Page 105 of The Goat in the Bedroom
Artie gave me a tiny nip with her teeth on my earlobe and whispered into my ear. “I heard it was when Kingman's get laid.”
“Stay, I'll make Flynn sleep in the hall and we can find out.”
She gave me another kiss. “Good try. You'll just have to dream about it. I know I will be.”
It took another ten minutes of goodbye kisses and promises to be careful sneaking back out before they finally left. Flynn and I stood at the door, watching them creep down the hallway like very giggly ninjas.
“We're idiots,” Flynn said.
“Complete idiots,” I agreed.
“Worth it though.”
“Absolutely worth it.”
Game day in Edinburgh was surreal. The stadium wasn't as big as what we were used to, but it was packed with curious Scottish fans who'd come to see what American football was all about. During warm-ups, I kept scanning the stands, looking for Artie.
“Northwest section,” Tyson said, appearing beside me. “With the other wives and girlfriends.”
“How did you?—“
“Dude, you've looked at that section twelve times already.” He grinned. “Also, she's wearing your jersey. Kind of hard to miss.”
I found her instantly after that. She was sitting with Tempest and the other PALs, and making it look like she was exactly where she belonged. My number on her back, her hair pulled back in a ponytail, laughing at something Jade Clay was saying.
This was big. It was huge. It was Artie claiming her spot as my girlfriend in front of everyone, no more pretense, no more practice.
And I was going to ignore the fact that Sloane had Harry pointing directly at me as I grinned like a fool.
“Freeman,” Coach barked. “Your hamstring better be perfect.”
“Miraculous recovery, Coach,” Tyson called back, then lower to me, “You owe me so big.”
“Name your price.”
“Introduce me to one of Artie's rugby friends.”
“Done.”
The game itself was brutal. The Cincinnati Tigers had a shit offense, but their defense were hungry and mean. But we won, 24-17, the crowd loved it, and I had the game of my fucking life. Probably because of the very, very realistic sex dream I had where Artie was a unicorn and I was a dragon and we shape-shifted into human forms and had magical orgasms.
After the game, showered and changed, I finally made it to where the PALs were waiting. Artie launched herself at me, and I caught her easily, spinning her around while she laughed.
“You were amazing,” she said.
“I missed you,” I said, setting her down but keeping my arms around her.
“It's been four hours.”
“Four hours too long.”
“You're ridiculous.”
“You love ridiculous.”
“I love you.”
And right there, in front of teammates and PALs and a bunch of Scottish strangers, and yes, even Harry the cameraman, I kissed her. Really kissed her. The kind of kiss that made Flynn yell “Get a room,” and DeMarcus whistle.
