CHANGING THE PLAYER: Charleston Pirates #1 by Chance, Jacob (digital e reader TXT) 📕

I told Nadia to meet me at the fifty yard line. When I get out there, the candles and flowers I arranged have already been set up.

Rolling my head from side to side, I stretch out my sore muscles. While waiting for Nadia, I adjust my tie and push my hair back from my face. Smiling, I think about how she made me donate the twenty thousand dollars I promised her for dating me to a charity that helps single mothers. She hadn’t even cashed the original five thousand dollar check I gave her.

It’s been a long, tiring week with all the interviews and activities leading up to the game. As a first timer making the Super Bowl, it was the most exciting week of my life. But sleeping in a hotel for a week isn’t as great as it sounds. I missed my own bed. If it wasn’t for Nadia being with me, I’m not sure I would’ve managed the stress of it all so well.

Speaking of my woman, she’s walking toward me now. Her smile is tentative as she looks around at the empty stadium. “What’s going on?” she asks.

“Can’t a guy get some private time with the woman he loves?”

“I’m good with that idea,” she agrees. She pauses when she sees the circle of white candles that I’m standing inside of. “Flynn?” Her questioning gaze locks on me.

She takes my outstretched hand, stepping into the circle. I catch hold of her other hand as we stand face-to-face. “I know you’re wondering what’s going on and why I’ve brought you out here like this.”

“Maybe.”

“I’ve never told you this story before, but tonight feels like the perfect time.” I clear my throat. “My senior year of college, I watched the Super Bowl with my grandfather instead of the guys at the frat. I got a bunch of shit for it, but I didn’t care. I loved to spend time with him, and even better, the Pats were playing. No one was a bigger fan of them than my grandfather.

“Leading up to the game, they showed interviews from the week before and there was one with Drew Miller and you. Do you remember?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “I don’t. Did I speak at all?”

“You did. The moment you appeared on the screen, I remember being bowled over by your beauty.”

“Shut up.” She laughs.

“Nadia, I’m not joking. Just listen.” She nods, turning serious. “You were stunningly beautiful, and I fell into complete lust. I practically swallowed my tongue. And then you spoke with your sexy voice and that little hint of an accent you owe to your father’s heritage, and I fell a little in love. I felt like someone punched me in the stomach. I’d never been so affected by a woman before.”

“Flynn,” she whispers, squeezing my hands.

“My grandfather noticed my reaction and he commented on it. He said, ‘she’s a beauty,’ and I turned to him and said, ‘Gramps, that’s the woman I’m going to marry someday.’”

Nadia’s bottom lip quivers and she presses her top teeth into the pink flesh. Her expressive eyes are filling with tears.

“That’s not the only reason I signed with you, but it did play a part. When we met in person the first time, I knew I needed someone I could trust to look out for my best interests, and I saw such honesty in your eyes. You didn’t try to charm me. You were to the point, and it made me respect you even more.”

She smiles through her tears. “I remember our first meeting and your striking good looks. I promised myself I wouldn’t be a stuttering fool around you.”

I bark out a laugh. “And you weren’t then or any other time.”

“It wasn’t always easy. I may never have let on, but I was just as affected by you.”

“This is amazing. Look how everything worked out for us. I put my intention out there and things lined up. I got signed to play in Charleston where you were.”

“If you liked me so much, why did it take you so long to make a move?” she asks.

“Because I didn’t think I deserved you.”

“Flynn Shaughnessy, you’re the best man I know. If you don’t deserve me, who does?”

“It doesn’t matter because you’re mine now and hopefully forever.” I take a knee in front of her and she gasps. “Nadia Patel, will you do me the honor of being my wife and the mother of my children?”

“Oh my God. Yes. Flynn. Yes.” She bounces up and down on the balls of her feet.

“Hold up, I need to get this on your finger.” I slide the custom made engagement ring past her knuckles, to the bottom of her finger.

“It’s beautiful.” Her whisper is filled with awe. “What kind of gemstone is this?”

“It’s a purplish-red diamond, and the stones on the sides are white diamonds.”

“I’ve never seen anything like this.”

“I’ve never met anyone else like you. You deserve a one-of-a-kind engagement ring. It was the closest I could get to a rainbow.” I kiss her hand and rise to standing. “How about some pictures?”

“You want to take a selfie?” She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.

“Nah, I was thinking of a more professional picture.” Raising my arm, I wave someone over.

“You hired a photographer?” she asks.

“I did. I wanted pictures to remember this night.”

The photographer reaches us. “Nadia, do you remember Max?”

“Yeah, you took our picture at the mini golf event. How are you?”

“I’m great, thanks to you guys. I made a lot of money off those pictures.” He grins.

“I told Max he can have a few of our engagement pictures if he agreed to photograph the proposal for me.”

“That part will stay private. I’m only going to use the pictures you guys pre-approve,” Max clarifies.

“I told him if he does a good job he can be our family photographer when we have kids.”

“Flynn, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

“But that’s one of the things I do best. I did choose to marry you before