Page 148 of Off Limits
Then I see her. My Serenity, walking through them toward me, ushered by her friend Jewel, the women of the CMC all offering her their support. She’s been wearing a Mutineers hat, but she’s taking it off.
‘How the hell did you get in here?’ Samantha Conway roars in her direction.
‘I let her in, Mom,’ another voice says, and everybody looks to the left, where Lemon steps forward. I smile at her, because none of this could have been done without my fake-date’s unwavering support.
Samantha Conway glares at her daughter, incensed. ‘You and I are gonna have words.’
Lemon crosses her arms over her chest. I sense that she’s never felt more confident than she does today. ‘Focus, Mom. Players out on the field, remember?’
‘Well go on, then,’ Sam Conway blurts at me, hands on her hips. ‘Clock’s ticking.’
‘I haven’t asked her father. And I don’t have a ring.’
‘I got one,’ Harmony says to my right, and begins twisting a ring off her finger.
She hands it to me. I glance down at the delicate, slender, silver band in my palm.
I look back at Serenity, then to Samantha Conway.
‘No,’ I say, and there are horrified gasps among all the cheerleaders. I look at all of them, pleading. ‘No, no, I don’t mean,no,’ I stutter, then fix my eyes on Samantha Conway’s impatient face. ‘What I mean is, I’m not asking Serenity to marry me becauseyouwant me to. I’m gonna ask her because Iwantto ask her.’ Then I look back to Serenity, and there’s still a smile dancing across her lips. ‘Just so we’re clear on that. Because I’ve never wanted anything more.’
Dalt Briar takes my helmet from me, and I drop to one knee. Behind Serenity, several of the cheerleaders let out a squeal. Even some of my teammates give a cheer.
‘Alright, pipe down, all o’ yous!’ Hud Briar hollers, and other than the crowd in the stadium above our heads chanting for the Mutineers to make an appearance, there’s silence. Harmony gives him a nod of approval, and he winks back.
I look up at Serenity. Her emerald eyes are sparkling with the tears I can tell she’s holding back. I hold up the ring.
‘Serenity Harper,’ I address her. ‘Light of my life. You’ve captured me, I’m yours forever, if you’ll have me. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?’
In the moments after, she bites her lip. The tears spill over, and she gives a small but enthusiastic nod of her head. ‘Yes,’ she manages. ‘It’s a definite yes.’
I lose track of what happens next. I slide the ring onto her finger and everyone around us bursts into cheers and applause. I suspect that for Samantha Conway it’s more of a slow clap, but she’s not the one I’m paying attention to. I get to my feet and wrap Serenity in my arms, and when my lips meet hers, she kisses me back with an eagerness that makes my heart swell. She’s spent her whole young life looking after other people, and now I get to look after her, until the day I draw my last breath.
When we pull back, I rest my forehead against hers. The applause is still going, along with some high fives.
‘Thank you,’ she whispers. ‘Thank you for everything.’
‘You’re worth it. I would have given all of this up for you.’
The look she gives me is full of love. I want to stay in this moment forever, but it’s splintered by Coach Holland’s voice, rising above all the others. ‘Alright, that’s enough romance for one day, now can we please get on thefuckingfield?’
There’s laughter. Whooping. The sound of forty-six honed athletes, raring to play.
‘Go get ’em,’ Serenity says to me, and grants me one more kiss. ‘I’ll be here when you get back.’
Overtime
Serenity
‘You know, one day, you’re gonna have to quit looking at it.’
It’s a Friday night. Above our heads are pretty fairy lights. I’m dressed in a long, silk slip dress. Jake is looking suave in a tux, his arm wrapped around my waist.
I lean into him. ‘I am never gonna stop looking at it,’ I sigh over the music, holding up my left hand as it cuts across a shaft of light from the dance floor.
‘Purple looks good on you,’ he says with a smile, stroking the fabric of my dress.
We’re one of several couples chaperoning River’s winter formal at her high school gym, and in accordance with River’s strict instructions, we’re keeping a low profile, tucked into the shadows behind the drinks table.
