Page 195 of Just One More Thing

She smiles and gives me a shy wave.

I answer without taking my eyes off her. “Elizabeth, one I’m ready to do again in two weeks.” Then I nod toward Mo. “And one I’m ready to do again every day for the rest of my life.”

“We’ll let you get started. Thanks, Jake.”

“Thanks, Elizabeth.”

The second they’re done, I’m moving. I jog back to Mo and catch her around the waist before she can say a word. She laughs, breathless and bright, and I lift her clean off the ground.

Her hands land on my shoulders as I spin her around.

“You just won the game,” she says, smiling at me like she still can’t quite believe it.

“You just told me you love me in a stadium full of people,” I say. “I’d argue you had the bigger moment.”

“I don’t know. You did have cannons.”

“I thought that was my heart thumping.”

I kiss her, quick and hard because anything longer and I’m not making it to the locker room. Her fingers slide into the hair at the nape of my neck, and every bit of me wants to rip these pads off.

I make myself pull back.

Barely.

“I’ve got to shower and get Hank,” I say. “Then we can head home for a few days.”

One eyebrow lifts. “Home, huh?”

“Yeah. Home.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

“Hey, Jake.”

I turn before she even finishes my name, already smiling because I know exactly what she’s going to say.

“Can I have your hat?”

That’s not what I thought she was going to say.

I put a hand on the brim. “What’s the magic word?”

She narrows her eyes. “Please.”

“Nope.”

She folds her arms. “Rude.”

“Try again.”

“I love you.”

“That’s the one.” I take the hat off and hand it over immediately.

She pulls it onto her head, then makes a face. “It’s sweaty.”

I lean in and lower my voice. “Just wait until later.” Then I wink.