Free Waiting on Forever by Ashley Wilcox Page B

Feeling a rush of emotion, my heart jumps from chest and I have this sudden urge to cry.
    Why am I crying?
    Summer wraps her arm around my shoulder, squeezing me into her side. “It’s an awesome feeling, isn’t it?” she says, resting her head against mine.
    Afraid that I’d burst out in an embarrassing sob, I decide to only respond by nodding my head in agreement. She is completely right in every way.
    The way I feel right now, so full of emotion and happiness, is nothing short of amazing.

Chapter 13
    Given our VIP status, we’re allowed to go down and wait outside the locker rooms for the players to get dressed and exit. Similar to the nerves I get on the first day of school, I feel eager and nervous as I stare at the red doors and wait for them to open. There’s a million conversations going on around me and it is so loud that I can’t even hear myself think, but it’s all white noise to me as I stand there, anxious to see Matt.
    Hearing the men’s laughter and talking getting closer, everyone crowds closer to the doors to watch as they swing open with all the players smiling on the other side. Standing only five foot tall, I’m immediately lost in the middle of the crowd with no chance of being found.
    Just as I’m about to pout like a pitiful dumbass, Summer pulls my arm and jerks me forward. “Come on!”
    Ducking behind Summer, she weaves in and out of people with ease like she does this every day. Realizing that we’ve finally pushed through everyone, I look up and I’m greeted by Matt’s beautiful face. Without even thinking I run and jump into his arms, giving him a huge celebratory hug and kiss. Holding me tight in his embrace, my feet dangle at least a foot off the ground as we kiss long and hard, not caring who can see us. Even though it’s been less than twenty-four hours since my lips have last touched his, it feels like days and I just can’t get enough.
    Finally deciding that I’m probably going to need some air within the next couple of seconds to avoid passing out, I remove my mouth from his and whisper, “Congratulations,” against his lips.
    “Thanks, Babe,” he whispers back with the most adorable grin before pecking my lips again.
    After placing me back on the ground, Matt and Collin do their little handshake and Summer gives Matt a congratulatory hug.
    “Dude, that was a crazy fuckin’ game,” Collin says to Matt.
    “Yeah, no shit. Nothin’ like coming down to that last second.”
    “They were pushin’ hard on the QB in the second half. He was so f’in close to being sacked that last play.”
    Listening to them carry on about football and watching the enthusiasm as they talk, I’d think they were brothers rather than best friends. You can tell they go way back and now, knowing that Matt’s childhood wasn’t the easiest, it warms my heart that Matt at least had Collin always by his side.
    “So, are we gonna just stand in the hallway all night and talk about football, or are we gonna actually celebrate?” Summer chimes in.
    They both turn and look at us, completely clueless as to how long they’ve been standing there chatting it up.
    “Uh, sorry ladies,” Matt says with a smile. “I don’t know about you guys, but I could use a beer or two or three.”

    Apparently celebrating is on everyone’s minds because all I can see is a mass amount of people pouring in and out of Matt’s house when we pull in. My eyes bulge open. I was completely not expecting this when we returned.
    “Yeah, kind of figured this was gonna happen,” Matt admits, squeezing my hand as he pulls me up the stairs of the front porch.
    “Yeah, buddy. MJ is in the house!” one guy shouts, seeing us walk through the door. The whole house gets ridiculously loud, excited to see the MVP of the game.
    Feeling like it just got ten times more crowded in here, Matt pulls me in closer to his side as we make our way towards the back of the house. Going down a dark hallway past the kitchen, Matt opens