on to the ball, tucking it under his arm and finding the tiniest opening between defenders.
Holy shit, he’s running it himself.
“Go, Matt!” I scream, jumping up and down and clinging to my mom as I keep my gaze fixed on him.
He darts around players and moves so fast he’s a blur. One guy after another tries to tackle him and grab him, falling to the ground in the split second he ducks by.
My heart pounds and adrenaline rushes through my veins as he crosses into the end zone.
For one nanosecond, the world stops, almost as if it has to make sure this is really happening right now.
And then, the explosion.
We’re jumping and screaming and shouting. The crowd is erupting in roars and cheers and celebration.
It’s a blur. A happy, incredible, surreal blur.
Noah picks me up and throws me over his shoulder as we laugh and yell.
My mom jumps into my dad’s arms and gives him a big kiss, and Jayson pounds his chest, shouting about all the money he just won.
In a sea of happiness and the hazy blur of a Super Bowl win, we all head down onto the field as the players celebrate.
Someone dumps a bucket of Gatorade, and Andre and a couple other guys pick Matt up and hold him in the air, chanting his name.
I laugh and smile and feel myself spinning, holding a hand to my mouth and trying to take in the craziest ride I’ve ever been on.
After a little while, in the cluster of jerseys and families and hugging and cameras…he finds me.
“I think you’re a little insane,” I shout to him, jogging a little to get to him as fast as humanly possible.
“Oh…” He wraps me in his arms and picks me up in a quick movement, holding me tight and spinning me around. “I’m batshit crazy, Ellie Vice.”
A heartfelt laugh bubbles in my chest as he presses his lips to mine, and I hold him as close as I possibly can.
“I want to be a family,” he says, pressing his forehead to mine.
“Me, too.”
He gently lowers me down and kisses me more. Cameras flash around us, and we laugh and smile against each other’s lips.
“All your dreams came true,” I say to him, running my hand through his hair and admiring him.
“I know.” He slides his thumb along my cheek, angling my head up toward his. “They really did. And on top of that, we won the Super Bowl.”
I take a deep breath and savor what I’ve now decided is the happiest moment of my life so far.
Spending the rest of my life with this man is going to be one hell of an adventure. And I never say no to a good adventure.
Epilogue
Matt
“Would you like to hold him?” Dr. Brown smiles at me, handing me the tiny little bundle in a blue blanket.
My heart tugs, and I glance at Ellie. She’s glowing, with little beads of sweat dotting her nose and forehead, and her eyes sparkling bright, even through complete exhaustion.
“Sure.” I turn back to the doctor, holding out my arms and taking our brand-new baby against my chest.
“Holy shit,” I say through something that borders between a laugh and a sob.
He’s the smallest thing I’ve ever seen, with a tiny little nose that slopes at the end, just like Ellie’s. His skin is like silky butter, and I never want to look at anything but this baby for the rest of my life.
My chest feels warm, and everything feels fuzzy and surreal.
“Isn’t he gorgeous?” Ellie reaches out and takes my hand, giving it a squeeze.
I sit on the edge of the hospital bed next to her, cuddling up with the woman I love and the baby we just brought into the world together. “He’s incredible,” I say, running my thumb along the world’s softest cheek.
“Mason Noah McKenzie,” she whispers, leaning her head against me.
“That’s our boy.”
Everything feels like it’s floating and swimming as my brain tries to comprehend how this impossibly small person in my arms is made entirely of Ellie and me. A living, breathing person who’s going to laugh and talk and think and throw a football. Or dance ballet. Whatever he prefers.
“I’m, like…” Ellie snuggles against me. “Insanely happy.”
“Oh, I’m stupid-happy.”
“I’m so happy, I feel like nothing in the entire world could ever make me not happy ever again.”
I kiss the top of her head and position Mason so his little cocooned self is right between the two of us.