Page 144 of Fake Out Hearts

“I wouldn’t have missed it, sweetheart.” She plants a kiss on my cheek, and I slip my hand back into hers to walk with her, Callie, and Theo’s parents out of the stands and into the family lounge to wait for Theo and the rest of the Aces. Mom slips out of my grip to catch up with Anne and John.

“You must be so proud,” she says and puts a hand on each of their shoulders.

“Oh, definitely. But we aren’t the only parents with children to be proud of,” Anne responds, smiling at me, and it brings a tear to my eye because I finally feel like I’ve found the family I’ve always wanted—no, the family I’ve alwaysneeded—but never dared to dream I would actually have.

We spill into the family lounge together with Mom talking animatedly with the Camdens, recounting every play like it was the most incredible thing she’s ever seen. Callie wraps an arm around me and gives me a little half hug.

“These families coming together is something to see,” she whispers, and I chuckle.

“None of it would’ve happened if you hadn’t given me an intervention. I’d probably still be a starving, sobbing puddle in your spare bedroom.”

“Well, I had some help from your mom, but you’re welcome anyway.” She flashes me a teasing smile, but I lean into her again. I really don’t think I could’ve gotten through the near-miss with Theo if it hadn’t been for her, and I hope she knows that.

But when Theo appears in the entrance a few minutes later, I rush from Callie’s arms and into his. He kisses me while the rest of the family members give him a little congratulatory round of applause, but when I pull back and rest my hands on his chest, he winces, and my heart skips a beat.

“Oh, no. Did you get hurt during the game?”

“No, I’m fine. That area is just a little, uh, tender.”

“Well, if you aren’t hurt, then why is it tender?”

Theo winks and grins at me. “Don’t worry. I’ll show and tell you all about it later.”

But I’m not taking no for an answer, so I cross my arms over my chest and fix him with the most serious look I can manage. “No, you can tell me now.”

Theo’s eyebrows shoot up his forehead, and he lets out a little laugh that turns into a devious grin. “I like it when you’re bossy like this. But fine, I’ll show you, but it’s for your eyes only.”

He grabs me by the hand and pulls me off toward one of the corners of the room. Thankfully, no one questions it or tries to stop us. They probably know we’d like a private moment after an amazing game like that. I half expect him to kiss me again, just to sell the moment to anyone who might still be watching, but instead he reaches for the hem of his shirt and hikes it up toward his shoulder, exposing his chest.

I don’t know what I’m supposed to be looking for at first, but when I spot the bright red, irritated skin that’s a telltale sign of a fresh tattoo on his left pec, my heart skips a beat. I lean closer to get a better look, and there, right next to my favorite tattoo of a snarling tiger, is another. It’s a simple but elegantly drawn ballerina, caught mid-pirouette, spinning right above his heart.

“Remember how I told you that every tattoo I have is for a significant moment in my life?” he asks quietly, and instantly tears spring to my eyes because I know what he’s going tosay next. “Well, falling for you was far and away the most significant.”

“I love it,” I say, choking on my tears. And I really do. My finger gently strokes the ballerina’s outline on his tender skin, and although he winces, he doesn’t recoil. I’m both touched and turned on by the tattoo, and Theo must be picking up on it because he leans forward to kiss me. It’s a hungry, needy kiss, and I can’t stop myself from giving into it, despite the fact the room is full of his family and friends.

Anne clears her throat, and Theo freezes, although he doesn’t break our kiss.

“Yeah, save it for the bedroom, lovebirds,” my mom adds, and Theo groans before finally peeling himself away from my lips. I shouldn’t be embarrassed—I love my husband, so what?—but my cheeks flame anyway.

“Don’t worry, we’ll finish this later,” I whisper in his ear, and his eyes flash devilishly when he looks down at me.

“I’ll hold you to that, wife,” he whispers back.

With a shiver of anticipation dancing down my spine, I walk back to the center of the room with him to rejoin our family—the family we’ve built together.

Epilogue

Theo

I’m still fighting with my tie for the grand opening of Becca’s dance studio by the time she strolls into the room. Her reflection appears in the floor mirror as she enters the frame, and the gorgeous, seafoam green dress she’s wearing trails after her. My heart always stutters at the sight of her, but the way the dress fits her and makes her gold-flecked eyes pop makes my heart race.

“You look gorgeous,” I say in awe as she comes up from behind me to help me with my tie.

“Sweet talker.”

She smiles at me in the mirror, her warm brown eyes flashing, but the expression she wears underneath them is a little jittery, so I turn to face her.

“Is something wrong?”

---