Page 143 of Broken Saint

Tucking me into his side, I get my first chance to look at the two men who helped make college life as epic as it was.

They both look the same. Their eyes are just as kind, their smiles still as genuine as ever. But their bodies…

Sure, I’ve seen them in the media and stalked their socials over the years, but nothing could prepare me for the change in both of them.

They’re no longer college football players. They are fully-fledged members of the NFL. They’re Chicago Chiefs, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.

“Are you sure, El?” West asks, looking between me and his older brother. “There’s still time to admit you chose the wrong one.”

“Shut up, you fucking asshole,” Colt says, his grip on me tightening.

“Drinks!” Letty calls before she appears before me with a delicious-looking cocktail.

“What’s this?” I ask, accepting the peach-colored drink from her, my eyes taking in the flowers floating on top.

“Pornstar martini. The best in the state.”

One second, she’s standing in front of me, waiting for me to try it, and the next she squeals in excitement and rushes to the entrance of the restaurant when two figures emerge.

“Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in,” Luca mocks as Leon and Macie both hug Letty.

My eyes lock with both of them briefly, and the final piece of my previously messy puzzle slots into place.

This is it.

This is what I’ve been looking for all this time.

Home.

I’ve found my home.

37

COLTON

Chatter and laughter fill the air as I sit quietly with my arm possessively around Ella's shoulders.

She throws her head back and laughs at something my idiot of a brother says, and it sends a rush of warmth through my body.

Seeing someone so happy, so relaxed and so comfortable in their surroundings has never affected me before. But from the moment I saw her standing here with our friends surrounding us, her happiness and excitement bled into me. Not that I was unhappy before. I’ve been looking forward to tonight for a long time. It’s not very often we get the chance to have everyone together, so we need to make the most of it while we can.

When the game dates were announced, I knew that Letty, Peyton, and Macie would have been full steam ahead with the planning.

I could only have dreamed about this back then, though.

Every time we’ve been together since Kane, West and Brax joined the league, there’s always been someone missing. A very obvious gap in our group.

But tonight? She’s here.

And she’s not just here, she’s sitting beside me with her hand wrapped around my thigh, squeezing gently every few seconds. I’m not sure if she feels the need to remind me that she’s there—as if I could forget—or if it’s a move for herself. Whatever it is, I never want it to stop.

“Colt,” Brax shouts. “What do you think?”

Dragging my head from thoughts of my woman, I turn to look at him.

I have no idea what kind of expression is on my face, but everyone on the other side of the table falls about laughing.

“What?” I ask. “What did I do?”