Page 47 of The Single Dads Club
The only thing I know is that our team is down by three points, and it’s the final seconds of the game. And not just any game, but the big championship game that will determine the national champs.
Yeah, my stomach is in knots, to say the least. I’m so nervous and excited and anxious for Alexei.
“Get your fucking head out of your ass, Lex!” Tracey yells.
I’m sure he can’t hear her from our spot inside the suite, but I shake my head at her. “What’s going to happen now?” I don’t know all the rules of the game as well as I should—clearly.
Tracey rolls her eyes. “Either he stops them from advancing on this next play, or they hand over their balls to the other team.”
I nod. “Got it.”
So it all comes down to this. The crowd around us quiets, and the entire stadium is glued to this moment.
I take a deep breath, holding it in my lungs, and say a silent prayer.Come on, Alexei.You can do this. I know it.
I watch with wide eyes as his team gathers into formation. When they break, Alexei’s friend Weston Chase heaves the ball, his thick arm stretching as the ball releases, hurtling through the air in a perfect spiral.
My gaze returns to Alexei’s hulking form. He’s right in the middle of the pack, fighting off guys who are trying to advance toward the end line. It’s so incredible to watch him—his sheer size and strength—and seeing this version of him shoving at men even bigger than he is, so different from the soft and gentle guy I get at home. I smile, enjoying watching my man at work.
The crowd around me erupts into cheers, and the sound is deafening. Alexei’s sisters jump up and down, screaming, and it takes me a minute to understand what’s happening.
Oh my God. We won.
“We won!” I scream.
Tracey laughs. “We fucking did it!”
“Booyah, yes!” Valerie cheers.
The team gathers around the coach, and then Alexei charges toward the sideline. On instinct, I rush out of the suite and toward the field. Alexei tugs off his helmet and shares a hug with Weston. They’re shouting something to each other, and Weston is jumping up and down.
When Alexei sees me, his face breaks into a huge grin. He’s sweaty and dirty, but I’ve never seen him happier.
“Baby! Get over here.”
I rush into his arms, and we laugh and cry as we hug each other and kiss.
“You did it,” I say, nearly having to shout. It’s so loud in here.
“We did. I love you, baby.”
“I love you too.”
Alexei releases me and looks deeply into my eyes, cupping my face in his hands. He looks like he wants to say something, but instead, he drops to one knee in front of me. He takes my hands and nods to someone behind me.
Wait. What’s happening?
Before I can process or question what’s going on, Alexei looks up into my eyes and gives my hands a tender squeeze.
“I love you, baby. You and Ella. I want you to be mine. I want us to be a family. Forever. Will you marry me?”
Tears gather in my eyes. With all the commotion around us, his words barely register. People are still hugging and cheering and it’s pure chaos, but the best kind of chaos. I realize a cameraman has stopped to film us—Alexei in his uniform and my stunned face are being plastered on every giant screen around the dome. And that’s when it hits me.
“Oh my God, you’re proposing?” I bring a trembling hand to my lips.
He smirks. “That was kind of the plan. Win the game. Get the girl. Live happily ever after.”
Tears stream freely down my cheeks as I stare at him.
