Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
“I love you, Blake,” she says and climbs out of my arms and back to her feet. “But now, it’s time for you to get your head in the game.” She reaches up to pull my helmet the rest of the way down my head, and she grips the face mask with her petite hand. “And if you win, you can spend the night at my place.”
“And if I lose?”
“You won’t lose.”
“You’re right.” I wink. “I won’t.”
There’s not a chance in the world I’m walking away from this game with anything but a win and my Lexi on my arm.
Lexi
Friends and family stand outside the Dragons’ locker room, everyone vibrating with excitement from the game.
The Dragons won, just like I knew they would. And Blake is undoubtedly the MVP of the game, with twenty-four of twenty-five completed passes, four touchdowns, 360 passing yards, and zero interceptions.
He was a beast and, statistically, showcased a game that will have ESPN commentators recalling it for years to come.
And this game was most certainly on ESPN. I know this because I’ve received so many phone calls and texts from my family about the infamous kiss between Blake and me that I could hardly keep up.
I’m so happy for you, honey. And more than that, I’m proud of you, was the text from my mom.
Tell me I didn’t just see you kissing Blake Boden, was the message from my stepdad Wes.
Fucking gross, Lexi! came from my brother.
Quinn Bailey sent me an I told you so! Followed by Proud of you, Lexi Lou.
But the most entertaining of them all was Ace’s dad Thatch, who sent me a video message that included him blubbering like a fool and telling me how he was all up in his feels over Blake’s and my love story.
I haven’t heard from my dad Nick, but that’s probably because he spends most of his time at the hospital instead of watching Saturday college football.
And I haven’t had time to go through the messages from my aunts and uncles, but I’m sure I’ll get an earful at the next Winslow family dinner.
But all of that can wait, because right now, there’s only one person I want to see, and he’s currently walking out of the locker room with a big smile on his face. Blake’s hair is wet from a fresh shower, and he’s sporting his favorite pair of jeans and a Dragons Football T-shirt. He looks big and strong and so damn handsome I simply let myself enjoy the view that is my guy.
He doesn’t see me at first, but when he does, the widest smile appears on his lips, and he doesn’t waste any time pushing through the crowd to get to me.
And before I know it, I’m being lifted off my feet and into his arms.
“Good game,” I tell him, and he leans back to meet my eyes.
“And what’s your official analysis of my stats?”
“No doubt, you’ll be all over ESPN for the next week,” I say with a grin.
“That’s nice, but there’s only one person I wanted to impress,” he says and brushes his lips against mine. “Did I manage to impress her?”
“You did more than impress her.” I speak my truth. “You made her fall in love.”
“You love me?”
“Yeah.” I nod. “But I’m pretty sure we already established that before the game when I was wearing that ridiculous cheerleading uniform.”
He smirks, but then he sets me on my feet. And I scrunch up my nose in confusion when he gets down on one knee in front of me.
“Blake?”
“Relax,” he says, smiling up at me. “Lexi Lou Winslow, I would like to officially ask you to be my girlfriend.”
I laugh. “Oh my God.”
“So, will you be my girlfriend?”
I roll my eyes, but I also say, “Yes.”
“Hell yeah, Blakey!”
“Get it, BB!”
Several hoots and hollers fill my ears, and I realize that half of his team is watching this ridiculous scene, but Blake doesn’t care. And you know, the craziest thing of all, I don’t care either. My eyes are solely fixated on Blake. The rest of the world might as well not exist.
He’s smiling proudly as he rises to his feet and pulls me back into his arms. “I love you,” he says and presses a soft and sweet kiss to my lips. “Thank you for doing what you did today. Thank you for thinking I’m worthy of you putting yourself out there like you did,” he whispers directly into my ear. “I know it wasn’t easy. So, I just want you to know I’m proud of you, Lexi. I’m proud of you, and I love you.”
“I love you too, Blake,” I whisper back, squeezing my arms around his neck and burying my face into his shoulder. “Thank you for being patient with me. Thank you for understanding me. And mostly, thank you for loving me exactly the way I am.”