31. Charlie

CHAPTER 31

CHARLIE

T he pen glides across the paper, my signature sealing the deal. I can hardly believe it; I'm officially a professional athlete again. I have a team. I'm back on track and feeling better than ever before.

Marissa stands beside me, her eyes shimmering with pride and excitement. The owners and reps clap enthusiastically, and there are handshakes all around.

It's a whirlwind of photos and calls with lawyers, and the next couple hours slip by. As the evening stretches on, Marissa and I are ushered down toward the stadium for our first look at what's to come next.

"Welcome to your new home, Charlie," one of the team reps says as he leads us through the empty stadium.

The grass on the field is a vibrant green, almost unreal in its perfection. My heart races at the thought of playing here, the adrenaline already coursing through my veins.

"San Antonio is an amazing city," another rep chimes in. "You'll love it here. Great food, fantastic culture, and of course, dedicated fans."

I glance over at Marissa, who smiles back at me. I wish more than anything that she could join me in this new chapter of my life, but I know that moving away from Chicago would be difficult for her. She's built her life there, and I can't expect her to leave everything behind just for me.

Besides, it's not like I need my agent to be in the same city as me… But it sure would be nice to have the woman I'm crazy for here.

"Thank you so much for the tour," Marissa says to the owners and reps. "It's incredible to see where Charlie will be playing."

"Of course," Orson Rhodes replies. "We're thrilled to have him on the team. Take your time looking around."

And with that, the group of them departs, leaving Marissa and me alone in the vast emptiness of the stadium. The silence is soothing. We stand still, side by side, taking in the enormity of what lies ahead.

"Charlie," Marissa whispers, her voice barely audible. "I have to ask you a question."

My heart thumps its way up into my throat. "Yeah?"

She turns to me. "Did you think we really would make it here?"

It's not the question I'd been hoping for at all. I wanted something a tad more personal — specifically, about me and her.

I clear my throat. "Here?" I echo, trying to buy some time, but Marissa only nods.

I swallow thickly, thoughts racing. "I… I don't know," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's all a bit surreal."

Marissa bites her lip, looking at me with those big eyes. "Well, you better believe it," she says with a faint smile. "You've worked hard for this, Charlie. You've earned it."

I nod, though I can't shake off the wave of uncertainty that washes over me. "Yeah," I murmur, running my fingers through my hair.

Silence falls between us again, only the echo of our words remaining amidst the looming stands and the vacant field. A stray leaf blows across the turf, carried by a gust of wind that's slipped in from somewhere.

"Thank you, Marissa."

"You already?—"

"And I'll never stop thanking you. I couldn't have done it without you. The reason I'm standing here, it's all because of you."

Pink colors her cheeks, and she looks at her feet to hide the blush.

I mean every word. Marissa has been my rock, pushing me to be the best version of myself. She'll probably never understand just how much she's changed me.

And not just when it comes to my career and my dedication to it. I'm talking about the Charlie Elwood most people don't know.

When we met, I was always looking for the next hit. The next party. The next adrenaline rush. The next pretty girl to hang off my arm for a weekend.

And then… then there was her. She changed me. Opened my eyes to what real happiness is.

It isn't fame or money. It isn't feeling like a stud and having VIP access to all the best clubs. Those things didn't make me a big man.

Having a woman like Marissa look at me with approval in her eyes does.

And even though we don't have that anymore, I'll forever walk forward a different person, and that's something I'll never be able to pay her back for.

"Marissa," I say softly, my voice echoing throughout the empty space.

She lifts her face. "Yeah?"

Maybe this is a bad idea. Maybe this will ruin all the good we have going. And yet… I need to go for it. I need to risk the good we have for something great.

"There's something I need to tell you."

Her lashes flutter. "What is it?"

I take a deep breath, steadying myself for what comes next. As much as I've tried to conceal my feelings, I realize now that life is too short not to take risks. If I don't speak up now, I may never have another chance.

"Marissa, I love you." The words tumble out, raw and unfiltered, before I can stop them. "I've been denying myself happiness for so long, pushing people away, but you… you make me feel alive. I want you in my life. Not just as my fake girlfriend but as my real one. I'll do anything to keep you by my side, even if it means asking you to move to San Antonio with me. But I understand if you can't leave Chicago. I know how much your life is there. I also understand if it's… if it's too late. If?—"

"It's not too late." A single tear runs down her face, glistening like a diamond under the stadium lights.

She steps closer, and her hand slips into mine. "I love you, too. I don't know what the future holds, but I want to be with you. And if that means moving to San Antonio, then we'll figure it out together. I'm so sorry for pushing you away. I've been scared, but I want this — I want us — more than anything."

It's like a bomb of pure joy goes off in my chest. I reach out and cup her face in my hands, my fingers brushing away her tears. Her skin is warm beneath my touch, and when she leans into my palm, it feels as if our souls are connecting.

"There's nothing to apologize for," I tell her, wanting her to understand just how much she means to me. "You've shown me what it means to truly live, to be happy, and I get why you pushed me away. I messed up big time, but that's in the past now. I want to commit to building a future together."

Her eyes search mine, looking for any hint of hesitation or doubt. When she finds none, her beautiful smile returns, tentative at first but growing stronger by the second.

"I love you, Charlie," she says softly, the words wrapping themselves around my heart like a lifeline.

"God, I love you too," I breathe, and before I can think, I lean in and press my lips against hers, sealing our promises with a kiss.

It feels like fireworks are exploding behind my eyelids, each spark igniting another burst of passion and desire within me.

As we lose ourselves in each other's embrace, the world around us fades away, leaving only the sound of our beating hearts to fill the empty stadium. There's no fear or uncertainty, just the knowledge that we're taking a leap of faith together, ready to face whatever challenges life has in store for us.

And as I hold Marissa close, her body melting against mine, I know with absolute certainty that no matter what happens, I'll always have her by my side, cheering me on and pushing me to be the best version of myself — both on and off the field.