Page 137 of The Way We Collide

“Hey, baby! That was incredible!” Raven is at my side with Haddy on her hip, and I pull my two girls into my side, wrapping my arms around them.

Turning to a different reporter, who is still holding the mic in my direction and just taking it all in, I give her a wink. “Would you like a real scoop?”

“Definitely!” She blinks, stepping back for me.

I nod at the line coach I asked to help me. He steps forward with a small blue pouch, and I turn to Raven. “Raven Lorrain Bradford, you’ve made me a better man. I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”

“Hendrix!” Her hand flies to cover her mouth as Haddy reaches for me.

I take my baby girl, holding her to my chest, but I’m not letting go of her mom. A body pushes up beside me, and I see it’s Dylan.

“Give her to me.” She takes Haddy, but I catch her arm, making sure they stay close.

“Raven, my beautiful wife…” I take her hand, sliding the diamond ring on her finger. “I should’ve done this before.”

Her lips press together, and she looks at the round diamond surrounded by tiny baguettes. “It’s so beautiful…”

“I wanted it to be like a storm cloud, then I wanted it to be like the sun that comes after the rain.” I shrug, still holding her hand. “Then I just wanted it to be something that would make you as proud as you’ve made me. I want the whole world to know it. I love you, Pink.”

She blinks, and tears hit her cheeks. I pull her to me, but before I kiss her, I look into the mic. “I’ll fight for her any day of the week because she’s worth it.”

Her hand goes around my neck, and she pulls me down for a kiss. I hold her close, and the reporters drift to Tyler. I look up to see the officials surrounding him. They have the crystal trophy, and they’re ready to make the announcement.

“The MVP award goes to Tyler Winslow!” The crowd goes wild, and I couldn’t be happier.

Tyler’s eyes meet mine, and I give him two thumbs up. I’ve got a heap of blessings on my head, and I’m glad my friend got one, too.

“I’m going to Disney World,” he yells, and we all laugh.

My brothers surround me, slapping my back and congratulating me.

Logan pulls me in for a hug. “He couldn’t have done it without you.”

I know he speaks from experience, and it means a lot. “Thanks, bro.”

“Raven really has changed you.” Garrett wraps his arms around me, lifting me off my feet. “You’re not such a little punk anymore.”

“Put me down, Sasquatch!” We all laugh, making our way off the field, ready to pack up and head home for a few weeks.

It’s been an amazing season. More than I ever imagined when I stood on my balcony in September thinking about what I thought I wanted, what I thought would make me happy.

When Jack called me home, I had no idea I was on a collision course with a wife and baby, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

“Your sister has stolen our baby.”Raven is under me in our bed, her dark hair stuck to the sweat on her neck, and I haven’t stopped kissing her since we crashed through the door of our hotel suite.

“She loves babies.” I cover her mouth with mine, my cock still buried deep between her thighs.

After the game, we partied in the VIP box for a few hours. Allie wanted to take us all over New Orleans, which is her hometown, but Jack said it was probably safer to stay where we were.

He was right. The fans were having a party, and it got crazy out there. Also, I was just as happy to come back here and make love to my wife all night.

“Remember that first night we all slept together in the theater room?” She blinks her pretty eyes at me, and I smile, kissing her lids. “We’ve come so far.”

“Yeah, but I knew then we’d stay together forever. Didn’t you?”

Her brow furrows. “No—I couldn’t see either of us giving up our dreams.”

“And now?” I lean onto my arm, tracing her hair off her cheek with my finger, thinking about what she told us in the VIP box.

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