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Chapter One

Rhett

I’m on my third—or maybe it’s my fifth?—whiskey neat when I spot her across the room

Short hair Full hter that’s real and loud

It’s been nine years since Amelia Fox brokea zip of electricity through et the second or two after the day’s first snap That’s when the thrill of being on the field and having ame jitters

Used to being the operative words

My hand tightens around lass

One, why the fuck did ement party?

Thy didn’t he tell me?

And three, why a toward her like soht except daood?

She’s wearing a floral dress Heels that’ll make her a little taller than h school Now she’s owning it, baring legs that go on for days Her dress clings to her long torso and those pert little tits that make—made—the perfect handful

She turns her head, and our gazes collide Her warm brown eyes widen for half a heartbeat I hesitate, hit by the feeling of stepping in shit I’—and I wonder if I should back off

Too late A pretty, and I’

God, how I loved irl smile

“Hello, Rhett,” she says

I’ve dated ram followers than the population of a s their nipples for paparazzi I’ve also done so with an undisclosed member of the British royal faht)

I was never, ever at a loss for words in those situations

Now, though?

Now I scrareeting the girl I lost irl I thought would be my forever?

“A uy in the bow tie behind Aothere?”

“I’ot her arhbors don before sheon soetables and growing a garden and healthy eating My students love it”

I run a hand over rown scruff—I shavedabout growing it back—and Amelia’s eyes flick down to watch me do it

“So you’re teaching,” I say