The Striker (Gods of the Game, #1)

by Ana Huang

I have to commend you on achieving something that I thought was impossible.” “What’s that?” “Making me like someone with the last name DuBois.” I rolled my eyes even as I fought an exasperated laugh. “You are an incorrigible flirt.” “Flirt? Yes. Incorrigible? That’s a matter of opinion.”

“Before you say anything else, this…” I gestured between us. “Ends now.” Amusement slid across his infuriatingly perfect face. “What’s this?” “The flirting. It’s unprofessional.” “I’m afraid flirting is part of my nature, darling.”

“You’re early.” She didn’t move from her spot near the barre, nor did I move from the doorway. “I’m just that type of student.” “You mean a teacher’s pet?” “Darling, if you want to call me pet, I won’t stop you.”

She blushed so easily. It was adorable, especially when it contradicted the words coming out of her mouth.

“I think you’re capable of more than you give yourself credit for,” I said. “But at the end of the day, you have to ask yourself what you’d regret more—trying and failing, or not trying at all?”

“Then we’re official.” “Just like that.” “Just like that.” I looked at her, this beautiful, incredible woman whom I never would’ve expected would turn my world upside down, and marveled that she was mine.

“We all have ugly feelings sometimes. It’s a part of human nature. But it’s what we do with them that counts.”

Plus, if there was one thing I’d learned over the past four months, it was the importance of showing grace—both to myself and to others.

We couldn’t change the past. We could only shape the future, and I wanted a future with him. Together.

“I said I love you more than anything else in the universe, including Pluto,” he corrected teasingly. “Don’t dilute the poetry of my words.”

Scarlett laughed. “You are one of a kind, Asher Donovan.” She stood on tiptoes and gave me a soft kiss. “I love you.” “I love you, too.” I kissed her back, my heart giving a heavy thump of agreement. “More than anything else in this world.”