Page 32 of The Americana Playbook

“I’d like to present you with this jersey and hope it finds its home in the White House for longer than just this year. Once a rebel, as we say, always a rebel,” Coach Foller concludes.

The stoicism on Parker’s face breaks when she winks at me, but I don’t relax. I force myself to un-ball my fists, lifting and bringing my palms together repeatedly when Josh bumps my shoulder.

“What’s going on with you?” he whispers as he claps along with everyone. “Cameras—and the president—are straight ahead.”

I stare out at the sea of cameras.

“It only matters how it looks,”I hear Parker say as she walked me down to my car from her apartment that night in Atlanta.“If we look like America’s sweethearts, we’ve sold it. But we can’t make it look like we’re trying too hard.”

I argued that we didn’t exactly leave a lot of room for practice, but I know that won’t be too hard for me. I’m seconds away from living out my longest-standing dream. But what’s more important is I’m seconds away from getting her out from her family’s thumb.

“I’m great,” I tell Josh in between beats of my palms before I drop my hand and feel for the ring in my pocket. “This might be the best day of my life.”

When the line begins to move and Josh steps closer to the president, I duck back, placing a hand on Micah’s shoulder and pushing him ahead of me as I shuffle to the side.

The slightest bit of curiosity flashes across Candice Montgomery’s face as I approach. It appears and disappears so quickly that if I had blinked, I might have missed it. I’ve got to hand it to her. Her husband might be president, but she’s got a face as outwardly unfazed as any politician I’ve ever seen.

“Sir—”

I hold out a hand to the Secret Service agent, and I raise my voice so everyone in the vicinity hears me. “I’d like to enjoy this moment with my fiancée if you don’t mind.”

I guess I broke the wall a little bit. Candice’s eyes widen and stay that way as I sweep my hand away from the agent and beckon to Parker.

“Come on, babe. It’s not every day the president gets to celebrate his future son-in-law winning the Super Bowl.”

I only have to wait half a very-racing heartbeat for Parker to come. As soon as our fingers are linked, I wink at the agent who tried to stop me.

Now that Parker is between me and the cameras, I take her left hand, pulling it between us. My other arm wraps around her waist, and I dip down into her hair. “Put this on,” I hiss, passing her the ring.

The softest gasp escapes her mouth. “Fitz?—”

“You make sure when we’re married that Secret Service stays in its lane. I won’t have anyone telling me I can’t ever get close to my wife.” I pull back, taking a breath of the fresh scent of her hair with me. “Now smile and look like you love me, baby. America’s watching.”

* * *

I need you to keep your cool.

That’s what Parker says to me with her eyes. I’m sure she sees how hard I grip the arm of the chair in the Oval Office as I sit across from the people I once knew as my neighbors, who are now my future in-laws.

I look at Parker standing beside me, taking in her tight posture and rigidness and cock my tongue against my cheek.

These people are also my worst enemy.

“It would’ve been nice to have a heads up,” Candice says. She’s pushing a tight smile, but I know she’s anything but happy.

Unlatching my fingers that clutch the chair, I take Parker’s hand. I won’t lie, despite feeling so tense I wondered if I was seconds away from a stroke, seeing the ring on Parker’s finger has this calming effect on me, like a weighted, warm blanket.

“I’m not the kind of man who doesn’t ask for the love of my life’s father’s permission to marry her,” I say, looking at Walt. “But I’m sure you know Parker isn’t one to ask for permission.”

Candice folds her hands in her lap. “She’s always been strong willed.”

“And I love that about her.” I sweep my gaze back to Parker, watching her take a deep breath. “So much.”

“How did you manage to keep this a secret?”

Josh rips me away from a memory created only moments before, after Parker and I were herded to the Oval Office where we sealed our fate. I imagine in the fifteen minutes since we’ve joined the reception, they’ve already posted the photo.

Candice stands. “We’ll issue a congratulatory statement, but there are still things to talk about.Manythings.”

---