Page 93 of Unrivaled Love
“Okay.” Bryson echoes and he leans forward with another kiss. “Now, let’s go show our hometown the Stanley Cup.”
He sounds like he’s trying to get himself excited for this. I reach for his hand and when our fingers link together I see his shoulders relax a notch. His confidence in our potential as a couple erased my doubt. Well, most of it. Now, I can do the same for him as we start the parade. I can be confident for and alongside him.
Bryson is reserved as they get us and the hardware loaded into the car. Chris instructs us to keep our hands on the base between us and I maneuver my arm so it brushes against Bryson’s. The contact will be the reminder he’s not alone.
Our car pulls out of the staging area parking lot.
“Oh wow,” I say quietly. It looks like all of Grand Junction came out for this. Yes, it’s the annual Christmas In July Parade but there are a lot of D.C. Renegade teal jerseys in the crowd, too.
We begin our smile and wave routine and I sneak glances at Bryson to see if he’s doing okay. His back is stiff but his breathing seems normal. So far, okay.
About a block into our slow crawl down the route my eyes light up and I gasp with excitement. Bryson peeks over to check on me.
“Dog who resembles owner, 2 o’clock.” I mutter to Bryson out of the corner of my mouth.
“What?” He mutters back while keeping his eyes up and his arm waving.
Clearly Bryson doesn’t remember our old parade game. We would stand in the crowd and search for Dog and Owner Couples. Bryson was too sweet to mock the owners, it was always me finding the ridiculousness of the dog-owner resemblance.
“Look over here, under the Maeve’s Cookies sign. That guy and his poodle have the same haircut.” I explain slowly as I also keep my eyes up and arm waving.
I watch Bryson turn his head to the right and am treated to his eyes widening in delight when he spots the pair.
The half snort half cough half laugh noise he makes causes Chris to turn around and check that he’s not having a medical event.
Giggles erupt in my chest and I have to bite the inside of my cheek hard not to burst into hysterics. Staccato wheezes rack my body and that makes Bryson laugh harder.
“Stop it.” I try to scold but there’s no power behind it.
“You started it.” Bryson says as his eyes connect with mine.
The world grinds to a halt.
The crowd noise fades away.
Right now, we are the only two people on earth.
Sharing an inside joke in front of hundreds of people.
This feeling.
Being at his side. On his team. Us against the world. Because for all of the competing we did as kids, we were always together.
I have to blink away before I declare my emotions out of the blue.
The world returns to full volume and I hear Bryson clearing his throat. The faces blend together and my eyes can’t focus on anything. My mind is too busy telling me I love Bryson.
I’m completely lost in thought when Bryson grabs my shoulder. “Jo!”
“Uh, yeah?” I blink towards him.
He’s pointing to the sidewalk. “Look there!”
I follow his finger and my gaze lands on a little girl wearingmyUS Team jersey. I didn’t even know they’d released them yet. She’s jumping up and down waving at me so I give her a smile and wave back.
“That’s awesome.” Bryson says as we crawl forward. I keep my eyes on the little girl and watch her over my shoulder as we pass.
“Yeah, unbelievable.”
