Page 63 of Love On Time

“You read them?” he asks softly as his lips pull away, his eyes scanning my face, searching every inch.

“Every single one,” I choke out, a breathless laugh escaping me as I rest my forehead against his. “You're an idiot, Drew. Six years?”

“I know.” A small chuckle escapes his throat, a relieved smile breaking across his lips. "Let me spend forever making it up to you.”

“Deal.” I smile.

“I love you, Camille Benson.” He says, his eyes filled with tears.

“I love you too,” I choke, looking into the hazel-green eyes of the man I’ve spent my whole life loving. No matter the pain, the distance, the time, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Because Drew Carson was worthy of being loved, and he was worth every year I spent waiting for him. And the truth was, we hadn't lost those six years—we were just taking the long way home.

Drew

1 YEAR LATER

It's a cool Friday night, with bright pink and orange illuminating the sky over the same field where I played high school football. The smell of fresh, buttered popcorn wafts through the air. The bleachers are packed with students and community members coming out to support me in my first game as varsity football coach. With fifteen minutes left until kickoff, our team is out on the field running passing drills. I glance toward the stands. It doesn’t take me long to find them. My mom is sitting right alongside Mr. and Mrs. Benson. Cooper and Ivy are there, too, giggling over something, per usual, Cooper’s hand resting protectively over Ivy’s round belly. Alex and Marcus—my new colleagues who pulled the strings to help me land this gig, wave down at me. But right in the center of them all is Camille. The woman I get to marry tomorrow and officially call my wife. She catches my stare, flashing me a wide smile. My phone chimes in my pocket as a text comes through. I pull it out, a grin already tugging at my lips before I even unlock the screen.

Cami

Hey you! Looking good out there, I love you :)

I look back up to the bleachers, locking eyes with her as I blow her a quick kiss from across the field. The referee blows his whistle, pulling my attention back to my team. It’s game time.

Our team huddles up, the guys bouncing on their feet with anxious energy. “Stop worrying about the crowd and remember, don't look at the scoreboard!” I shout over the noise, looking each of them in the eye. “Play hard, run fast, and trust the teammate next to you. We got this, alright! Hands in!”

Four adrenaline-pumping quarters later, the stadium horn cuts through the night air, signaling the final whistle. The scoreboard glows bright against the dark indigo sky, a solid victory to open the season. The crowd goes wild, the team pulling me into a huddle as they jump up and down, on a high over their first win.

It takes an hour to get through the post-game madness, the locker room celebrations, and the endless handshakes from proud parents. But finally, the stadium lights dim to a low, golden hum. The crowds have thinned out, leaving only the quiet rustle of red and orange leaves drifting across the lawn.

I stand right in the center of the field, looking down at the white-painted numbers on the fifty-yard line, taking in this full-circle moment. An overwhelming sense of pride and happiness weaves through me, this is exactly where I want to be.

“Still got it, Coach Carson!”

I turn at the sound of her voice. Cami walks out from the sidelines in her black-and-white Converse, and grey hoodie pulled tight against the late-night chill, a small smile lighting up her face and putting her ridiculously cute freckles on display.

“Not too bad for my debut,” I say, stepping forward, grabbing her securely by the thighs and lifting her straight into the air. Cami laughs softly, wrapping her legs tightly around my waist as I pull her flush against my chest, capturing her lips in a deep, loving kiss. She whimpers into my mouth, sending a jolt of want through my body. An immense wave of nostalgia hits me as I’m transported back in time. She must feel it too, because she pulls away just enough to look at me, her cheeks flushed. “I just had major déjà vu!” she giggles.

“Next time, I owe you a rose,” I smile, the old memory warming my chest. She rests her forehead against mine, her breathing shallow.

“Your mom and the rest of my family went back to the house to start setting up for tomorrow,” she murmurs as I set her safely back on her feet. She looks up at me with those beautiful blue doe eyes. “Cooper tried to stay behind to give you a play-by-play report of your own coaching, but Ivy dragged him away by his collar.”

A genuine laugh escapes me. “Remind me to thank Ivy.” I brush a stray strand of hair behind her ear, my thumb lingering on her jawline. The reality of it all hits me deeply. The stadium. The win. The woman I love in my arms. “Tomorrow's the day.”

“Tomorrow's the day,” she echoes softly, her eyes glassy with happiness. "Are you nervous?"

“About the wedding? Not even a little bit,” I say, and for the first time in seven years, it is the absolute, undeniable truth. I pull her in a little closer. “A small backyard wedding with just our closest family and friends? It’s absolutely perfect. No noise, no stress, just us.”

“Just us,” she agrees, smiling up at me, the dim light casting a shadow across her face, putting her adorable freckles on display. God, she is perfect.

This woman walked back into my life after all the hurt I put her through, and she graciously forgave me. I finally know what winning actually feels like. It’s not about a football game; it’s her. She’s the biggest win of my life.

Cami leans up on her tiptoes to press her lips to mine—a sweet, lingering promise of the lifetime that starts tomorrow.

I tighten my grip on her waist, holding her right there on the fifty-yard line. The stadium lights click off, leaving us under the dark indigo sky filled with bright stars. We look at each other, laughter escaping our lips. I sweep her into my arms and carry my bride off the field. I am finally home. And this time, I am staying.