Fair Catch

by Kandi Steiner

“Stay out of my way unless you’re catching the ball I’m kicking,”

Period

And I was determined to help her see that, no matter how the odds were stacked.

“Every time you fight a battle for me, you make me look weaker.”

You were already planning to fail tonight, because life has taught you that any time things are going great, the other shoe will drop and everything will crash down around you. And I know that you put so much goddamn pressure on yourself to be perfect that the outcome has become your identity.”

I’d never felt my heart beat like that before, never felt that… possessive.

and I’d have to fight the urge to run next door to her room and crawl into bed behind her, hugging her to my chest.

Like he thought I was beautiful.

And then his mouth claimed mine in a kiss of thunder that beckoned the storm inside me to rage.

I closed the space between us with three long strides, launching myself into his arms.

This is giving Bridgerton

as he inhaled that next kiss like a man who’d been underwater for years and I was the surface.

“Because I am scarred by the fire you started in me. Because you have reduced me to fucking ashes.”

“Because I ache for you,”

“And I’ll end anyone who touches what’s mine.”

All I could think about was how she was mine, whether she knew it or not.

All it took was a look, a bashful smile, a gentle touch as she passed me, and the clouds would clear, along with my head. I’d be okay again.

I was addicted.

Right now, I had her.

I wanted to take her to every museum in the world just to see her this way forever.

To me, she was the art more than the portrait that held her attention.

“You can open a little burst of art to remind you.”

Wow

“I don’t want to pretend that I’m not yours in every way there is to belong to someone, that I don’t yearn for you to be mine in the same way. I don’t want to hide.

We wanted to be together. And in the deepest part of my soul, I truly felt that was enough, that we could make it, that we’d find a way to make it work

To make her believe me when I swore I didn’t mean to hurt her, that I was sorry, that I would do anything to make it up to her.

Team Zeke

She was everywhere, inking herself into my skin like a tattoo.

Even if I did run, I’d never be able to run far enough to forget her.

held on like I was her lifeline.

And I don’t expect to ever have the chance to hold your heart in my hands again. But I need you to know this,” I said, stepping toward her. “You hold mine. You own mine. For now, forever, regardless of what happens next. And even if you hate me for the rest of your life, I need you to know that I love you.”

“And I believe in you,”

“You can forgive. Forgive, and understand that we’re human. We’re not perfect. And one day when you make a mistake, you’ll want someone to afford you the same grace.”

“Give them hell, Mighty Mouse,”

Zeke <3

“But I can promise you that I will show up for you, every day, and work to be a better person for you. To be the person you see in me that I can’t just yet.”

“And I believe in you. You can do this.”

I need me a Zeke today

I know how hard it is to be a young woman, period. But to be the only young woman on a team of young men, to face the pressure and scrutiny that you have, and to have handled it with the poise you did?” He shook his head. “That took real guts. And real grit. And it’s been an honor to be your coach this season.” Riley’s

“And we, team, are a family. I want you to look around right now, at every guy and girl in this room, and remember that. Fight to protect that. Always.”