“Yes. I’m nervous, sure, but I need to do this. Hunter would want me to,” I told him. I always believed Hunter would be there. We might not be able to see him, but he wouldn’t miss this. I was going to make him proud.
“Good girl,” Dad said as he reached over and squeezed my hand.
CHAPTER THREE
RYKER
When Aurora’s expression changed from one of enjoyment to tension, I knew it was time for us to leave. So much talking and visiting was wearing on her. I made our excuses and got her to the silence of the SUV.
“Thanks,” she said softly.
I leaned over and kissed her. “You’re welcome, but it was a little selfish on my part. I wanted you to myself.”
She laughed and kissed me once more before leaning back in her seat with a sigh. “They can get loud, can’t they?” she said.
“Oh yeah, but so can my bunch,” I replied.
We drove in silence, and I knew she needed it. Afterliving most of her life in her own world of silence, being overstimulated with noise could wear her down. Going back to my parents’ wasn’t going to be any better. My aunt and uncle were there, and I knew they’d all be drinking and eating the ridiculous amounts of food my momma had made today.
Instead I drove us to the back side of the Lee property, which had remained untouched. I hadn’t been back there in years, but there was a pond, and it would be a good spot to look up at the sky. When we drove past my parents’ house, she looked over at me but didn’t ask.
There were no clouds tonight, and it was unusually cool for May in the south. There was no chance of her getting cold, but she wouldn’t get hot, either. These were the rare nights that Alabama got in the spring that should be enjoyed.
When I parked the truck, I glanced over at her. “It’s quieter here. My house would have been just as noisy.”
“That sounds nice,” she said, then reached to open her door and climb out. I hurried around to make sure she didn’t trip over any branches, then let down the tailgate and picked her up to place her in the back of my father’s new Ford. She scooted back, and I climbed in beside her.
“It’s a clear night, and we can look at the stars. Only talk when you want to,” I told her.
She smiled so sweetly up at me, I felt that familiar possessive tug in my gut that only Aurora could do to me. The moonlight made her green eyes, which I’d been obsessed with since the moment I saw her in the entryway of Lawton High School, sparkle.
“You keep looking at me like that and I won’t be able to do more than gaze at your eyes. Those fucking stars don’t even compare.”
She laughed softly, then leaned over to lay her head on my chest. “You and your thing with my eyes,” she whispered.
“If our kids don’t all get your eyes, I’m going to need a refund,” I teased.
She laughed harder this time, then tilted her head back to look at me. “What if I want them to have your eyes?”
I sighed dramatically just to make her laugh more. “Fine. One can have my eyes, but that’s all I will accept.”
Aurora lifted her hand to touch my cheek. “Exactly how many kids are we going to have?”
I shrugged. “Depends. I want a girl with auburn curls and green eyes. We will have to keep trying until I get one.”
She grinned, then pressed her lips against mine in a chaste kiss. “I love you,” she whispered.
“And that makes me the luckiest damn man on the planet,” I said.
She eased back down and moved her hand to my chest. “You mean that, don’t you?” she asked.
“You shouldn’t have to ask me that. You should know it.”
Aurora tilted her head to the side, and her curls fell over her shoulder. Nothing was more beautiful than this woman. “But you have women, sexy, gorgeous women, throw themselves at you. I’ve seen them try. I know when I can’t be at a game that it happens probably more so.”
I didn’t like this conversation. I shifted my body toward her and took her face in my hands so I had her complete attention. Sure, most of my teammates had a different girl in their beds every weekend. If I was being honest, they had several different girls in their beds every weekend. But I wasn’t like them. I wasn’t searching for something to fill that part of me.
“There is no one more beautiful than you. Everything about you since the moment I saw you has drawn me in. It took one week with you to change me for life. They can’t do that. They are just faces. I see nothing there. No pull. All I know is when I step off that field you are waiting on me, and I can’t fucking wait to be with you.” I stopped talking and took her hand, then placed it over my heart. “This is yours. Always will be.”