The Game (That Girl, #2)(61)

I can’t help but smile. Levi twirls us around, pressing me up against the stage. He begins to kiss me so hard his lips hurt mine with their hunger. Flashes invade our moment, and soon microphones are in our faces. I let Levi do all the talking. While he’s talking, I feel his hand go down to my belly and rub it.

As soon as the reporters are gone, he turns to me. “What’s this? I thought I felt something when I was pressed against you.”

I can only smile. “It’s your baby.”

This time it’s Levi whose knees start knocking, and I can tell his head is spinning. Rusty grabs him by the elbow to steady him. The perks of having a wingman.

“My what?”

“Your baby.”

“You’re pregnant.”

“Well, yes, that’s how it works, Levi.”

“Motherf*cker.”

I lean in to his ear. “I have to be honest. I almost didn’t keep it. I found out after you left.”

“Motherf*cker,” he says a little louder, followed by, “Holy shit, I’m going to be a dad.”

Levi drops down to his knees, twists his floral cap on backward, raises my jersey, and places his lips on my belly. Insane amounts of flashes go off as hundreds of cameras capture this moment.

Levi looks up me. “I f*cking love you, Jazzy.”

That’s one thing I’ll never get tired of hearing my Number Eleven say.

I spot his dad standing directly behind Levi, readying himself to approach him and causing my mood to instantly tense up.

“Son.” If possible, his dad looks even more like Levi today decked out in Dallas gear.

Levi stands at the sound, turns, and hugs his dad, burying his face. His dad’s expression is visible from my side, and tears are running down his cheeks.

I can barely hear Levi’s voice through all the fireworks and cannons going off. Dark blue and silver confetti fall from the sky as I listen to the most beautiful words ever spoken.

“I love you, Dad. I mean it, and thanks for everything. I know you only wanted the best for me. Thanks.”

Proof happy endings really do exist.





Epilogue





Jazzy

I’m wearing beige. Beige is just a color. It’s not white, not near enough to be colored a rich hue. It’s just beige. Am I a bad person? No. Did I wait to have sex with my husband until after marriage? No. Am I proud of who I am? Damn right, I am. Levi taught me to forgive myself, to love myself, and above all, he has loved me like I deserve to be. He saved me. I saved him, and we saved us.

In life, it seems there always needs to be a winner and a loser. It’s a competitive world where the weak are eaten alive and forgotten. But what happens when two people don’t give up? They’ve been labeled as losers, second best, broken, and no good for each other. What happens when those two don’t give up after they face loss after loss? The Game happens. Levi happens. My happily ever after happens. My beginning and end happen with Number Eleven.





Final Down - Fourth Quarter


Levi has truly outdone himself. I could have guessed our wedding venue, the pond. Our fishing hole. Simple decorations touch everything. The few chairs for friends and family line the shore. A tent and a dance floor make me smile. And yes, I’m proudly wearing my beige. My dream wedding dress hugs my bump perfectly.

My sister stands with my whole future. Lincoln, Levi, and the little bastard we call Killer. Yes, Levi bought a tux and dressed him up for our special day. With each step I take, I send up a thought of thanks. Thanks to every single event and person who has shaped my life.

Step one: I’m so thankful I grew up next to Lynlee. Step two: Dad, I have no words. You were my everything for years. Step three: Pain—it takes pain to create beauty. Step four: Lincoln, thanks for loving Lynlee. Step five: Those hands, the ones that have touched deep in my soul. Step six: Life is good.

The tears start to threaten with each memory and silent thankful vow. My life is so beautiful, I can’t go on. I can’t go on without beginning to bawl, so I quicken the pace. When I finally reach Levi, I have full streams of tears rolling down my face.

“Levi, I love you.”

I’m not sure if it’s the pregnancy hormones or the realization dawning on me that I’m getting married today.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

I can only manage to nod.

“Come here, baby.”

Levi grabs me, pulling me into him.

His hands, the ones I vow to love forever, hold me without care or worry.

“Can we get this started?”

We both giggle at the pastor’s words, as do our guests.

The next words the pastor speaks are a sweet love song stitched perfectly together.

Levi wanted to write his own vows. He said everything else in his life has been scripted for him, and from this point on he’s doing his own writing.

“Jazzy, since the day you walked into my life, everything I knew to be true was turned upside down. You initially won me over with your beautiful blonde hair, and, well, you know.” Levi stops and gestures at my chest.

I send him a look of warning and wonder how many details Levi is planning on divulging in front of everyone.

“We’ve seen each other at our worst and best. My heart has loved you through it all, Jazzy, and I’ll never leave your side. You’re mine forever. I have four championship rings, five MVP titles, and all of them mean nothing to me without you. I’d trade it all in to relive our afternoon on the dock, eating chocolate cinnamon little bastards, and finding Killer. I’d give it all away to see that smile on your face the first time we connected. To me, that is the sole reason I was put on this earth. To love you, Jazzy. You made me see things differently.” Levi pauses for a moment, searching the crowd. When his eyes land on his dad, he continues with his vows.