More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“I have fucking dreamed about this,” he pants against my lips. “About kissing you. About touching you. I don’t want it to stop.”
“I…” He shakes his head. “I cannot believe you’re here. I feel so fucking lucky.”
“You are…” He kisses my temple. “…the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and I will die a very happy man after getting to witness that.”
“It was the off-season. I was desperate to see you.”
“I don’t let people see my weaknesses either, Isaiah. But still you know all of them.”
“On the worst day of the year, I had two of the best days of my life.”
I motion Miller to lean across the kitchen counter, meeting me partway as I keep my voice low. “Do you think she likes me?”
Max waves goodbye at me, then to Kennedy before bringing his chubby little hand to his mouth and blowing a sloppy kiss her way. “Oh, come on!” I protest. “I’m right here, man!”
“I’ve been jealous over you for years, Ken. Couldn’t care less how old the guy is.”
There’s no denying it. I’m an absolute fool when it comes to this girl.
“Thank you for loving me. For loving Max. Thank you for coming home when you were ready. Thank you for making me laugh when I forget to and thank you for supporting my dreams all while chasing your own. You are the absolute light of my life, and I cannot believe I get to spend the rest of my days with you.”
“As much as I love this game, what I’ll miss most is sharing the field with you. Traveling with you. Spending every single day with you. How lucky am I that I got a best friend and a brother all at once? There are things no one else will understand besides us. Things we experienced, people we lost, and the entire time, our goal was to be here, in this league together. Well, we did it, little brother. You and me, and you were right. It feels good when you end it like this.”
That’s all he’s ever wanted.” My head jerks back. “What exactly did he want?” “A family. To settle down with one person. You know, all the domesticated shit I’m about to do.”
“You’ve got to understand, Ken, he was thirteen when our mom died. Then immediately after that, at the age he’s learning about relationships, every girl he ever had feelings for left him too. He’s a little fucked up because of it, and I don’t blame him. All the guy ever wanted was for someone to stay and love him back, but he never got that. He’s allowed to be jaded, and I’m allowed to hate Dean because of it.”
“Rhodes,” he says. “Her last name is Rhodes. Now get your fucking hands off my wife.”
“When I’m what, Kennedy?” His voice is loud and angry. “When I’m constantly thinking about you? When I’m trying my best just to get you to notice me? Or when I’m too busy not touching other women. Because I haven’t laid a finger on anyone other than you. Not once. And not just since we got married. I haven’t even looked at another woman since the day I found out you ended your engagement. I would’ve waited for you since the day I met you had I known you weren’t in love with your fiancé. For years, I thought you were happy with someone else. But I only found out ten months ago, Ken. For the
...more
“God.” His exhale is full of agony. “Why can’t you see it? Why can’t you see me?”
Because of me. Because he wants me. Because he wants me to want him.
It’s as if all this time together, I’ve been practicing to be good enough for someone to want me, and he’s been here all along, waiting.
“I’ll teach you how to be good, baby, but I’m sure as fuck not going to teach you for anyone else. I’m going to teach you how to be good for me.”
“I’ll always come back for more when it comes to you.”
I was a human pillow for Isaiah Rhodes, and I’ve never slept better.
“I wanted to.” She shakes her head. “I don’t know why. I don’t know when it changed. But you always tell me to do what feels good, and I’ve never felt better than when I’m with you.”
“You thought I was possessive before we fucked? I feel fucking unhinged now.”
“Really?” Miller asks. “I get really horny from tequila.” “Jesus, woman.” Kai shakes his head. “You’re a mother.”
“I remember every single thing about you, Kenny. In case you haven’t figured it out already, you’re my favorite subject to study.”
“You want to know my favorite part of the last couple months is, other than getting to fuck this cunt that was made for me? It’s getting to watch you come alive. You know that, Kenny?”
“The way you smile. The way you laugh now. Fuck, I could come just thinking about it.”
“It’s about time you get on your knees for me. I’ve spent the last three years on mine for you.”
For the first time in my life, it wasn’t hard to believe that someone could feel that way about me, because he had spent months showing me. His words were simply a reminder of what I already knew. Isaiah loves me.
“Because you’re worth more than how you’ve been treated the last three years, and I love you enough to make sure you know that. I love you enough to make sure you start living up to your potential.”
“You’ve never gotten a say in your own life, and the last thing I’m going to do is take that away from you again. Every option is yours, Kenny. Whatever you want to do, I will be your biggest supporter. But I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t allow you the space to fulfill your goals, to live up to everything you’ve worked so hard for.”
How lucky am I that I get to call him mine?
My sweet, sensitive husband. Words I never thought I’d use to describe him, but Isaiah’s soft edges are one of my favorite things about him.
“I love you,” I tell him, using the same words he found written on the signature line of our divorce papers. “It may have taken me a bit longer to allow myself to open my eyes and see it, but there’s no doubt in my mind that I love you. Every part of you. The parts you show everyone and the parts you show only me.”
“I have spent my entire life looking for validation, seeking attention, hoping for just a bit of acknowledgment that I exist, and you…” I shake my head. “You waltzed into my life and never left me alone.”
“You said I had a choice. And I choose to stay. I choose you, and I will continue to choose you every day after this one. There. Done. I made a choice, and it was the easiest decision I’ve ever made.”
“Thanks for marrying me, baby.” “It was the best mistake I ever made.”
“I did, though! I knew I could make you fall in love with me.” “You’re annoying.” She kisses me again. “But I’m glad you were persistent enough for the both of us.”
