Page 67 of Personal Foul
Epilogue
Rush ~ One Month Later
“Surprise!” the crowd sings, pressing my hand against Sydney’s lower back as we walk into Blazin’ Shooters.
Tonight was a big night for more than one reason.We played our last game at home against Houston. It was a packed crowd, cheering us on as we finished the season with our best record of sixty-six to sixteen. We sealed our fate going into the playoffs as the number one seed in the East.
It’s also my girl’s birthday, which means we’re celebrating for the both of us, so I rented out Shooters for the night and invited all our closest friends and family to join us.
“Oh my gosh, you didn’t.” She laughs, cupping her hand over her mouth. Her eyes are wide as she stares at the crowd of people filling up the bar, clapping as they begin singing “Happy Birthday.”
Tears fill her eyes as she glances over at me, shaking her head. Pulling her into my arms, I lean forward, pressing my mouth against her ear as I murmur for only her to hear, “They’re all here because they love you and want to celebrate with you.”
Her chest heaves at the mention of them loving her as she wraps her arms around my neck, hugging me.
After that night in the parking lot of the arena, we started researching the process of what it would take to become a licensed foster parent in the state of Florida. There was one more thing to sort out before we can fully move forward, knowing our chances as a married couple would certainly help us.
Kaylee is standing near the front of the group, clapping loudly, making catcalls before Sydney pulls back and joins her friends, hugging them, too. I spot the back of her cropped jean jacket, the name “Rush” shines across the back in sparkling rhinestones. She wore her hair just how I love it, curled in waves, pulled over her shoulder so everyone can see my name on her back.
I catch sight of her dad in the crowd behind her. He checks to make sure she’s not looking before he looks back at me, flashing me a thumbs-up signaling everything is set to go.
Sydney makes her rounds, saying hello to our friends and family. My mom and brother flew in from Colorado, wanting to be here with us for the weekend. We have a couple of days off before the playoffs start, but even then, there won’t be much downtime.
We go through and greet everyone. Sydney introduces me to a couple of friends from her college days back in North Carolina, and I introduce her to my brother. They’ve met and talked over FaceTime, but never in person.
We’ve finally started to make it through the crowd of people when the music starts playing, echoing through the speakers throughout the bar.
“I hear we got a fuckin’ birthday in the house!” A loud man’s voice reverberates through the speakers. I grin, glancing over at Sydney when she pauses, her face turning to me.
She’s trying to gauge if she heard the voice correctly.
“Are you going to come outside and say hello?” the voice asks.
Her mouth drops as I answer her question with a broad smile before nodding my head to confirm she heard him correctly.
It took a lot of work and pulling strings since they were already on the road, but I was able to convince Sydney’s favorite band, A Rebels Havoc, to swing down here to help me wish her a happy birthday.
Her head whips around the bar, searching for any sign of them. I watch and wait as she looks out at the large windows and the French doors overlooking the patio facing the water, to the makeshift stage the bar let us set up, spotting them.
All our friends and family clue into who it is before Sydney pauses, holding her arms out to her sides as she shouts to me, “You didn’t? Please tell me you’re not messing with me right now!”
“Why would I mess with you?”
“Did you seriously have A Rebels Havoc come here for my birthday?”
“Maybe…?”
She folds her hand over her mouth, her eyes growing wide again for the second time tonight. “I’m serious. You have to be kidding me. You know how much I love them.”
“Did you hear him? They’re waiting for you.”
She takes off like her ass is on fire, and I can’t help but laugh as she bolts toward the door, yanks the handle, and runs out onto the deck.
The sun has started to set, leaving only the soft lighting draped overhead as Brix, the lead singer of A Rebels Havoc, stands on the stage waiting with the rest of the guys.
“There she is!” he growls into the microphone. “Hey, Sydney, I hear it’s your birthday today.” He winks at her.
She spins on her heels, her jaw gaping as she looks at me before turning to face them again. Tysin starts off on the bass guitar, as Madden follows on the drums, and their newest guitarist, Trey, cues in on the electric. Sydney closes the space, moving to get closer as she sways her body to the beat of the music. My hands brush across the denim of her shorts, wrapping around her waist as she sings along to the lyrics of her favorite song, “Make Me Feel.”
