Mack never left me. He loves me. We’re together, come hell or high water. And I trust every word he’s saying, every promise he’s made. If he’s willing to give up his career, he’d be willing to do anything for me.
“I’m going to also announce,” Mack starts, pulling me up by his side. My heels click against the lacquered cement as I join him. My cheeks go hot as more flashes keep going off. “That this is my fiancée, the real one. She might not be the one the team owner picked out for me, but she’s the one I picked out for myself a long time ago. If we’d stayed together, I’d probably be a lot more boring and a hell of a lot happier. That’s what a good woman does for you, and that’s what I hope she’ll do for the rest of her life.” Then, ever so slowly, Mack gets down on one knee before me, just like he did that last night I saw him.
“Mack, what are you doing?” My pulse quickens, a lump rising in my throat.
“Renata Young, I’ve loved you ever since I’ve known you. I wanted you from the first moment I held you in my arms. And I made the biggest mistake of my life when I gave into my family’s bullying and left you six years ago. I want you to be my wife. For better, for worse, for all that jazz. Will you do me that honor?”
All the camera flashes go off at once. I’m stunned and cannot speak. In all the years I spent mourning the death of my relationship with Mack, I never expected I’d have another opportunity to feel this way again.
“Mack,” I whisper, leaning down to him. More camera flashes go off. “Maybe this isn’t the right time…”
“Just say yes, Renata,” he whispers back, laughing. “I just quit my job. You’re probably about to get fired from yours. Why don’t we just call it a day and get hitched?” There are a few chuckles from our impromptu audience.
After what feels like an eternity, I nod my head. “Yes, I will.”
Yes, I will, even though we have a hard road ahead of us. But this is the one thing that was really keeping us from our true potential. It’s the one thing we both needed, and it’s been apparent ever since I stepped off of that plane and saw my home again.
Home. That’s what this is. No matter where the two of us are, we’ll be home if we’re together. Even if we’re destitute, we’ll continue to be what the other person needs. Even in the darkest of times.
“Hot damn,” he says. “I thought I’d never hear those words again. I’ve been waiting my whole career.” He chokes on the last word, perhaps because it’s clear his career is ending, or maybe, just maybe, because he’s happy. It feels good to be that person who brings that out in him, to be the one he really needs. Mack pulls me into an embrace and kisses me passionately, flashes and clicks of cameras going off around us. He might not be able to start the season with his team, but we’ll be able to start the next season of our lives with each other, and that’s what matters.
“Mack,” I whisper, after he releases me. “Tell these people to get the hell out of here.”
He turns and looks around quizzically, like he’s forgotten what’s going on around us. “Y’all go on home now. Show’s over. Get the hell out of here, and maybe when I’m playing for the NFL again, we’ll have another photo op for you.” He raises his hand up to silence the reporters when the questions start flying, and he walks me back up to the front of the house, picking me up at the stairs and carrying me up to the door. After a while, people start driving off into the night, even Eddie and Kinley themselves.
The only people left are me and Mack—and after a spell, Wingate walks in, hands on his hips. “What the hell have y’all done?”
I feel half like laughing, and half like crying and drawing my old friend into a hug. Instead, I drop down into one of the chairs by the stone fireplace and gesture for Wingate to come over and sit down. He stomps over somewhat angrily, but it’s clear he’s also amused. He’s never shied away from sticking it to the man, and Eddie Davidson is the very definition of The Man. He might be the worst example I’ve seen in a while—moving us all around like puppets in a show. And now—that’s not going to happen anymore.
Mack comes to sit next to me and squeezes my leg gently. A thrill runs through me, and I know that I can be happy about one thing in my life, at the very least.
“Wingate, I’m sorry, man. I know this means you’re out of a job too.” Wingate hangs his head into his hands.
“But,” I interject. “Rich doesn’t give a shit about men like Eddie. I won’t be blacklisted. I know that for sure.” My lips curl into a smile.