For The One(119)

His eyes narrowed, taking it in. He removed the bottle from his mouth and squeezed my hand. Then he freed it in order to replace the cap. “It’s a ribbon from the Maypole,” he answered.

“Nope. Not today.”

He frowned, clearly confused. “It is a Maypole ribbon every day.”

“Today it’s much more than that. It’s my favor. And I choose to bestow it upon the worthiest knight I know.”

His gaze floated to the ribbon again, and his expression was so serious that I almost laughed. Without another word, he took up his sword and presented it to me, hilt first. Just as solemnly, I tied the ribbon around the grip, just below the cross-guard. He took the sword back and adjusted the ribbon. Then he hefted the sword to try it out.

He murmured in an almost reverential voice, “Thank you.”

“Kicking his ass will be all the thanks I need,” I said, grinning.

“There’s no kicking at these tournaments. It’s difficult to kick someone while wearing plated greaves.”

I laughed. “I meant it figuratively. You’ll be thanking me by winning soundly.”

His brow trembled. “But if I lose—”

“You won’t. Now come here and give me a kiss before I leave you to get all suited up.”

I didn’t have to tell him twice. He set down both the sword and the water bottle and then put his hands on my waist to pull me against him. Our mouths met in a long, passionate kiss, and a group of our closest friends found us right in the middle of that steamy kiss, where I’d locked my arms around him to keep his lips on mine.

To his credit, William kept kissing me even though they stood there, and even after someone cleared their throat loudly. We finally pulled apart when a wolf whistle interrupted us. I looked up and there were our friends all around us.

“Who could say ‘no’ to a good luck kiss like that?” Jordan said with a cocky grin. William did not look amused and Jordan clued into his obvious annoyance. “If it hadn’t been for my advice—”

“Your advice is shit,” both William and Adam said at almost the exact same time. April immediately doubled over laughing while Jordan’s smile slid right off his face.

Eyes gradually turned toward me and Mia asked a question with her eyes. I studiously avoided her gaze. Alex handed me a cup of coffee in an insulated cup and I thanked her.

Then we all turned to look at the man of the hour.

And if all went well in the next little while, the man of the day, of the week. Of my future…





Chapter 32

William

So it all comes down to this.

Months of training, to include fitness activities and specialized exercises to build stamina. Refining my fighting style and customizing my armor. Weeks of working with Jenna—not that I minded that in any way.

But for all my pre-fighting focus, I’m upset that she came to watch me warm up. Because now all I can think of is her, and all I want to do is look at her. Our friends are all around us now, wishing me luck. My mind is distracted from the fight, and that’s bothering me.

My cousin stands at my shoulder and puts a hand there. I turn to him as he speaks. “Hey, guy. You okay? You’re looking…intense.”

I look around again, trying to keep my eyes away from Jenna, though they are pulled to her bright blonde head like a magnet. “This isn’t how I normally warm up, with all these people around.”

He nods. “Right. I’ll see if I can clear them out for you,” he says quietly.

A few minutes afterward, he suggests that they all go claim a section in the bleachers and save seats for the others who are coming to support me, including my dad and Kim. Jenna goes with them, but not before giving me another kiss on the cheek. “I’d say good luck, but you don’t need luck. You’ve got this.”

I smile and watch her as she goes, not realizing that Adam and Mia have lingered behind. Mia steps forward and gives me a hug. “Just wanted to get mine in real quick. I’ll leave Adam to help you warm up.” Adam has offered to be my squire today, and I’ve accepted that offer.

“Okay. Thank you.” I briefly return her hug. As she turns to go, I say to Adam, loudly, so that she’ll hear, “Adam, you can tell Mia later what date you’ve decided on for your wedding.”

Mia comes to an abrupt halt and spins around to look at me. Her mouth and eyes are round. Adam’s dark eyebrows scoot up his forehead. “That’s, uh, great news,” he says, and then one of his sly grins creeps across his face. He and Mia exchange a look, but I have no clue as to its meaning.

“I love winning,” he mutters. Mia’s eyes roll up toward the sky and she lets out a big sigh. Then she turns around and stomps away while Adam watches her, laughing loudly.