Chapter 30

People-watching at a soccer game is on another level.

The stadium is packed. It’s a sold-out event, which, according to Pa beside me, has everything to do with Olly being back on the field.

Olly’s Ma and Pa are everything he described them to be. Ma is a doting mother always worrying about her son but not too overbearing which would drive him nuts.

Pa is every bit the man Olly said he is—strong, opinionated, and has the biggest heart. He loves to talk, and one thing always stands out—he’s damn proud of his only son. His exact words.

We met for lunch a few days ago, and according to Olly, they instantly fell in love with me. Meeting them sealed the deal, and if possible, it made me fall in love with him even more.

Our seats are right up in front, amongst other family members of the team.

The atmosphere is electrifying and tense, the music blaring through the speakers, intensifying as the minutes count down.

According to Pa, the away supporters are segregated to one corner of the stadium. There are not as many of them, yet both groups of supporters are vociferous in supporting their respective team.

The next ninety minutes is the most intense ninety minutes of my life.

Olly is on fire.

Pa is fixated on the game, so every few minutes Ma explains to me exactly what’s happening. It’s all fast and furious, action-packed with drama and tension. There are near-misses, penalty shots, and undeserved abuse hurled at the referee.

By the last five minutes, I’ve almost bitten off all my nails. The crowd is just as anxious, glued to the field or big screen. The time is ticking over, and just when we think it’s ending in a draw, Olly takes the ball off another player, gets past the last defender, and kicks it straight into the goal.

The crowd jumps in glory. I squeal in delight, clapping my hands and watching Olly’s teammates pounce on him in celebration. I’m so incredibly proud of him and had no idea how intense a game of soccer could feel.

The second they jump off him, his eyes scan the crowd until they gaze upon mine. He begins to walk toward me until a flock of reporters stop to interview him.

“Would you look at my boy?” Pa gloats with the proudest grin on his face. “Always knew he would bounce back. Just needed to find his feet again.”

Ma wraps her arm around me, placing her hand on my shoulder and bringing me in for a hug. “And find a reason to smile every day.”

I lean my head on her hand, welcoming the sentiment. It’s weird how someone I’ve known for just a few days, feels like family already.

Inside my pocket, my phone begins to vibrate. I pull it out, and there’s an incoming FaceTime call from Lana.

I answer the call with enthusiasm. “Hey!”

Both Lana and Sebastian appear on the screen, grinning like fools. Just like me, they are proud of Olly. Sebastian told Olly he would stream the game since they couldn’t be here.

“Did you guys see Olly? He killed it!”

Sebastian nods in agreement and begins talking about the game, but it’s hard to hear him over the crowd noise. Beside him, Lana cannot wipe the grin off her face. She looks like she’s ready to burst with a surprise, and part of me wonders if she’s pregnant again. It wouldn’t shock me, Olly wasn’t wrong when he said noise cancelling headphones were a must while living with them.

Olly is leaning on the fence in front of me, drenched in sweat, his face red with a satisfied smile.

I turn the phone around, giving Sebastian and Lana a moment to say hello.

“Hey, listen, guys, I’m going to go?—”

“No, don’t go! Just hand the phone over to Ma,” Lana demands.

What has gotten into her?

I pass the phone to Ma, shrugging my shoulders. I knew they met during their stay in Sydney, so I assume she wants to say hi.

With my full focus on Olly, I’m well aware fans have gathered around, desperate to grab an autograph and take a selfie. I lean over the fence, wrapping my hands around his neck and bringing him in for a long-awaited kiss.

“I’m so proud of you,” I say, rubbing my nose against his. “You looked so happy in your element.”

“Do you know what would make me even happier?”

Tilting my head to the side, my slack expression stares back at him with curiosity.

His hands run down my arms, ending with them nestled into my own. With a glorious smile, he drops down on one knee, watching me steadily.

Oh. My. God. This can’t be happening.

Ma hands him a navy-blue box, and quickly thanking her, he perches it in the middle of his palm.

Yep, it is happening.

I can feel my heartbeat, every single pound in my chest. It’s louder than the crowd around us, rapid and relentless, making it impossible to breathe. But the reason it’s hammering within my chest is because of the man standing in front of me.

My love.

My best friend.

My soulmate.

“Everyone is watching us,” I whisper, unable to hide my nerves.

“The whole world needs to know you’re mine.” Olly clears his throat, biting on his bottom lip with slight nervousness until the corners of his mouth turn upward. “Gabriella, from the moment I saw you, I knew you weren’t like anyone else. You challenge me, make me a better person, and most importantly, you are my best friend.”

I bring my hand toward my chest as Olly snaps the box open, and inside, buried in the matching navy cushion, sits a platinum square-cut diamond ring. It’s breathtaking.

“I love you. No matter how much I’ve tried to stop loving you over the past year, it proved impossible. You are the air I breathe, and without you, I don’t know how to exist. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Without hesitation, I repeatedly nod, unbeknown the tears have fallen down my cheeks—tears of pure joy.

The crowd erupts into loud applause, many whistling as Olly removes the ring from the box and slides it on my shaky finger. My brain stutters for a moment as my eyes admire the diamond ring, every part of me on pause while my thoughts catch up.

I raise my eyes to meet his gaze. “It’s perfect.”

“Just like you.”

His lips brush mine. Not innocently like a tease, but hot, fiery, passionate, and demanding. I want to pull away before I lose myself in front of the crowd watching us, including his family, but savoring this moment means so much more than other people’s opinions.

As we slowly pull away from each other, Ma hands me back my phone, but not without the biggest hug, welcoming me to their family.

“You’ve made my son the happiest he’s ever been.” She beams with pride.

Even Pa pulls me in for an embrace. “Got me another daughter, eh?”

All of a sudden, I hear, “Hello, Gabbie… Gabbie!”

In the palm of my hand sits my phone with Lana and Sebastian still on FaceTime.

“Oh my God, you guys,” I shout excitedly. “Did you hear that?”

“We saw that.” Sebastian grins. “Congrats, Gabbo. Olly’s a pain in the arse, but he’s all yours now.”

“I’m so happy,” Lana squeals. “The proposal was perfect.”

“Your timing was impeccable, calling me at that moment.”

Her eyes widen, her mouth pursed as she stares at me with a knowing gaze. She knew this was going to happen. Lana and Sebastian are like family to Olly, so it makes sense he would approach Lana for some guidance.

“Look at the ring.” I hold my hand toward the screen. “It’s stunning.”

“Harry Winston cushion-cut center stone framed by micropavé diamonds, set on a micropavé band,” she says matter-of-factly.

I can’t help but laugh. “Thank you. And listen, I’ll call you guys tonight.”

“We love you. Chat later,” Lana says, waving goodbye.

Ma and Pa have finally released Olly from a group hug, and he motions for me to join him.

“Gabriella,”he whispers slowly, prolonging each letter as if to savor them.

I smile, my heart fluttering at his voice as I clasp my hands on either side of his face. “Yes, Oliver?”

“I have one more surprise for you… tonight.”

“Does it involve edible underwear? Don’t think I haven’t seen what’s sitting inside your closet.”

He kisses my lips, stopping himself from laughing. “No, it’s much better than that.”

We take a stroll along Sydney Harbour, holding hands and admiring the view.

On this warm, sunny evening, the moonlight casts across the city. The harbour is dotted with hundreds of sailing boats, cruise boats, and ferries, their lights illuminating the dark water.

This has been the most magical week, and I never want it to end. Waking up beside a man I love with every fiber of my being is pure perfection.

“This is perfect. I can’t believe I’m here, with you, engaged. I’m in love with Australia.”

“I knew you would love it here, but you know, I also love being in the States. We can go back and forth.”

We haven’t talked much about our relationship moving forward, caught up in passionate sex at every waking moment. Long distance will be extremely hard. I’ve committed myself to my work back home, and can’t let Lana down, yet Olly’s whole existence is here.

I stop midstep, eager to gain clarification. “As in I live there, and you live here?”

“Do you really think I would be that far apart from you?”

“Just checking… carry on.”

“So, I was thinking, if you’re keen, we stay here during my season, and off-season we live in the States.”

“But…” So many questions fill my mind. I don’t know where to begin. “I have my job.”

“About that…” He scratches his head, wincing as if he’s about to drop a bomb on me. “I’m kind of well off… rich, to be exact.”

“Olly, I could never?—”

“Listen, please,” he demands my attention. “I’ve always wanted to give back. I didn’t grow up in a wealthy family, and my schooling included scholarships and sports-related funding. I have all this money, but it’s pointless if I can’t help others. So, I was talking to Sebastian, and both he and I would like to open up our own soccer academy here in Australia. We would fight for government funding, of course, but want to invest our money into scholarships which will help less fortunate children.”

I’m speechless, still not understanding how that links to my work. “But… I don’t understand?”

“You’re experienced in running foundations, charity events, all the things we will need to do to make this work,” he tells me with a serious expression. I can tell he’s thought long and hard about this. “Playing A-league means my time is dedicated to training and games. I don’t trust many people, but I trust you, and so does Sebastian. So, what do you think?”

“It sounds… too good to be true, but I’d been saving to move out of Lana and Sebastian’s place.”

He places his hand in his pocket, removing a piece of paper. Carefully, he hands it to me, fixated on my reaction. I open the paper. It’s the first page of a contract. My eyes scan through the words until I comprehend what it means.

“Wait, Manhattan Beach… the house next door… I’m confused. Like rent it for the summer, but you want me to work here?”

“No… like live in it,” he states. “As in, it’s ours. You can get rid of that awful blue wallpaper in the bedroom.”

He bought us the house.

My lips fall apart, and in a dazed state, I try to find the right words to say at this moment.

“But I love that wallpaper.”

“Or keep it.” He chuckles, lacing his arms around my waist. “Say yes, please?”

Olly wants the best of both worlds, and that’s exactly what he’s given us. Neither one of us makes sacrifices, we both will continue to follow our passions, experience the best of both our cultures, and the best part—we will do it right beside each other.

He draws me to him with his eyes, inclines his face in perfect position with my own, and lays his mouth on mine gently. My hands wrap around his neck, gliding against his hair and caressing it between my fingers. Like a surging tide of warmth, leaving me helpless in his arms, my heart begins to sing the loudest of melodies.

This beautiful man is all mine.

His insistent mouth continues to part my swollen lips, sending wild tremors to every inch of my body. I pull away, shallow breaths consuming me as I stare deeply into his captivating green eyes.

“You could have shown me a cardboard box, and I would have said yes.”

“Well, if that’s the case…”

I gently slap his chest, my cheekbones hurting from the continuous smile I’m unable to hold back.

“I love you, Olly.”

“Of course you do, Gabs.”

I pull his face down to mine with annoyance, playfully teasing him.

“My bad boy neighbor.”

With a smirk, he rubs his chin. “Who would have thought you’d fall in love with the guy next door?”

Rubbing my nose against his, I grin. “The universe, baby. It was always in our cards.”