Page 146 of The Jack*ss in Class

“Ew,” Jules faux gagged. “Don’t ruin Miranda Milan books for me with that kind of information.

“Speaking of,” Vanessa interrupted, pointing to the field where the defensive starters were being announced.

The stadium erupted as Flynn’s name boomed through the speakers. Number 50 jogged onto the field, helmet in hand, looking every inch the warrior heading into battle. My heart swelled with ridiculous pride. He might not be able to see me from the field, but I stood anyway, cheering as loudly as I could.

“The rookies usually look terrified,” observed Priya Singh, joining our little group with her adorable baby. Her husband was the Bandits’ star kicker. “Your man looks like he was born for this.”

“He was,” I agreed, watching as Flynn took his position for the national anthem. “Football’s in his DNA.”

“Just like writing is in yours,” Priya said. “Anymore scenes like that one in chapter seventeen and I’m going to end up pregnant again. My hat’s off to Flynn for being your research buddy.”

“Oh gawd, it’s never going to stop, is it?” Jules shuddered and stood up. “I’m going to get nachos and rinse my brain in cheese sauce.”

I groaned as the women laughed. Somehow, in the past few months, I’d gone from hiding my identity to openly discussing my “research” with PALs I barely knew. The universe had a strange sense of humor.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer’s voice boomed, “please direct your attention to the jumbotron for today’s ‘Family Focus’.”

I froze as our little group appeared on the massive screen. The other women waved, so I followed suit, and the camera zoomed in on me.

The crowd cheered—whether for me or simply because it was expected, I couldn’t tell. But as the cameras lingered, I smiled and waved, embracing the moment instead of shrinking from it.

“You’re famous now,” Vanessa teased as the screen changed to find other player’s families.

“Hardly,” I laughed. “But it’s still surreal sometimes.”

“Get used to it,” Jade advised. “Between Flynn’s career and your books, you’re going to be in the public eye a lot.”

She was right, of course. In the months since graduation, I’d done more interviews, book signings, and public appearances than I could count. My fifth book was coming out in a few days, and according to my publisher, the pre-orders alone were almost a guarantee for it to hit several bestseller lists. FlixNChill was already casting on the series adaptation. And through it all, Flynn had been my steadfast support, just as I tried to be for him.

Different worlds, merging into one shared life.

As the kickoff soared through the air, I settled in to watch the man I loved do what he was born to do, surrounded by women who were quickly becoming loyal friends rather than mere acquaintances. Women who saw me as more than just “Flynn Kingman’s girlfriend.” Who respected my career as much as his.

For a girl who’d spent most of her life hiding, it felt remarkably like freedom.

Tuesday morning,I woke to the smell of coffee and the sound of Flynn’s voice downstairs. Book release day. No matter how well received the rest of the books had been, I always had a niggle of nerves every time a new book came out.

It wasn’t that I didn’t think people would like it, but especially now that the public had an actual face to put with the name, this one in particular felt very... exposing.

I padded downstairs to find Flynn in a suit, phone pressed to his ear, gesturing animatedly as he paced the kitchen.

“No, we need at least five dozen,” he was saying. “And make sure they’re the special edition hardcovers, not the regular ones... Yes, I know they cost more, that’s the point... Just get it done, please.” He hung up, turning to find me watching him.

“Were you ordering books?” I asked, amused.

“Maybe.” He grinned, that boyish smile that still made my heart skip. “The team wants signed copies for everyone. Including Coach, which is mildly terrifying considering what happens in chapter twenty.”

I groaned, remembering the particularly steamy scene I’d written involving a coach’s desk. “Oh god. I didn’t think about that.”

“Too late now.” Flynn crossed to me, wrapping me in his arms. “Happy book birthday, by the way.”

“Thank you.” I accepted his kiss, then pulled back to study him. “Why are you in a suit at seven a.m.? Don’t you have practice?”

“Later.” He guided me to a chair, then pushed a mug ofcoffee into my hands. “First, breakfast. Then I have a surprise.”

“Flynn,” I said warily. “What did you do?”

“Nothing bad,” he promised, setting a plate of avocado toast in front of me. “Just a little pre-release celebration.”

---