Dart and Dash Page 16

  During the last six minutes in the fourth quarter, the quarterback called for me. It was the same play that we scored on during the first quarter, and he hoped that it would work again.

  He was right.

  After I caught the ball, I practically jogged into the end zone. I had a smile on my face, and I remembered the bet between Garnet and me.

  She’d keep me on my toes for sure.

  The game finally wound down, and we won. We reclaimed our number one spot in the conference. I wanted to find Garnet right now, but I needed to shower and change.

  When I reached my locker, I stopped and stared at Dart’s first. Everything lay out neatly and unused. The lump was in my throat, knowing that this was how it would be forever.

  After I showered, I changed into my suit that we’re required to wear on game days. I wanted to find Garnet. I wanted to celebrate with her by holding her all night. When I walked out, I had to talk to a few local media outlets, a couple of scouts, and then I left the building.

  She was the first person I saw. Her bright fire engine red hair was hanging around her shoulders, and her brown eyes sparkled. Dart once said Daisy made him feel like he could conquer the world, and I felt that way when I looked at Garnet.

  “Dash,” Garnet ran over to me, leaping into my arms.

  No matter how tired I was, I would always catch her. Just like she’d caught me from falling too deep into that deep hole of depression.

  “I love you.”

  There it was. The words I wanted to hear from the one who had saved me. I wanted to hear them every day.

  For the rest of my life.

  Epilogue – Garnet

  Graduation Day

  “Why is my robe so wrinkled?” I yelled at Daisy.

  “Maybe you should have steamed it like I said.” Daisy’s blonde hair looked at me from my bed.

  I narrowed my eyes at her. “I’m not in the mood.”

  Daisy laughed. “Give it to me, and I’ll put it in the dryer.” I took it off and handed to her.

  When she left the room, I fell into my desk chair and I thought about the last four and half years of my life. It had gone faster than I thought it ever would.

  Daisy decided after her graduation not to move back to North Carolina. She said that was her and Dart’s dream, but she couldn’t do it without him. She remained here in Huntington with me, and worked at a doctor’s office.

  It took her almost a year and half to remove her engagement ring. It was several months after that before she went out on a date. But, she finally did. She’d found a nice guy and had been with him for the last several months.

  “Okay, that’s in the dryer. Now, what do you need?” Daisy looked at me, waiting for the answer.

  “Dash,” I said sadly, picking at the hem of my black dress.

  “Oh, Garnet,” she knelt down next to me. “I wish he could’ve been her for you, too. He can’t miss his physicals. You know that.”

  I nodded.

  Dash was drafted that spring after Dart died. He went in the first round to the Chicago Bears. I was so proud of him. Now, a few seasons later, he was one of the top receivers in the league.

  In the off-season, he stayed with Daisy and me. Even though Dad still owned the house across the street, Dash moved out after he graduated.

  The problem was that training camps were beginning to start up, and Dash had to be there. It required him to miss my graduation.

  This spring, we made the decision for me to move to Illinois and start my teaching career there. When I told Daisy, she was happy for us.

  Dash and I weren’t engaged or anything of that sort. We did talk about it, but we both agreed that when the time was right, we would know, and do it then.

  Right now, all I knew was that I missed him.

  “I’ve got to finish getting ready. Grab your robe when the dryer is done.”

  “Fine,” I groaned, still upset about Dash not being here.

  When Daisy left the room, I picked up my phone. There was a new text on it.

  I love you and am so proud of you.

  It was Dash’s words that made my heart skip a beat. He loved me, and I loved him. I never thought I would have been one of those girls, to be all giddy over a text from their boyfriend. But, here I was, and had been that way for a while.

  The dyer alarm went off, and I headed to get my robe. I hung it up because it would be a little bit before we left.

  I heard the front door open, and I knew it had to be Daisy’s boyfriend. I’d invited him to come to the graduation. “She’s upstairs, Thomas.” I yelled to him.

  I went into the kitchen to find something to drink. I knew it was going to be a long day for me, and I needed to stay hydrated.

  “Now, that’s a nice ass.”

  I almost broke my neck, spinning around seeing Dash standing in the middle of my kitchen.

  “What the hell?” I questioned, leaping into his arms.

  “Did you really think I would miss this?” he whispered in my ear.

  The tears were welling up in my eyes, and I couldn’t talk. Dash was here. I hugged his neck tighter.

  “Well, look at that,” Daisy’s voice came into the room. “Dash’s here.”

  “Did you know about this?” I asked, still not letting go of Dash.

  “He may have mentioned it to me,” she joked.

  “Bitch,” I mumbled, making Dash laugh, because he knew that I wasn’t serious.

  Dash released me, and set me back on my feet. His blue eyes gave me comfort, and I could see the love he had for me in them.

  “Come on, it’s time to graduate,” Daisy announced and walked out of the kitchen.

  “I love you.” Dash kissed me fully on the lips.

  I moaned at our connection and slipped my tongue in his mouth, making him hum against my lips.

  “I love you, too.” I smiled at him.

  My football player.

  The love of my life.

  The one who saved me.

  About the Author

  Best Selling Author, Mary Smith, has been coming up with stories her whole life. She has written A HOCKEY TUTOR, THE ICE SERIES, as well as co-authored with Lindsay Paige THE PENALTY KILL TRILOGY and OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN SERIES. When not busy writing or rooting for the Chicago Blackhawks you can find her with her nose stuck in her Kindle.

  You can visit her website at: www.authormarysmith.blogspot.com

  Follow her on Twitter: @maryms1980

  Or Faceook: www.facebook.com/authormarysmith

  All Books by Mary Smith:

  Melting Away the Ice (Ice Series #1)

  Breaking Away the Ice (Ice Series #2)

  Shattering the Ice (Ice Series #3)

  Thawing the Ice (Ice Series Novella)

  A Hockey Tutor

  Always Forever

  A Royal’s Love (Matched #1)

  A Protector’s Second Chance (Matched #2)

  A Controller’s Destiny (Matched #3)

  All Books with Lindsay Paige:

  Breakaway (Penalty Kill Trilogy #1)

  Off the Ice (Penalty Kill Trilogy #2)

  Game Winner (Penalty Kill Trilogy #3)

  Looking for You (Oh Captain My Captain #1)

  A Hockey Player’s Proposal (Oh Captain My Captain #2)

  Finding Carson Lett (Oh Captain My Captain #3)

  Let’s Be Crazy (Oh Captain My Captain #4)

  Their New Beginning (Oh Captain My Captain #5)

  You and Me, Forever (Oh Captain My Captain #6)

  Tainted (Oh Captain My Captain #7)

 

 

 
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