“Alright, alright,” he said, holding up his other hand. “No more questions. You can read all about it in our book.” He looked down at me then. “If we ever stop kissing long enough to write it.”

Riley blew out a loud whistle as Clay swept me up in his arms, kissing me to another bellow of applause before he was carrying me through the crowd and out the door. Cameras and crew tried to follow us, but Riley and Zeke held them off — along with Charlotte, who turned and crossed her arms once we’d shut the door that led into the team hallway.

“Oh God,” I said, scrambling out of Clay’s arms. “Charlotte, I’m so sorry. I—”

“Sorry?” she asked, severe, and then a slow smile spread on her face. “For what? Making us the headline?”

I blinked. “I…uh…”

“It’s fine,” she said, begrudgingly, before she turned and pointed at Clay. “But don’t ever pull that shit again. And you both owe me an interview with the reporter of my choosing. A long one.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Clay answered.

Charlotte smirked, waving a hand at me as she clicked by in her high heels. “Go get a room, you two, before you make us all sick.”

I hid my face in Clay’s chest again, and then he used his knuckles to tilt my chin, wrapping me in his arms before he turned to face Zeke and Riley.

“Thanks for helping me pull my head out of my ass,” he said.

Zeke put his arm around Riley. “Anytime, bro.”

“You two were in on this?” I asked, pointing between them.

“Duh,” Riley answered. “Although, don’t blame those stick figures on me. I offered to help sketch and he refused.”

“My stick figures are a masterpiece,” Clay said, holding his head high.

Riley and I exchanged looks before all four of us burst into laughter.

“I can’t believe you did that,” I said, shaking my head as I looked up at Clay. My heart beat faster when I did, when I realized his arms were around me and we were together.

Together.

“I can’t believe you’re giving me the chance to explain,” he countered.

“Speaking of which, we’ll leave you to it,” Zeke said, and he and Riley gave a wave of their fingers before disappearing down the hall, leaving me and Clay alone.

I turned in his arms, fingers crawling up his chest before I hooked them behind his neck. “Is this real?” I asked, chest pained at the thought that I was dreaming.

Clay swallowed, nodded, and pulled me into him. “I’m sorry I ever made you doubt my feelings for you. I’m sorry I hurt you the way I did.”

“I knew you didn’t want to.”

“I know,” he said, shaking his head. “Which is crazy, by the way. How did you know?”