The Game Changer (The Perfect Game 2)

Seeing the diamond inside caused me to gasp. It sparkled and danced in the light. The center diamond was huge and was surrounded by smaller diamonds. It looked too pretty to touch.

“Kitten?” Jack’s voice cut through my sparkle coma as I realized I hadn’t answered him yet.

My gaze moved to meet his. “Yes. Of course I’ll marry you. Who the hell else would I marry?” I smiled, still not reaching for the gorgeous ring.

He grinned and his dimples appeared as he reached inside the box and pulled out the ring. I held out my left hand, and he pushed that gorgeous piece of jewelry into place. My eyes were transfixed on the diamonds lighting up my finger. “It’s huge,” I said breathlessly.

“You don’t like it? We can take it back. ”

I pulled my hand away from his, clutching it against my chest. “No way. It’s amazing. ”

“We’re going to be very happy. ”

“I already am. ”

Epilogue

SIXTEEN MONTHS LATER, JANUARY 12

Jack

I stood at the end of a makeshift aisle in Gran and Gramps’s lush backyard. It had been transformed into a light-filled wonderland. Every tree, bush, and branch was covered with tiny bright white lights. I waited underneath the large tree where lanterns flickering with candlelight hung from the branches. Oversized Mason jars were lined up in two rows, forming the aisle, and each jar was filled with a few inches of quarters to hold up the white candle burning inside. I glanced at the few round tables decorated all in white and smiled. My eyes grazed past my old teammates from Fullton State, Melissa’s parents, Cassie’s parents, Gran, Nora, and, finally, Matteo and Trina, who started dating pretty soon after Trina and Kyle broke up. I found myself smiling at our group of friends and family filling the small space, e

xcited to share our intimate moment with us.

I loved the fact that Kitten and I shared the same views when it came to today. Thankfully, neither one of us needed a large formal wedding to mark the special occasion. Although in all honesty, I would have given her anything she wanted, we both craved the privacy and security that only our close friends and family could provide. So we opted for a more casual setting and dress code. I looked down at my charcoal gray suit and adjusted my black tie.

Where the hell is Dean?

I smiled at Gran, who was already holding a tissue to her eyes, as I stepped away from the altar. She dropped her hand and asked, “Jack? Where are you going?”

“I’m going to find Dean. ”

I stormed into the house, trying not to accidentally see Cassie while I looked for my brother, who just happened to disappear minutes before I was supposed to get married. I peered into the empty kitchen. Glancing in the front yard and the living room and finding them empty, I made my way back toward our bedrooms.

Both of our bedroom doors were closed. I knew Cassie was in my room, so I knocked on Dean’s before turning the handle. I didn’t wait for a response before I opened the door and barged inside.

“Shit. Really?” I eyed my brother, lying on top of a partially clothed Melissa, his tongue down her throat and his hands who knows where.

“Get out, Jack. Jesus,” Dean shouted, covering Melissa’s body protectively.

“Do you think you two could figure your shit out after the vows? I’d like to get married sometime today,” I shouted, my patience wavering.

I slammed the door and knocked on the door to my old bedroom. “Kitten?”

“Don’t come in here, Jack!” she yelled, and I laughed.

“I’m not. I just wanted to say I can’t wait to see you. Make sure those two actually leave the bedroom, please. Tell them they can fuck after the vows. ”

“Oh my God,” she called out through the door. “Is that where Melissa is? I’ve been waiting for her to come back for like half an hour!”

“Well you’re going to be waiting forever if you don’t go drag her out of there. I’ll see you soon,” I said, leaning my cheek against the door.

With another hasty knock on Dean’s door, I yelled, “Today little brother! Let’s go!” Since he obviously couldn’t be trusted alone with Melissa, I waited for him to come out of his room before I walked back outside. I nudged him as we headed down the aisle toward the tree. “Really couldn’t wait until later?” I whispered.

“You kidding me? With her, later might mean never. I gotta take what I can get. ”

I shook my head. “I do not envy you, brother. ”