Page 72 of The Break Down

His voice is calm. Certain. “You’re mine, Finley. In every way that counts.”

My heart leaps. “Okay.”

“And I’m yours,” he adds, quieter now. “I told you already. I don’t say that lightly.”

The weight of it settles between us.

Solid. Real.

I lean my head against the window, smiling like an idiot.

“So, Iamyour girlfriend.”

“Damn straight.”

And that meansKoa Jacksonis my boyfriend.

Holy shit.

This is actually happening.

And I have no idea what comes next.

But I know I’m ready to find out.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE-KOA

Pulling into the newly renovated training compound feels surreal.

There's a brand new sign that reads Home of the Carolina Rovers with our mascot, a Great Dane—no pun intended on ol' Coach.

The fields are finished now—real grass, painted lines, goal posts shining under the Carolina sun.

A few of the cabins have been renovated, and the rest are halfway there.

There's even a mini gym set up under a tarp, and someone installed a flagpole. Don’t ask me why.

The charter bus is already parked, which means the rest of the team beat us back by at least a few hours.

Tank texted me like a dozen times last night, but I didn’t answer him.

Not ideal.

The twerp will be foaming at the mouth, wanting to know what happened.

Like I’d really kiss and tell.

I grip the steering wheel a little tighter as I pull into the gravel lot.

Beside me, Finley stretches and yawns, looking completely wrecked in the most satisfying way.

My shirt’s still hanging off her frame, no bra, hair all over the place. She looks like a woman who was thoroughly, repeatedly claimed.

And I feel a sharp, primal thrill knowing the whole fucking team is about to know it too.

“You ready for this?” I ask, tossing the SUV into park.

She yawns and stretches, and my heart just about beats itself right out of my chest.

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