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I motion to the stadium. “None of this has meaning without you. Come home, baby. Come back to me. I loved you the moment you looked at me with those big, brown eyes in our class in college. I love you, JJ.”

The reporter's face can barely contain her grin as she realizes she just got exclusive footage of me pouring my heart out. I hand her back the mic just as Trevor walks up to me with a shit-eating grin.

He pats my shoulder. “Go get your girl, Cross.”

17

Caleb

Breaking every traffic law ever made, I speed home, desperate to get her. Mentally, I think of what I am going to pack, the airport I should fly into in New York, and which hotel I should stay in. What am I going to say to her? How do I beg the only woman I ever loved to forgive me for hurting her? How do I—

Every thought and plan escapes my brain as I pull up to my house. Her car is here. My JJ is here. Is she here for me? Of course, she is. She has to be. Or maybe she’s here to tell me she was wrong. That she had some time to think and realized she didn’t love me.

Pushing aside my negative thoughts, I rush out of my car and run to my front door. Quickly unlocking it, I walk in to see her standing there waiting for me. The sight of her almost brings me to my knees.

Letting out a ragged breath, I run my eyes over her. She is wearing a sweater with leather pants and boots.

“You’re here?” I breathe out, hoping I’m not delusional from the hits I took from the game.

She awkwardly waves. “I got here from New York as your game was ending. My flight was canceled so I had to rebook, but there weren't any flights that could get me here on time.”

She had planned to come to the game. To come back to me. My chest squeezes at the fact that even though I hurt her, she supported me regardless. I don’t deserve her. But I want her. I’ll work to be everything she deserves.

I stare at her in disbelief. “You were coming? To the game?”

She nods. “Of course.” Then, she raises her hand for me to see what she’s holding. “I also got the books.”

It’s the books I bought her for winning the plank challenge. She was right. It is different.

“JJ—”

She cuts me off. “I had some time to think. I realized that I couldn’t give up on you. I was going to push you until you gave in and admitted your feelings. You not telling me you loved me was painful. But being in New York, away from you, was even more painful. You’ve been mine since we were younger, and I’ve been yours.”

“I love you, JJ,” I reply softly.

Her eyes go soft. “I know. I saw your post-game interview. It took you long enough to stop being stubborn.”

Slowly, I approach her and reach for her hand. “You came into my life at the perfect time. When I was alone and desperate for love. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. None of this shit means anything without you next to me. You’ve always been right there. I’m ready, JJ. I’m ready for you. For us.”

“Then, kiss me, Cross,” she murmurs. “Because I’ve missed you so much.” I pull her into my arms and gently press my lips to hers. This kiss feels different. It feels real. We pour everything into it.

Our first real kiss. Life flows back into me, and I’m born again. This time as JJ’s man. I lean back to look into her bright, brown eyes.

My friend. My lover. The hand I grab onto when I feel as though I’m drowning.

Her face morphs into excitement. “Guess what.”

“What?”

“I finished writing my book,” she squeals. I’m not even shocked at how quickly she wrote it. It’s JJ.

“How is it?” I reply.

“Fucking phenomenal. Probably my best work yet.”

“You mean my best work?”

She scoffs at my audacity. “I’m sorry. I don’t recall you writing all those words.”