Page 95 of The Game

“Ew, I don’t eat meat,” Bella says, nose scrunching up in disgust.

“Since when are you vegetarian?” I ask her.

“Since last week,” she replies.

Of course, my fickle sister has a new dietary restriction. We’ll see how long this one lasts. “Well then, salad and tofu for you. As much as you want.”

There’s so much to catch up on that we don’t stop talking until the buzzer sounds, letting us know dinner has arrived.

Jazz puts the food on plates and sets the table with cloth napkins while my dad asks her about her first day. My sisters want the dirt on the team, and I just want to sit back and drink it all in.

My beautiful girl and my family all together, eating around my table. This is it. This is what we’ve been working so hard for, and now that we’ve got it, I feel so full of love that it’s spilling outof me. You couldn’t wipe the smile off my face if you tried.

Having my family here is going to be awesome, but I’m glad Jazz got them set up at the Grandview down the street. They’re excited to stay at the five-star hotel, and I’m excited to have her to myself again, finally. I kiss the top of her head as she shuts the door, spinning around to look at me.

“Happy?” she asks, wrapping her arms around my waist. I lean into her hug like a needy cat.

“I’ve never been happier in my entire life. But you know what? I have a prediction.”

“What’s that?”

I pull back enough to cup her cheeks in my hands, staring into her chocolate eyes. “I predict that every day from now on is going to be my happiest day yet. Because every day I get to spend with you, every time I get to come home to see your beautiful face, every game I see you out in the stands. That’s my happiest day.”

And I lean in for the kiss I’ve been longing for all day. All my life, really.