Page 80 of Lawson

“I’m humbly aware of that,” I say, thinking about my team. “But we've just found a groove together, and I'm not naive enough to think that trades aren't going to happen, but for now, this is where I belong.”

I belonged with my team, belonged with Blakely, and I never thought I would say that.

“I respect that,” he says. “If you ever start to think differently, don't hesitate to reach out.”

We spend the rest of dinner talking about how much I love the Sharks and how I'm really going to hate beating them when we face off against them in a month. He's a good sport about it, laughing and covering the check before we part ways.

And instead of taking the road that will take me home, I head straight to Blakely’s place even though it's past ten and she's probably already curled up in bed.

She answers my text within seconds, opening her door with a hopeful look on her face as she stares up at me.

Her long blonde hair is a little bit messy, her PJ’s clinging to her supple body in a way that has my blood heating. This feels a lot like deja vu, from the last time I was here, but now I know everything.

“How did your meeting go?” she asks as she lets me into her apartment, and closes the door behind me

“It was everything I've ever wanted to hear,” I admit.

Her shoulders drop, but she forces a strong smile on her face. “So you'll become a Shark now,” she says. “That's great. That's been your dream since you were a kid.”

I take a few steps toward her, tipping her chin up from where she’s dropped her eyes to the floor. She looks up at me, and everything feels aligned in my world in a way it never has before.

“I'm a Badger, damsel,” I say, inching my lips toward hers. “I'm not going anywhere.”

“But you love the Sharks,” she says.

“I also love you,” I say, and the act of saying it is somewhat freeing.

“Lawson, I love you too. So much. I don't want to be the reason you're staying?—”

“You areareason, you are notthereason,” I explain. “The fact that you’re willing to pack your bags and go to Seattle with me means more to me than you'll ever know, but you have family here, you have a life here. Not only with your father but with your friends, andmyfriends. And I’ve found a family here too in this team. I know trades are inevitable, but if I have the option to stay here, I'm staying.”

Her eyes water, but her smile is bright as she throws her arms around me.

I catch her easily, hauling her up to my level, her ankles locking behind my back. Our mouths meet in a passionate kiss that shakes loose any darkness clinging to my heart from our fight before.

“No more secrets,” I say against her mouth.

“Never again,” she says.

CHAPTER 19

BLAKELY

The Queen’sRumis packed with the entire Badgers team and half of its staff, the New Year's Eve party in full swing, everyone dressed to the nines to celebrate.

Lawson is looking downright edible in an all-black suit with just a pop of color as he wears a hot-pink tie. His hair is tousled in that way that makes it look like I've been running my fingers through it all night, and that notion isn't too far off. We’ve practically been inseparable since our reconciliation, and I have no intentions of ever being apart from him that much ever again.

“To the Badgers,” Monroe says where me and Reese and Hadley—Nash’s little sister who finally tore herself away from her college schedule to hang with us—sit at a little round table that we claimed as ours early in the night.

We raise our drinks and echo her sentiment before clinking them together and taking fast sips.

Pax saunters up to our table, looking quite dapper in a dark navy-blue suit as he reaches out his hand toward Monroe. “They're playing your favorite song,” he says. “Let's go dance.” Monroe takes his hand without hesitation, waving and smiling at us before heading off with her other best friend.

Hadley is looking down at her phone, typing furiously and looking more concentrated than anyone should ever look on New Year's Eve.

“What are you working on?” I ask.

She looks up from her phone. “It's a last-minute assignment. I'm just trying to turn it in on the portal.”