Page 128 of Courtside

Her expression softened. “I’d put up at least five bird feeders out here just to watch you scowl,” she began.

David couldn’t help the indignant scoff that burst from him. “Hey!”

But Sage wasn’t finished. “We’d put a couch that was long enough for both of us in the sunroom, and we’d read there together every night. And I’d put a garden over there, and even though you’d be clueless you’d offer to help, because that’s just who you are. And we’d put a nice hoop up in the driveway. We’d soak up as much of the summer as we could together because we’ll always be crazy busy during the season. But we’d have this,” she said, looking at their surroundings. “And, no matter what happens on the court, win or lose, we’d always come home to each other.” Her expression grew serious, the green of her eyes somehow more potent when surrounded by the vibrance of the grass and the myrtles along the fence. “I always assumed that there was a cost to letting someone share my life. That I’d have to carve out more and more of myself until there was nothing left. But right now? Right now I feel whole, like I could take on the entire fucking world, David. I’m not scared of building a life with you. I’m here and I’m ready to choose this, with you, because it’s the life that I want.”

David felt his throat tighten with emotion. “Sounds good to me, Lefty.”

“Do you feel ready?”

David blinked. “To live with you?”

She nodded, drawing her lower lip between her teeth.

“Yeah, Sage. I’ve never been more ready.”

A smile spread over her face, and David felt his body catch flame. “Let’s fucking do it,” she said, rocking forward onto the balls of her feet and nudging his chest with her head. Untangling their hands, she wrapped her arms around him. He felt the rise and fall of her chest and the soft puffs of breath through the thin material of his t-shirt.

She was there and he was hers.

“David?”

“Hm?”

“Love you too.” Her voice was muffled and soft, the words whispered into his chest, where they melted straight through his skin and into his heart.

He tilted her head up and kissed her, pouring the weight of every moment they’d shared into the pull of his lips against hers.

She broke away first, her panting breaths soft and warm. “And David,” she whispered against the stubble on his chin.

“Yeah, Lefty?”

“I’m paying you rent.”

David let out a low laugh. “Fine.”

“And we’re going to need more plants.”

“Done.”

“And -”

David interrupted her, pressing another kiss to her mouth. “Whatever you need, Lefty.” He kissed the tip of her nose, her skin cool and soft against his lips. “How about we celebrate at The Grove?”

Sage smiled. “Nachos?”

“And tots,” David said softly. “Don’t forget about the tots.”

Sage’s eyes dropped to his mouth. “And after the tots?”

David chuckled. “Want to come home with me and start packing…among other things?”

Her smile was bright and lit up her entire face. “Yeah, David. I want that.”

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