Page 115 of A Game Plan for Love

“I never thought I’d see that smile again,” Nathalie whispers.

“I’ll spend the rest of my life chasing it,” I admit.

He’s it for me. I know it with certainty—there is no man kinder, more thoughtful, worthy than Declan.

“I’m happy for you both.” She squeezes my shoulders, “Just a small question.”

“Sure.”

“Has he told you he loves you yet?” I raise an eyebrow. “There may or may not be a bet on the line I’mitchingto win.”

“Uh…Do I want to know?” I’m leaning towards probably not, but Nathalie’s smile is feral.

“If I win, Deon is going to dress up as Legolas.”

She wiggles her eyebrows, and I choke on laughter.

“He told me last weekend,” I admit, warmth blossoming from my solar plexus at the memory.

“I could kiss you!” she yells, hugging me once more before sprinting toward Deon and crashing into him. She leans in to whisper in his ear, and he blanches before making eye contact with me. I wiggle my fingers, and he frowns.

They don’t need to know that technically, I said the three words first and by default, no one wins. Deon’s face flashes with lust, and I look away.

Gross.

“Everyone understand the plan?” Declan asks, Nora’s hand in one palm and a park map in the other. Everyone nods. “Alright then, off we go!”

The rest of the day is overflowing with laughter as we wait in queues and ride every ride we can. Nora’s giggles are music to my ears, and after every ride, Declan pulls me close to tell me he loves me.

It’s the most magical day I’ve ever experienced.

And when the sun fades in the sky, and Declan bundles us both in sweatshirts he bought from the gift shop, the tears finally fall. Small, tiny tears of joy as Declan hauls Nora onto his shoulder for a better view of the castle. Each of his teammates hold their significant others as fireworks blast in the sky, painting it in a mosaic of colors.

It’s a moment I’d love to paint someday—to pour the love swirling in my chest onto a canvas.

A shooting star flashes across the castle and Nora yells, “Make a wish!”

She squeezes her eyes shut, but Declan looks down at me, adoration swimming in his blue eyes.

“I don’t need to,” he says quietly, “Every single one of my dreams has come true.”

CHAPTER 34

Home – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Declan

Norasplashesinthemassive pool at the hotel as Maren and Jack toss her back and forth in the water. Her giggles fill the air as she screams, begging for them to do it again, and again.

The bye week means we can only stay in Florida for a few days, and after an exhausting day yesterday, we all decided to lounge by the pool, soaking in the rays of the sun before returning to rainy Seattle.

“Daddy, look!” I spin to Nora, who is standing on Jack’s shoulders. He holds her ankles to keep her stable, and when she knows I’m watching, she leaps off of him and into the water.

Her head dips below the surface, and my heart surges, but she pops back up with a massive grin on her face.

“Awesome!” I say, having no other response to the circus act.

I walk around the pool edge to the deck chairs where Addie and the girls are lounging beneath umbrellas, reading and sipping on fruity cocktails.

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