball stadium?”

His dimple winks. “Because you deserve a rom-com ending, just like in the movies.”

A shit-eating grin breaks across my face. “I love you, grump.”

“I love you too, wench.”

The song finishes, but we stay watching one another, drinking in this special moment, until Nate pops his thumb and forefinger into his mouth and whistles piercingly.

“Oh, Christ, what else?”

He throws his head back, laughing. “Well, Hellcat, I couldn’t come to you until I had removed all obstacles from our path. I made things right with Henry and Alex – and then I may have needed to heal after the process.”

My eyes widen at the innuendo in his tone, and he laughs even harder than before.

“Oh, my God, please don’t tell me they hit you?” I drop my mortified face into the palms of my hands.

Goddamned Neanderthals.

“I may or may not have taken a couple of punches, Hellcat. I’d have gone through Hell to get back to you. A sucker punch – or two – is a small price to pay, trust me.”

I lift my face from its hiding spot to find Nate’s smile still front and centre on his much-missed face.

“Truly, it’s okay now, baby. It may have taken longer than I’d have liked, but everything is exactly as it’s supposed to be. Hawthorne House is with its rightful owner—”

“Its rightful what?”

He smirks. “Later, baby. Just know, I’m not tied to it, none of it. I’m fucking free. I also made sure to right a wrong on your behalf – that, too, is news for later. But for now—”

He’s cut off by cheers from the tunnels leading onto the field. A herd of people burst from within, spilling into the stadium.

There’s Caden and Bella, Josie and Nola with my Mum, and a grinning Eliza standing beside smug-looking Alex.

My heart fills to bursting when I spot Henry laughing with Liv and my nephew.

He raises his head to find my eyes before mouthing, “Love you, Mouse.”

Nate tucks me in against his side, kissing the top of my head as the opening of “Don’t Worry Baby” starts up again. Our loved ones crowd around us, all laughing and dancing like lunatics, and at this moment, I know it’s true.

Everything is going to turn out alright.

CHAPTER 43

MILA