The Striker

To loving every version of yourself, even the ones you want to leave behind.

I’ve been here since day one, darling. I was simply waiting for you to join me.

The past was the past, and the future was unpredictable. But the present? It belonged to us, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

He wasn’t my brother’s nemesis or my trainee—he was the person who’d carried me up three flights of stairs, stayed with me until I regained consciousness, and didn’t make me feel like an object of pity when I told him about my accident. And that’s exactly why he’s dangerous.

Does she know what an idiot she’s dating?” “Yes, sir, and she loves me anyway.

If her smile was a burglar, her laugh was a fucking thief because I was pretty sure she just stole a piece of my heart from right out under me.

Asher laughed. “Scarlett, this is Jules, an old friend of mine.” “And this is Josh, my boyfriend,” Jules added, gesturing at the man beside her.

But at the end of the day, you have to ask yourself what you’d regret more—trying and failing, or not trying at all?

If Scarlett had plagued my thoughts before, the kiss had built her a permanent home there and invited her in for tea.

now I found out the girl I couldn’t stop thinking about was related to my biggest rival. The universe had a sick sense of humor.

I looked at her, this beautiful, incredible woman whom I never would’ve expected would turn my world upside down, and marveled that she was mine.

God definitely had favorites, and Asher was one of them.

Even if there were seven hundred thousand instead of seventy thousand people here, I would’ve found her just as easily because a part of me would always be connected to a part of her.

For Scarlett, I could do anything.

If we think we're perfect and there's nothing we can improve on, we'll never grow. If there's no growth, we stagnate. And greatness doesn't come from stagnation; comes from progress.

No matter where we were or how many people surrounded us, she commanded my attention like a lighthouse in a storm.

If it makes you feel better,' I said. 'I prefer Asher to Asher Donovan.

He’s hot.”My head snapped toward her. “Who? Markovic?”“Yeah. In a scary, I-might-kill-you-after-I-fuck-you sort of way. But it works. What?” she said defensively when I arched my eyebrows. “I have a thing for bad boys.”“Sometimes, you worry me.”“I always do.

Her other hand carried a sign that said Kick Holchester’s ass from here to Pluto in huge, bright purple letters. I burst into laughter. God, I loved that woman.

The point is, your injuries don't define who you are. Maybe you're not the same dancer anymore, but who says you have to be? Growth isn't always linear, and I've seen you in the studio. I think you're still pretty damn incredible.

You’re telling me the Asher Donovan has nothing better to do with his time than drop by a ballet academy?” A shadow flickered in those crystalline green eyes. “I have other things I could do,” he said. “I wouldn’t say they’re better.

Amusement slid across his infuriatingly perfect face. “What’s this?” “The flirting. It’s unprofessional.” “I’m afraid flirting is part of my nature, darling.

She’s moping around?”“Out of everything I said, that was your takeaway? And yes, she is, unfortunately, moping.

I could handle it if they were just coming after me. I know what I signed up for," Asher said. "But you're getting caught up in this mess, and that's not fucking okay.

Tomorrow would always be there.Tonight, it was just us, and I was going to enjoy every second of it while it lasted.

You won’t because I won’t race anymore. I don’t need it, but I need you.

We didn’t speak. We didn’t need to. Sometimes, actions were enough.

For someone whose mere presence put me on edge, he had a way of also easing my anxiety—namely by distracting me so much I didn’t have time to think about anything else.

The noise around us dulled into an indistinguishable roar. No matter where we were or how many people surrounded us, she commanded my attention like a lighthouse in a storm. Bright. Beautiful. Unwavering.

Her eyes shone bright in the sunlight, and looking up at her, even after all this time, I couldn’t quite believe she was mine.