Page 120 of Her Goal
“Then you know what I’m talking about.”
I pause. “Leah, did you just pay me a compliment?”
She turns to face me and her eyes find mine. Behind her black masquerade mask with feathers and sequins, her eyes sparkle. “Yes, I did.”
Well, now we’re getting somewhere. Not because she thinks I’m good-looking, but because she’s telling me how she feels rather than bottling it up inside.
“Thank you.”
Arm linked in mine, we wander over to the refreshments table.
“Who do you think is next to get married?” Leah asks, gazing at the crowd.
“Us.”
“Besides us.”
“There are eleven guys who regularly get dressed for games who’re single. Could be any of them. Why?”
Leah shrugs. “Because I didn’t think it would be me.”
“You’re not on the team.”
“I mean you and me.”
“We’ve established that.”
Once more, she turns to me, expression imploring. “I just didn’t think I’d actually marry a Knight.”
“That’s what you wanted, right?” Is she saying she wants this or does she want to be with someone else? Did she change her mind? Then again, it’s like we’ve just been drifting toward this rather than making a decisive choice.
“I follow some influencers online who talk about the power of gratitude and positive thinking. I have the first one nailed down. The second one, well, I’ll say positive things, then hear anotherstory in my head. I want good things in my life but don’t always believe they’ll come my way. I tried to figure out why and then realized I’ve been sabotaging myself in subtle ways.” She looks at the floor and then up at me.
I follow what she’s saying but bring it to the point. “Leah, are you saying I’m a good thing?”
She wears a Cheshire cat grin.
Sweeping her onto the dancefloor, I say, “I like this. Keep the honesty and the compliments coming.”
I start moving to an upbeat song and her eyes brighten. “You can dance?”
Busting a move, I answer, “I lived in Miami for three years. Of course I can.”
“Maybe Abuela was right.”
“Notmaybe. I’m certain she was.”
Leah clicks her tongue, scolding me for being so haughty, and then dances right alongside me. I’m still high from the win against the Liberators and have surpassed cloud nine watching her swing her hips, sway from side to side, and move so close to me I can almost feel her soft breath.
If this is what life is like with Leah Smith, I’m going to marry the heck out of her.
The next morning,I take an ice bath, and not because dancing with Leah set me on fire. It did, but I’m also sore from the game and have to keep my stamina because we’re getting married tomorrow.
I am marrying Leah Maria Smith tomorrow.
Tomorrow.
I hardly believe it’s real—if all goes well. What would Hunter think? My mother? I almost don’t want to know. It’s safe to say he’d call me an idiot and my mother would warn me against marriage. She’s on her fifth, last I heard.
