Page 45 of Friends Rucked Up

“Often,” I add.

“I’d like that.”

Once I’ve caught my breath, I climb out of bed. “I’ll be right back.”

Heading to the kitchen, I grab two glasses. I might not have the posh wine from the cottage, but I fill them with orange juice and take them back to the bedroom.

“What’s this?” she asks.

“I want to do a toast to us,” I say, passing her one of the glasses.

She sits up with a grin on her face. “Okay. To us.”

“To the future of us.”

“To us.”

We clink our glasses and take a drink. It’s not the way I intended to celebrate us finally getting our first date, but it doesn’t matter. It’s the person you choose to take a chance on that counts. Sayloris my person, and I’m going to show her how much I love her every single day.

Epilogue

Alfie

Standing in the crowd amongst thousands of rugby fans wasn’t where I thought I’d be spending the final match of the season. Selby Scarabs finished fifth in the league and although I’m disappointed, we’ll come back stronger next year.

Reading Racoons have had a tough season, but they kept fighting and somehow managed to make it to this final game. They’re up against Leeds Leopards who have been on fire and are favourites to win the cup. Personally, I like the idea of an underdog winning. It makes the game more interesting.

Saylor looks cute in her racoon hat as she cheers on the team we’ve decided to support. She’s curled her hair to frame her face and she’s even wearing their iconic grey top. I’ve told her she has to burn it before next season. No racoon will be stealing my girl or my game.

Harlan arrives with the bottles of water and hands them out. The season might be over for me but, I’m determined to work hard in preparing for next year.

“See, I told you this was a good idea,” Harlan says.

In an effort to disguise who I am, he talked me into wearing face paint. We both have black around our eyes with bands of grey and white.

“Yeah. I just wish I’d worn my sunglasses,” I say.

If anyone recognised me, there would be rumours all over the internet. I have no desire the leave the Scarabs. I’m also wearing a baseball hat and luckily nobody has realised it’s me. Lance and my other teammates would never let me hear the end of it if my picture gets tagged on social media.

“I think sunglasses would only draw more attention to you. The face paint is good. Besides, you both look cute,” Saylor says. She drops a quick kiss onto my cheek.

“If anyone finds out you’re a Racoon fan you can always come travelling with me,” Harlan says.

He’s got an early flight tomorrow morning and we’re both going to miss him. It took him a few weeks to finally realise how serious I am about his sister, but he seems cool with it now.

“What do you say, Saylor, shall we take a trip down under?” I give her a playful smile.

We’ve been inseparable since we got together and even leaving the bedroom takes effort. We might not last a long flight.

“I’d love to as soon as you’re done with rugby.”

I’m usually the sensible one, but I love seeing her put her foot down. Of course, rugby comes first, but I’m sure we can work it into our plans.

I chuckle. “That might be never.”

She starts to count on her fingers. “You only have another ten years max. That’s if you don’t get injured or slowdown.”

I shake my head. “I’m going to teach junior league after I retire, and ten years is too long. Harlan will have travelled the world three times over by then.”

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