My arms are around her waist, and I lift her off her feet. “We’re just getting started.”
EPILOGUE
Melody
“Ican’t tell you what an honor it is to have you here on the show, Mr. Dunne.” Knox’s uncle Logan sits at the head of a long table with my dad, Knox, three of his uncles, Austin, Edward, and me.
It’s a crazy-big group of men, but theThunder & Lightningsports show is grassroots. Knox’s two uncles started it as a small-town radio show, and now it’s a full-blown YouTube channel that rivals the league’s three stations. We’re hoping maybe to join forces if they’ll have us.
Knox says it’s in the bag.
“Please call me Scout,” Dad says with a laugh. “Mr. Dunne is my father, and as much as we’ve tried, we just don’t seem to get along very well.”
I look down, biting my lip at that deflection. My grandfather is a piece of work to say the least.
“Enough said.” Uncle Logan gives him a grimace, shifting in his chair. “Been there.”
“Man, I can’t tell you what a thrill this is for me, Scout.” Knox’s giant uncle Garrett stretches out a hand. “I remember watching you on the field, and you were literally incredible. You never missed a pass. Even the stinkers!”
“I’ll tell you a little secret.” Dad glances at me, and I know what’s coming. “This little lady here broke my streak. Talk about throwing stinkers. Then she said I wasn’t very good at the game.”
“I was three!” My voice goes high, and my cheeks are bright red.
“Let me guess,” Knox jumps in, taking my hand in his. “Crotch shots and worm burners?”
“She could get a good spiral on it, but not much hang time.”
“She’s a ball-buster, all right.” Uncle Logan is back in the lead. “Not gonna lie, it wasn’t easy listening to her rake our boy over the coals every week.”
“I think it was pretty badass,” Austin cuts in, sounding as easy with this intimidating group as Knox is. “She knows her stuff.”
My cheeks are still warm, but I know how to defend myself. “Knox liked it.”
“I’d have liked it even more if you’d told me before the games,” he cracks, and the guys all make concurring sounds.
“I told you then, I’m not your coach,” I reply, lifting my chin.
“Melody has never worried about speaking her mind.” Dad gives me a wink. “She got her mamma’s brains, but she got my love of the game.”
Austin’s back on his mic. “Have you ever considered coaching, QP?”
“Are you hiring?” I tease. “No, I’ve got enough on my plate at the moment.”
“Sports fans will be excited to hear our very own K-Bradand QP are engaged,” Uncle Logan notes. “We’re excited to see what’s up next for this dynamite duo.”
“Congrats and well-wishes.” Uncle Zane adds to the teasing tone. “We’re not sure who needs it more.”
The show wraps with chat about draft picks and what they’ll be watching for in the upcoming season. Austin and Edward give the high school football report, which Knox’s dad used to do when he was the head coach at Newhope High.
The entire show lasts almost two hours, and by the time we sign off, this big group of men truly do feel like family. It’s also a Dare Night, which means from here, we’re going straight to Cooters & Shooters for burning-hot chicken nuggets and a rave.
Knox catches my hand, pulling me into his side. “See what it’s like growing up in all of this?”
“It looks like a lot of fun.” I tilt my head back, reaching up to put my palm against his cheek. “You’re something special, Knox Bradford.”
I finally confessed to stealing the poem he wrote for me. Lying in bed after our post-proposal, newly engaged sex, I quoted the verses from memory to him.
“You upend me like a riptide carrying me out to sea.