Page 71 of Hello Quarterback

“Ford, I love you, too,” I admitted.

He looked up at me in wonder.

I nodded. “I love you,” I repeated, the words feeling like magic on my lips.

Energized, he rolled me over, getting in missionary. “Wrap your legs around me,” he ordered.

I held on with my legs, my fingers clinging to his shoulders as he pumped into me.

“Say it again,” he commanded.

I smiled, holding his face. “I love you, Ford Madigan.”

The words had him releasing all of himself, coming inside me as I held on to him with all my strength.

And I realized, all these years,thisis what I’d been missing without even knowing it.

Love.

It was the one thing money couldn’t buy.

But he’d given it to me anyway.

And as he lay next to me in bed, chest heaving, a small, satisfied smile on his lips, I realized I was terrified. Because now that I knew what I had, life would never be the same without it.

40

FORD

The first thingI noticed when I woke up was Mia, naked in my arms.

I slowly blinked my eyes open, remembering everything from the night before.

Mia loved me.

My lips spread into a smile.

Dad was right—this wasn’t part of my plan; it was better.

I kissed her shoulder, and she slowly shifted in my arms.

“Good morning, Sunflower,” I hummed.

She rolled over to face me, bleary-eyed but looking content. “Good morning.”

I leaned in for a kiss, but she covered her mouth. “Morning breath.”

“Like that could scare me away.” I kissed the back of her hand, and then she removed it, kissing me back. When we broke apart, I said, “I didn’t ask you last night, but I’m not sure how this works. Do I ask you to be my girlfriend?”

She laughed, her blue eyes crinkling in the corners. “You really are out of practice.”

I rolled my eyes at her.

“We can just say we are... if that’s what you want.”

“We are,” I said quickly.

Her giggle made my heart feel light. I’d never felt like this before—hadn’t expected to even consider love and romance until I was finished with my football career, or at least signed on with the Diamonds until retirement. But here I was.

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