Chapter 5

The buzz of Sunday night football was in the air as Brandon Richards laced up his cleats in the locker room. The 49ers were going up against one of their biggest rivals, and all eyes were on him—the star quarterback with a hot winning streak and a mysterious spark in his eye lately.

The coaches noticed it. The press noticed it. His teammates teased him about it.

But only he knew the truth.

It wasn't about the touchdowns.

It wasn't about the fame.

It was her.

Genevieve.

Since she'd walked into his life, everything had shifted. He'd always been grounded in his faith, but now he was grounded in something even more powerful—love rooted in faith. And somehow, she made both feel more real than ever.

Up in the VIP skybox, Genevieve stood near the window, watching Brandon warm up on the field below. Her heart fluttered in her chest as she saw him throw that perfect spiral.

"He looks locked in tonight," her agent said behind her, sipping sparkling water.

Genevieve smiled softly. "He always is."

The agent leaned in a little. "You sure you want to stay out of the spotlight right now? You've got offers waiting. This whole 'quiet romance with a football player' thing could sell big."

Genevieve turned and met her gaze calmly. "I'm not doing this for headlines. I'm doing this because… I've finally found someone who sees the real me."

She turned back to the window, heart pounding as the announcers introduced Brandon to the roaring crowd. He looked up for just a second—and found her. Even from the field, he felt her presence.

And in that instant, it didn't matter who was watching.

It was just them.

Always had been.

Always would be.

Meanwhile, back in Irvine, California…

Peyton Meyer scrolled through his feed, watching clips of Brandon's highlights and pictures of Genevieve at Levi's Stadium. Every photo cut like a blade.

Then came the headline that shattered the silence in his apartment:

"Genevieve Hannelius Confirms She's No Longer Engaged to Peyton Meyer."

He dropped his phone, hands clenched into fists.

"She didn't even call me," he muttered, staring blankly at the screen.

For years, Peyton had been the center of attention. The star. The fan favorite. But somehow, this quiet, faithful quarterback had come in and changed everything.

And he couldn't stop it.

Back at the game, Brandon's performance was flawless. He passed for three touchdowns, ran in another, and led the team to a nail-biting 34–31 win in overtime.

As the confetti rained down, the stadium lights glowing against the night sky, Brandon's eyes searched the stands—and found her again.

Genevieve was waiting by the tunnel, her face lit with pride. He jogged toward her, breathless but smiling, his heart racing for a different reason now.

They didn't say anything at first. They didn't have to.

Then, softly, Genevieve said, "That was… incredible."

Brandon leaned in close, still catching his breath. "You're the reason I play like that."

She looked down, a little shy. "Brandon…"

He took her hands in his. "Genevieve. I don't care what the press says. I don't care what Peyton thinks. I just know that when I pray… you're always in it."

Her breath caught. "You pray about me?"

"Every night," he said honestly. "And I keep getting the same answer."

She smiled, tears forming in her eyes. "Me too."

That night, they sat on the rooftop of Brandon's apartment, wrapped in blankets, watching the stars.

"Do you think this is real?" she asked softly.

Brandon looked over at her. "I think this is the most real thing I've ever felt."

Genevieve rested her head on his shoulder. "You're the first person who's ever asked to pray with me before they kissed me."

Brandon smiled. "That's because I want to kiss your soul before your lips."

Genevieve blushed, then whispered, "So pray with me."

And there, under the stars, with the city below and heaven above, they bowed their heads and offered up a prayer of thankfulness, clarity, and hope for whatever came next.

When the prayer ended, Brandon looked into her eyes and gently pressed his forehead to hers.

"I'm falling for you, Genevieve."

She smiled, whispering, "I already fell."