This chapter is dedicated to every single reader who has ever given this story a chance! It means more than I can ever describe, thank you so much :)

••••

Their faces were masks of pure determination. The shouts of frustration, anger and success made it blatantly obvious how much they wanted it and how much they needed it.

My seat was in the front row - right in front of the pitch which allows me to see the full range of emotions from everyone here.

From coaches shouting to children waving flags and teenagers screaming in joy - there was not one person in the whole arena that didn't want to be here. Everyone was tense to see the outcome of this game and the fate of it rested on small ball currently sailing through the air.

Which was just thrown by my husband.

Axel McSmith was signed immediately after leaving UCLA. Deemed as the next Peyton Manning, Axel was in high demand. After having to actually pick over teams, due to so many wanting him, he eventually settled on the Green Bay Packers.

Maxwell was furious, he retaliated quickly and a few teams dropped their offer to Axel. But most remained and that gave more confidence to Axel than I've ever seen. Choosing the Packers, Axel e-mailed Maxwell and broke off whatever you would call their arrangement. He was angry, yes, but there was a rumor of a player just as good as Axel about to enter UCLA so he got over it pretty quickly.

As he announced his choice, I began looking for jobs in the same area - unable to even think about doing long-distance with him. I got a job at Academy of Dance Arts, teaching dance and I still have it today - I love it too much to even fathom looking for a different job.

So, as I watch Axel in his element on the pitch, I know how much work has gone into this game. Once we moved in together, I saw how much he goes through to make his team proud. Diets, practices and workouts I feel tired even thinking about consume his life - but they're also the reason his career has been so successful and what's made him starting quarter-back.

The minutes tick by quickly and before long, it's down to the final seconds. The tension is palpable as people stand on their feet to see if the Packers can truly win this match.

Three seconds.

The realisation that we might win becomes clearer as the players sprint to the touchdown zone.

Two seconds

I scream with the rest of the crowd as the ball lands in the zone with one second to spare.

There's a split second of stunned silence as the crowd realizes that we've won. We've done it, and as soon as that realisation hits - the whole crowd explodes into a cloud of cheers and shouts.

Joining them, the time passes quickly and before I know it I'm getting out to go and find Axel. Walking through the stadium, the pass Axel got for me is suddenly my most useful possession. But, his long hours here also means that many people recognize me, so in my pursuit to find Axel I'm often stopped by some of his fans to ask about him.

Which I still find adorable, so I don't mind taking the time to answer questions or even take a selfie. But when I eventually come to a stop in front of the room that I know he'll be in with the rest of the team and their family members, I can't help but be thankful that I'm finally alone.

Opening the door, I spot the man of the day talking to a teammate. His conversation visibly drifts off when he sees me and he immediately walks over, leaving his teammate looking confused.

Reaching me, he wraps an arm round my waist and pulls me in for a kiss. Passionate, furious and fast the kiss pours my pride and his exhilaration into a medley of butterflies floating round my stomach. Four years on and the feelings he brings me haven't changed one bit.

Breaking apart, I grin at Axel. Wanting to tease him I say, "That last pass was a bit squint."

It wasn't at all, it was perfect. But I know his already large ego will have ballooned since winning, so I'm being a great wife and giving him a reality check.

I'm proven correct when Axel lets out of laugh shaking his head before saying, "I know, the winning throw was just horrendous. I should be ashamed."

I let out a laugh similar to his before shaking my head. Looking at him through my eyelashes, due to our height difference, I drop the joke to congratulate him. "You were amazing. I nearly lost my voice from cheering you on."

"Thank you and I hope not, we've got a party to host tonight." He winks.

It's true, we do. I've invited our close friends and his teammates round to our house, to celebrate his success. Although, really it was just an excuse to have a party since I didn't know if Axel was going to win or not, but I was pretty sure he was going to win.

Our moment wrapped up in each other is interrupted by managers and teammates. Press needs to be done and fans need to be met. As usual, it's non-stop for Axel until at least two hours after the match.

However, today it's nonstop until the guests arrive because even once we get home, I need him to help start decorating.

Our house is larger than Rob and I's dorm room to say the least, but I try my hardest to make it cozy. Plus, I'm hoping that our light colour theme, that is constant throughout the whole of the downstairs, will look even better with the decorations out.

Time passes quickly and as I place the last banner in the corner of a wall, I'm relieved to see it all finished. Dressed in my pastel blue dress and small white heels, I let out a sigh when I see Axel practically sleeping on the sofa - still in sweatpants and a hoodie.

"You need to get changed." I laugh, shaking his shoulder.

He lets out a groan and places his forearm over his eyes. Using his other hand, he grabs my own and brings it to his mouth to place a kiss on it. "Yeah, I will. I tell you, that last squint pass takes it out of you."

He sighs, but his mention of my joke reassures me that he's still okay for the party. As if the universe suddenly senses his tiredness, the doorbell rings.

However, I don't even need to go to it as the person behind it opens it without needing to be greeted. Letting out a call, Axel and I both roll our eyes at the expected visitor.

"You're favorite human being is here!" Rob shouts.

"Emma?" I call back, winking at Axel, which sets him off laughing.

"You know, I give my all to you guys and all you do is throw it back in my face. It's li-" Rob begins, walking into the kitchen/living room area.

Knowing that this rant could go on forever, I cut in. "I was joking! Damn, you don't see us in a week and you act like we've abandoned you."

"You practically have! Axel made our meet-ups weekly for crying out loud!" Rob exclaims, but grins at Axel and I - despite his accusations.

"You said you were fine with that." Axel points out, finally standing up from the couch to come and stand beside Rob and I at our kitchen unit.

"Well maybe I lied." Rob grins before beginning to unpack the snacks.

The snack table fills up quickly and so does our house. Close friends, some family members and basically half of the football team arrive and before I know it, I'm running around trying to help everyone.

So when Rob suggests a quick visit outside to get the rest of the drinks, I cannot say yes fast enough. Gathering up Axel, Rob, Emma and I; we head out to the small shed that has a fridge containing the back-up drinks.

Despite leaving University four years ago, the of us four never broke contact. Rob found a job coincidentally near to us after he and Drew broke up - they decided they couldn't do long distance when Drew got a job four-hundred miles away and now Rob's a regular visitor at our house.

Emma lived an hour away, but always kept in contact. Her visits were regular and our Skype calls never failed. If anything, the distance proved to me that I'll never find a friend like Emma.

Walking down our garden path, the night sky is black but the lights from our house casts a glow across the lawn. Emma wraps an arm around my shoulders and Axel and Rob skip ahead like the children they are.

"You know, I'm very proud of you." She smiles.

"Why?" I ask suspiciously.

"Because you never expected this for your life. You constantly underestimated yourself yet here you are." She looks at me with a smile before letting out a laugh and admitting, "Plus you've managed to feed half a football team tonight when you were hopeless at cooking before."

"Was not!" I gasp, placing a hand on my chest in mock hurt.

"You really were." Axel nods, obviously listening in on Emma and I's conversation as we come to a stop in front of the shed.

Rob walks out, huffing under the weight of two full crates of drink. Grunting, he splutters out, "So, is anyone ever going to help me? Or..."

"Here." Emma says, lifting a crate off of his arms effortlessly - clearly not bothered by the weight of it, unlike Rob. "Now, stop being dramatic."

Rob rolls his eyes before starting to walk back up the path with Emma following beside him - both of them arguing over what Kardashian is more dramatic since they haven't changed at all in the last four years.

Following behind, Axel takes his spot beside me as we walk towards the golden lights streaming from our house. The air is cool and silence consumes around us, only being broken by the odd shout of laughter from our house.

Lacing my fingers in his own, Axel stops us by our house. Letting Emma and Rob walk in, he pulls me to the corner where we're hidden from the view of the party.

"I didn't manage to say earlier, but, thank you for tonight, you really didn't have to do all of this." Axel murmurs, lightly playing with my hand that's clasped in his.

"Of course I did, you are the winners after all." I smile.

Wrapping an arm around my waist, he effortlessly pulls me against his body. Leaning down, he plants a gentle kiss on my mouth. Breaking apart, he kisses my forehead once before laying a hand on my lower stomach.

"Are we both doing okay?" He asks, his eyes flickering between my stomach and my eyes.

A warm glow settles over my heart and at the thought of him being a father, I smile adoringly up at him. "Yes, we're both fine. Stop worrying so much."

"I'm not worrying, I'm merely checking up on you both." Axel scoffs as a smile tugs at his lips.

"Sure," I roll my eyes in disbelief. "Now come on, let's go celebrate."

We walked back into the house to be met by a room bursting with love, pride and happiness. The emotions continued for the rest of the night, but after it was over - they lived in my heart as I spent the rest of my life with the man I love.

••••

And that's a wrap on Cooking With The QB!

How are feeling about this? What's our thoughts on the epilogue? What about Maxwell giving up?

I can't believe this book is over! However, there's information on my next book in the next post.

But for now, thank you for following Axel and Skylar's story, it means the world to me and I hope you have enjoyed it :)

Much love,

Jade x