Page 41 of The Game

“Over to you, Malachi.”

Bill handed him the mic and stepped aside, and the stark overhead lights dimmed, bathing us in the glow of the fairy lights from the Christmas tree and more that lined the walls.

He’d planned this, all of it. The party, the romantic lights. I wouldn’t have put it past him to have called Annie, too.

My boyfriend went down on one knee. “Emmeline, from the very start, I knew you were the one, despite the fact that we were worlds apart in every other respect. The smart, beautiful surgeon and the scrappy fighter. No one could have predicted this, but every day since that first sight, I’ve only fallen deeper.”

I pressed my fingers to my lips to stop from ugly crying.

“You accepted my crazy world and you’ve given me the gift of your love. I’m a simple man, and that trust is all I needed. As Bill said, I never let anyone pin me down. Except for you. Please, do me the greatest honour and beat me at my own game. Emmeline Watts, will you marry me?”

There was only one answer I could give. “Yes.”

Epilogue

Emmeline – six months on

Deadwater River glittered in the afternoon light, and Annie and I strolled along the cobbled bank, Bess trotting at our heels, the puppy sniffing here and there at interesting smells.

We passed glass-fronted buildings which mingled with converted warehouses, housing Deadwater’s wealthier residents, and across the water, I spotted my old apartment block. Not that I ever went back there; this walk was the closest I’d been in months after I had decided to rent it out. I’d considered selling it, but had the idea that one of Malachi’s daughters might want to live in it in future, considering how close it was to the centre of town.

Looking at it brought back fond memories of that fateful night I’d first seen the hot MMA fighter who would end up becoming the centre of my entire world.

Annie followed my gaze. “Do you miss living in town?”

I gave a mock shudder. “Not at all. It’s so peaceful where we are, and there’s no real issue with the commute now I don’t have to make midnight flits to the hospital.”

“The new job suits you.”

“I love it. It feels like everything changed in the space of one month. Malachi, my home, my job. And all for the better.”

Bess’s lead tugged where she’d stopped to examine a bench. We both halted to let her.

Annie heaved a sigh. “You make me so envious. I mean, I’m happy now my divorce is finalised, but I don’t actually like the free time that much. I don't think I'm cut out for being single. I miss having someone of my own. The kids don’t care how my day went. I don’t mean that in a bad way, they’re kids, they’re not supposed to worry about the emotional state of their parents, plus they’re gone half of the week to their dad’s.”

I tilted my head at her, wondering how soon was too soon in suggesting she find someone new. Once, she’d joked about taking part in the game herself. I just wasn’t sure she meant it. She’d also considered going back to work, but quickly dismissed the idea after a visit to the hospital had opened her eyes to the true workload of a medic.

Movement caught my eye in a nearby apartment block, sectioned off from the river path by a low wall. A woman stepped out a door, her glossy brown hair with a familiar undercut.

“Aw, check out that baby bump.” Annie was staring as well.

“I know her,” I said.

The woman glanced up and blinked at the two of us gawking.

I took a step, Bess coming with me. “Peonie?”

“Yes?”

It was her.

I put my fingertips on my chest. “You might not remember me. I’m Emmeline. We were in the game together.”

Her confused expression morphed into a polite smile. “God, yes. I don’t think we spoke then, but I saw you and your guy…”

She’d also seen Malachi claim me. I’d witnessed the same with her getting screwed against a wall. What a weird experience to have in common.

She hustled to continue. “I mean, I watched his proposal. I think half the country did. Then I saw you married last month. How was it?”

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