“I’m sorry for what happened in my office. I shouldn’t have tried to manipulate your personal life. You’re right. I have no place dictating who you get involved with… as long as your play doesn’t suffer. Since you seem to have worked out whatever was affecting you, I need you suited up and ready to start.”

Unbelievable. Now he wanted to do this. He’d let me sweat the last few practices, and when I called his bluff, he caved. Fuck him.

I shook my head. “I have to take care of something first.”

His brows shot to his receding hairline, but he didn’t stop me as I turned and jogged to the stairs.

Nadia hadn’t moved, but she must have been watching. A frown wrinkled her brow until I passed the gate with a wink from the guard. Her gaze locked on mine, and her face smoothed. She stood as I climbed the stairs, and I finally noticed what I hadn’t before. My jersey. She was wearing my jersey. A tiny smile played at her lips.

She met me at the top, her fingers worrying the edge of the fabric that fell to nearly mid-thigh.

“I’m—”

I didn’t give her the chance to finish. My mouth crashed down onto hers. I kissed her with all the love I had for her, and the world disappeared. Her hands clutched at my uniform, and she met me with her own wild desperation until we were both gasping for breath.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered against my lips. “I broke the promise I made to come to you but being away from you made me miserable. I get that you’re in this for real. I was afraid to trust that before, afraid to trust you, but I’m not going to let my fears stop me anymore. Now, I’m going to come to you first, always, and believe that you won’t hurt me.”

I ran the tip of my nose along hers, and her hand cupped my jaw. “I will do everything in my power to keep from hurting you. I’m sorry too. I should have been clearer with Coach instead of trying to play his game. He set us up, and we fell right into his trap. But we’re stronger than that. He can’t tear us apart unless we let him.”

“What did he say just now?” She nodded to Coach, who waited on the field, pretending to consult his clipboard.

“He apologized and said he wanted me to start.”

Nadia jerked back to stare at me with wide eyes. “And you immediately left the field to come up here?”

“Yes, because if you need me to sit for this game to prove you’re more important to me than football, I will. I never want you to doubt my feelings for you. Say the word, Em, and I’m here.”