Page 39 of Remember Me

“Correct, but you’re mine.”

The heat in his eyes was stirring something it really shouldn’t. Not after the orgasm.

“We should get back,” I said, though I made no move to leave our hidden corner. “The others will wonder where we are.”

He laughed, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. “They really won't. But yeah, let's go watch our boys win this thing.”

We snuck out of the tunnel and joined the flow of people heading back to their seats, ready for the second half. My body was humming with pleasure from Jackson and I was still rocking a high from interviewing Bailey Fucking Hill.

The security guard barely glanced at our credentials as we made our way back to the luxury suite level. Jackson's hand found mine, his thumb traced idle patterns on my skin as we walked.

“Ready for whatever comes next?” he asked, and though he was talking about the game, I heard the deeper question.

I squeezed his hand. “With you? Always.”

We pushed open the door to our friends' luxury box, greeted by cheers and raised glasses. If anyone noticed my slightly disheveled appearance or the lingering flush on my cheeks, they didn't mention it.

I'd barely settled into a seat when my phone buzzed again. I glanced down, expecting a message from a colleague about the Bailey interview, but instead saw a text from Bailey's publicist that made my heart stop for the second time that night.

Bailey loved your questions. Wants to do an extended sit-down for your podcast when the tour hits California next month. Exclusive. You in?

I grabbed Jackson's arm, wordlessly showing him the message, unable to form coherent speech.

He read it, his eyes widening before his face split into that proud smile that always made my heart flip. “Told you,” he said simply, pressing a kiss to my temple. “You've earned this.”

As the teams took the field for the second half, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride. My brother was down there playing. I was surrounded by friends, and being supported by the most loving man to have ever existed.

Jackson smiled at me, and I felt it down to my toes.

This was it.

It didn’t matter who won the game tonight, we’d all already won.

And from the look on Jackson’s face, there were plenty more celebrations to come tonight.

Chapter Eleven

Hayden

“Yes, sweetheart, I saw it too,” I said into the phone, smiling at Autumn's excitement bubbling through the line. “Bailey Hill was amazing, wasn't she?”

“She was so pretty! And her dress sparkled everywhere!” My daughter's voice was breathless with wonder. “Uncle Darren said she's the biggest star in the whole universe!”

I laughed softly. “Well, I'm not sure about the whole universe, but she's definitely a big star here on Earth.”

“When I grow up, I want to sing just like her!”

“Is that right?” I caught Adam's eye across the suite, and he raised an eyebrow, clearly overhearing our daughter's newest career aspiration. Last week it had been an astronaut, and the week before that, a veterinarian. “Well, you certainly have a beautiful voice.”

“Uncle Darren says I'm tone deaf like Daddy.”

I bit my lip to keep from laughing as Adam's expression shifted to mock offense as he held a sleeping Jace in his arms. “Your daddy has many other talents,” I assured her, watching as Adam rolled his eyes good-naturedly.

In the background, I could hear Darren's voice calling Autumn for ice cream. “Mommy, I gotta go! Uncle Darren says we can have sundaes!”

“Don't eat too much,” I cautioned, though I knew it was hopeless. My brother spoiled Autumn rotten whenever he watched her and he’d already broken the first rule of letting her stay up for Bailey’s performance. He didn’t care; he flaunted it by letting her call me. “We'll see you tomorrow, okay? Be good for Uncle Darren.”

“I will! Love you to the moon!”