Page 141 of Play For Me

“I told you he was like that.”

He’s quiet again, the only sound the popping of the fire. It’s getting low again, dying out.

Sol clears his throat. “I’m pretty sure your father has hugged me more times than my own dad ever did.”

That stabs at something in my chest, making it hard to breathe. Tears sting at my eyes and I turn my face to the fire, hoping he doesn’t notice.

Of course he does. Sol always notices me.

“Cecelia? What’s wrong?”

The urge to hug him is overwhelming. I turn in his lap so I’m facing him fully, burying my face in his neck. “I went home for a few days after…everything,” I say, my voice muffled against his skin. “And my family was amazing, like they always are.” My voice cracks. “But all I could think about was how unfair it was that you didn’t have that.”

“Hey,” he tells me, and I can hear the regret in his tone, like he thinks it’s his fault I’m upset. “I had Red. I had Jay and Em.”

“I know.” I pull back and look up into those dark, serious eyes I love so much. Usually, I feel a little disappointed when he doesn’t wear his glasses—because the man is seriously, ridiculously hot in glasses—but tonight I’m glad that there’s no barrier in front of his eyes.

“When I was at home, I kept thinking that I wished I could give you what I have. This whole big, crazy group of people who would love you so much. You deserve to have a family like that, Sol.”

He blinks at me a few times, surprised. He opens his mouth and I can see the desire to deny it rising up in him. The urge to tell me that I’m wrong, that he doesn’t deserve good things, and God do I hate that he’s ever thought that about himself.

But then I watch as he nods, once. Determination fills his expression as he looks down at me.

“Maybe,” he says, his voice shaky. “Maybe I do deserve that.”

I kiss him, because I have to. My chest feels so full, like there are too many good emotions swelling inside me, and I don’t know how to put it into words. The fact that he can even admit that he deserves better makes me want to cry all over again.

So I kiss him instead, my hands tangling in his hair as he pulls me even closer against him.

“You definitely do,” I whisper against his lips, then pull back enough to smile up at him. “For now, let’s just focus on being happy, okay?”

His lips curve into a grin before he kisses me back. “Being happy, and making sure you win your next game.”

I laugh. “I like that plan a lot.”

EPILOGUE

SOLOMON

“I don’t think I can watch,” Vega says, ducking behind Cade to hide her eyes. “It’s too stressful!”

“She’s gonna trip that girl,” Cade groans. “I can see it on her face.”

“That does look a lot like her rage face,” Violet agrees, wringing her hands.

I bite back a grin, my eyes never leaving the field where Cecelia is currently streaking toward the other team’s midfielder, in hot pursuit of the ball.

It’s the final minute of the final game of the conference tournament, and we’re one goal away from winning the whole damn thing. The team’s record is good enough that they’ll be invited to the NCAA tournament either way, but I know what it means to Cecelia to win her conference outright. Especially after being forced to sit out the tournament due to her injury last season.

Down on the field, Cecelia moves in to get possession.

“She’s not gonna trip her,” I mutter, gaze locked on the play. “She’s going to score.”

“What?” Vega yelps, peeking around Cade’s shoulder. Next to me, Sam reaches over and grips my arm. Cecelia’s mom must see it too, the window that she has to get around the defender and?—

“Goal!” Cash yells, throwing his arms up in the air. I meet Sam’s eyes and we grin at each other. Called it.

Everyone is going crazy in the stands, but no one more than the group I’m sitting with. The Littles and Jay are all hugging each other, Will and Wyatt are screaming their heads off, and Cash Ransome is literally jumping up and down, pounding his fist on my shoulder.