Page 167 of Unrivaled Love
"No way! It's unfair. I want you to hold me and spin me around as a reward for supporting you and almost shitting my pants in the stands watching that shootout."
I slide down his body. We're the same height and he's lean but I honestly don't know if I could do it.
"You're thinking about it, aren't you?" He asks with hope in his eyes.
"If I get hurt, I'll murder you. And not in a fun way. I'll find a way to make it painful."
"That's fine. I'll take it. Okay, I'm going to get a running start." He turns and takes a few steps away from me.
I wipe my hands on my shorts and start laughing. This is insane. But it’s the kind of thing you do for the man you love.
"Ready?"
"I guess so."
He starts to run towards me and I hold out my arms to catch him. Bryson jumps up and wraps his legs halfway around me before I start to stumble backwards and he bails to take the brunt of the fall.
We roll down to the ground together and our laughter feels like butterflies fluttering around us.
Bryson stands and holds out a hand to me. I take it and let him pull me up.
"Can't say we didn't try."
"We're really good at trying." I confirm.
"I want nothing more than to keep trying with you." He says as he gently pulls my lips to his with a grip to the back of my neck. "I love you, Jo Hamilton."
"I love you too, Bryson Svoboda."
When our kiss causes my knees to sway, Bryson wraps his arm around me tighter. And in his arms I'm reminded of how deep and unconditional our love is.
Each shared moment is bittersweet with the elation of being together now and the anticipation of separating again but I've learned to stay in the present. To cherish our stolen moments together. And I choose to believe we will find our way to the other forever. I believe space and time peril in comparison.
Because this is our unrivaled love.
BRYSON + JO = LOVE
ONE YEAR LATER
JO
"Wait, you're actually taking the time off?" Brie asks me as I clean out my locker for the mid-season break. We came in today after our game yesterday for a team meeting and, yes, for the first time in my career I'm taking time off, by choice.
"Yes ma'am. I'm meeting Bryson and the family in Telluride."
"That's fantastic but can you perform some captcha verifications because I'm seriously doubting if you're the real Jo Hamilton." Brie jokes.
"Shut up." I laugh and toss some tape at her.
She catches it and steps closer to me.
"I assume you heard about the D.C. expansion team starting next year."
"I have and I already threw my name in the ring for consideration but without a coach confirmed, I don't know what my chances are."
"They're about to confirm a coach. Later today in fact."
"How do you know? Wait, is it McEmbry?" God I hope not.
