I walk back to them.
“What are you doing?” Angie asks. “You have to go.”
“Not without you,” I say, grabbing Angie’s hand. “You’re my good luck charm. My fire. I won’t go without you.”
Angie stands up on her tippy toes and kisses me. Then we cross the air bridge together, hand in hand.
When we’re on the plane, waiting to take off, I turn to her. “Chad said you called him.”
Angie’s face turns a cute shade of crimson. “Yes, I did.”
“Well, then, you probably heard his whole speech about my sucking the last few years. How something was missing.”
“Yeah, that sounds familiar. Why?”
I kiss her hand. “That something was you.”
Chapter 45
Angie
I can’t believe how nervous I am. The Eagles organization people are wonderful. They set me up in a sky box to watch the audition.
There have to be thirty players warming up on the field. I can tell by Jake’s body language that he’s nervous. Then the worst happens. He looks for me at the top of the stands and I’m not there. How could I forget? That’s totally our thing.
I run outside the sky box and find the the quickest way down to the stadium.
Then I get to the very top of the empty stands like I always do. The referee blows the whistle for the tryouts to begin.
Right after the whistle, I give my loudest cheer. “Go, Jake!”
I see Jake’s head turn until he locates me and gives me a wave. I swear I can see his smile from up all the way up here.
Nearby, I hear a stadium employee chuckle. I settle into my seat to watch the rest of the tryout.
Afterward, I stay glued to my seat, figuring he’ll come and find me.
An hour later, a sweaty Jake, still in his Eagles uniform comes to give me a sticky, sweaty hug. I make him pose with me for a selfie. This is a first, a new football tradition for the two of us. I hope it’s good luck.
Then he leads me into the administration offices and drops me off in a beautiful waiting area with plenty of snacks and a little coffee bar. I give him a quick kiss. “I’m totally good here, see you later.”
Then I watch my football player walk away. What do you know? He does have a tight end.
Two coffees and a raspberry croissant later, Jake reemerges, changed, and showered and smiling. My stomach tightens for him as I remember that this is his last chance. “Well? What did they say?”
“Good news and bad news. Which do you want first?”
“The good news.”
He breaks into a broad grin. “I got the contract.”
I punch him in the arm. “Then what’s the bad news?”
“I start immediately. I’ll have to stay here in Philly.”
“I can’t stay, I have my practice.”
“I know,” he says, taking both of my hands. “I’d never ask you to give up your practice. But I’m not going to give you up, either.”
“What do you mean?”
“There’s a new clause in my contract. I get to fly home for the end of the Pirate Festival. I only get one night, but luckily the season will be over soon. Then I’m all yours.”
Epilogue
Angie
A week later Jake and I walk into Ocean Wave coffee hand in hand.
The barista gives us a cheerful smile. “Welcome back, you two.”
I get my Tropical Disturbance and Jake gets a Vanilla Latte.
We stroll outside to a little café table to sit in the sunshine. Jake noisily drags a chair over to stretch his legs out on. People walking by see him and me and do a double-take.
“How’s football?”
Jake grins. “You know. Busy but missing you. Can’t wait for the offseason.”
“I’m with you there.”
“How’s your clinic?”
“Same old,” I answer.
“Hey, can I ask you something? And you have to say yes.”
I take a quick sip of my coffee and look at him suspiciously. “What are you up to, Jake?”
“Just hear me out. Would you, Angie Houtz, please do me the honor of moving in with me?”
“Move in with you? You’re not even going to be living here for a few more months.”
He leans forward for a kiss. “Yeah, but I want to be living with you. Even when I’m not here.”
He looks pretty sure of himself. And his place is a lot nicer than mine.
He gives me a mischievous grin. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes,” I say, making up my mind.
“Thank goodness,” he says, “or else who would help me take care of Harley?”
“Harley?”
He turns his attention down the street where a woman is approaching walking the cutest Golden Retriever puppy I’ve ever seen.
“Here, Harley,” Jake calls.
The puppy nearly knocks the dog walker over trying to get to him.
“Thanks,” Jake tells the girl walking Harley, “I’ve got it from here.”
Harley kisses him and then turns his attention to me. “Hi, Harley.” I look up a Jake.
“Happy two-week anniversary, Angie. I love you.”
Harley is the cutest. I scoop him up and snuggle him on my lap.
A little while later Jake and I stroll over to Salt Life and grab a table overlooking the ocean.
Bill appears and delivers an order of mozzarella sticks to our little table, a huge smile on his face. I have no idea why. I’ve never seen Bill that happy. I feel like I missed something.
Then Bill mutters something about the appetizer being on the house and disappears again.
I give Jake a look. “What just happened?”
“He likes you,” Jake winks at me. “Bill’s a very smart guy.”
Then we watch as the pirate armada ships filling the sea disappear one by one, marking the end of the Pirate Festival.
About the Author
Elyse Riggs is a sassy, coffee loving geek who believes in happily ever afters. She also believes that a few drinks and an order of chips and salsa can solve pretty much any problem.
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