Page 174 of The Score

"We have to stop doing things that can get you fined," I say.

"It would be worth it."

"Was the video worth it?"

"So worth it. In fact, I'm wondering if everything that happened after changes your score for the club sexcapade."

"Change my score?"

"Pen, you gave me the lowest score for that one."

I laugh. "I wasn't scoringyou."

"My performance?"

"Leon, no. I was scoring the thrill of risk. Not worth it."

"Pity, considering I bought the cabin."

"What?!"

He nods. "I signed the papers today. It's automatically half yours, of course."

"That's not— I didn't think—"

"Of course I had to buy it." His answer comes to the questions I didn't get to ask. He read my mind again. "My wife keeps getting these ideas about things she absolutely has to do to be happy, and I can only oblige. We won't be at risk there anymore."

"Leon."

"Penélope."

"You spoil me."

"Yes. What's the point of life otherwise?"

A whistle spears the air, and coaches call the players back to the benches and the field. Bear gives me a quick kiss.

"I love you," I tell him.

"I know," he says, steals another peck from me, and takes a step back. "Tell me again tonight, yeah?"

"I'll give you a new score tonight!" I yell and laugh.

He shakes his head and runs to the field. My friends stare at me in shock, before they laugh too and tease me some more.

The Strike wins their first pre-season game.

And I tell him how much I love him that night again, certain for once that this kind of love belongs to me, too.