Saving Us by Wendy Million
Epilogue
Itook the photo from Sebastian and placed it on the mantle. “I think it should go there.” We’d moved into our apartment two weeks ago, and we were still unpacking boxes. Sebastian’s stuff might fit into the rear of an SUV, but mine had taken a couple of trucks. Finding a place for each of my things was starting to make me feel guilty.
“I don’t need my family picture on the mantle.” He shook his head and snatched it back. “A spare room or back in the box…or anywhere but there.”
“But my stuff is everywhere. You’ll make me seem like a space hog.”
“I’m glad your stuff is everywhere. It makes me happy every time I realize we’re doing this.”
I grabbed his shirt and yanked him closer. “So, roomie, when is practice?”
“You haven’t memorized my schedule?” He feigned hurt and kissed me.
“Well, the new coach set up a different routine. I learned the last one under protest.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him again, deeper.
When we broke apart, he said, “I’m glad Annika has Kristy. I would’ve felt bad moving in together otherwise.”
“It all worked out.”
Sebastian frowned. “Johnny’s sentence still pisses me off.”
I shrugged and grimaced. At the closest box, I grabbed more things for our shelves. “He got lucky with his judge. A good old boy who still believes sports figures are gods. Someone who figures a coach can make a player do something he doesn’t want to do.”
“We’ve talked about it before, but anyone who heard Annika’s testimony and didn’t crucify him—”
“I know.” I shook my head. “Trust me, I know.”
“Out in six months,” Sebastian said.
We’d gone to the courtroom every day in solidarity for Annika. He’d pleaded down his assault on me to a misdemeanor. He’d had a spare key, and I hadn’t been seriously injured. Mentioning the plea only sent Sebastian into a ranting tailspin. I hoped the two of them never met in a dark alley.
After watching the trial, I realized becoming a lawyer and a judge would be the best route for me to make a difference in the world. The judge’s treatment of Annika, Johnny, and the case, in general, had been enough to send me to kickboxing classes twice a day for the duration. Another person on the bench instead of that man would have led to a better outcome.
The ruling made me so angry.
The one great shining light in this was Sebastian. I wasn’t sure how we managed to make it here, but I was pretty damn glad we had.
“The guys on the team are treating you okay, now?” I was almost afraid to broach the subject again.
Theo and Jeff’s involvement had fractured the team. A lot of the players who were loyal to Johnny graduated, taking their rage at Sebastian and Troy with them. But there were still a few, like Malcolm who’d posted that video of Sebastian, who enjoyed pushing his buttons. I wasn’t sure how smooth this year would be for him on the field. He’d told me more than once that the best teams in history often had decent camaraderie on and off the field. The new coach had his work cut out for him.
“We’ll be cool, Nattie. It’s gonna take time.”
I abandoned my sorting. “You’ll persevere the hell out of them?”
He laughed, linking our hands together and tugging me into his chest. “I’ve got mad perseverance skills.”
“Where else have you got skills?” I raised my eyebrows.
His grin spread wider and then disappeared in favor of my favorite half smile. “Oh, a few places.”
“I may need to perform quality control. An inspection.” I walked backward toward the bedroom, holding his hand. With my free hand, I gripped the bottom of his shirt.
“You’ll have to tell me if my skills are first-down worthy.” He slid my shirt over my head.
“You might even score a touchdown.” I laughed while I dragged him onto the bed with me.
“Look at you with the football terms.”
“What can I say?” I murmured against his lips. “I love a guy who prances around in tight pants.”
“Just one?”
“Just you.”
