Destiny's Detour (24 page)

It’s been two months since the NFL draft and things have been crazy. Troy and I have made make several trips out to Las Vegas so they can work on his contract, and have begun house hunting. The house hunting is not happening as quickly as I would like. David has come along with us on these trips. We have talked and he has decided to stay with us for a while, even after we find the house we want. It just makes sense. Until we can find said house, we will be living at the Palms. I am thrilled. Of course, I will have Mason and be 12 weeks pregnant with baby number two, but it’s all good.

In less than two weeks, we will make the move to Vegas. Amy has finally decided that she coming with us to visit for a while. She wants to stay and not be left behind. I make it clear to her that she will be welcome, but leave it up to her to decide. It is, after all, her life.

Time is moving too fast again for me. Mason’s first birthday is this week and our moms have arranged a huge party for him at a local country club. Mason’s first birthday is going to be nothing but football players, our friends, and family. The football team from school would have been offended if we didn’t invite them. Mason has been their little mascot all year, and those guys are going to miss him. I am, in my own way, going to miss them, too. Even though we will be part of a new team in Vegas, it’s a little different in the pros.

Troy has a five-year contract for $20 million. He will receive an $8 million signing bonus. Then the endorsement deals start pouring in. We decide that I will stay at home with Mason and the baby to come. We hire a nanny to help me. In addition to Troy’s agent, we also hire a personal assistant to help us stay on top of everything we need to do. Suddenly, we have gone from rich to super rich. Thanks to our fathers, we have always had money. We both have trust funds that we received when we turned eighteen that we could live off of the rest of our lives. We have never worried for anything money-wise.

I am emotional because of the pregnancy already, and as Mason’s birthday approaches, I am a wreck and can’t stop crying. Troy is trying really hard to soothe me. It does help when he holds me, but I can’t just sit in his arms all day. My mother comes bustling into our home and sees me, tears pouring and sitting in Troy’s lap. She gives me a knowing smile.

“Baby Girl, your hormones are out of control.” She sits down beside us and pats my leg.

“Where is my birthday boy?” Troy answers, “He’s still napping. We wanted to make sure he gets a good nap before his party.”

My mom speaks, “Well, I’ll wait for him to wake up and get him dressed for his party. Take your wife, help her shower, and dress for the party. She needs her man right now.”

Troy gets up, gently scoops me in his arms, and walks back to our bedroom. He sets me down once inside, closes the bedroom door, and locks it. He comes toward me with a predatory look on his face. I start backing up from him. I can’t move anymore because he has backed me up against a wall, his arms on either side of me, trapping me effectively.

“Princess, do you know what it does to me when I see you like this?”

I shake my head no.

“You drive me crazy. It makes me want to take you and show you just how much you mean to me. I can’t get enough of you. You are like a strong addiction. One that I don’t want to get rid of.”

I gulp. My core becomes moist and a throbbing need starts between my legs.

“You want me, too, don’t you, Princess?”

I can’t speak; I just nod my head as his lips crash into mine. We attack each other with these kisses, fighting for dominance. I let him take over and completely control everything. I am weak and my legs have turned to jelly. His hands grip my butt hard, lifting me up and I quickly wrap my legs around his waist as my hands snake around his neck. Once he has my back pressed up against the wall, his hands begin roaming my body, trailing across my stomach and up to my breast to cup them with tenderness. My core throbs more. I want him to touch every inch of me. I am just as addicted to him as he is to me. There is no denying it. I don’t want to anyway.

Two hours later, I sit at my vanity, putting on the finishing touches of makeup, and reflect on the time Troy has spent showing me just how much he loves me. I can’t believe how lucky I am to have a husband who loves me so much. I know that, without a doubt, my husband loves me as much as I love him. As I turn to get up, I notice Troy sitting on the bed in low-slung jeans and a vintage t-shirt, looking like a sexy devil. He has been watching me this whole time with complete adoration on his face. He is so open to showing me just what he feels. I move toward the closet and pull out a sundress to slip on for the party. As I make my way out, smoothing down the folds of my dress, I bump into a brick wall. Well really, it is my husband’s hard body but same difference. He takes me into his arms and gives me yet another tender kiss.

“I love you, Princess,” he whispers.

We walk back into the living room hand in hand and my mother looks up at us and smile.

“I see my baby feels better.”

A slight heat rises to my cheeks. My mom knows what she sent Troy in there to do with me, and in a way, it is embarrassing. It isn’t something you normally want your mother to know. She has Mason in her arms, dressed and ready to go, and even has packed his diaper bag.

Troy takes Mason from my mom and walks out to place him in the car. My mom and I walk out together.

“Destiny, remember, I know what it’s like to be pregnant. I am so happy that Troy treats you the way he does. I have always known he loves you, but every time I see y’all together, I see just how much more he falls in love with you. Treasure him, Baby.”

“I do, Mom. I can’t imagine a life without Troy. He means so much to me.”

The country club is already packed when we arrive. Our families and friends are waiting for Mason. After all, he is the guest of honor. I lose track of my son as he is passed from person to person. Not only is this Mason’s birthday party, but it will also be the last time all of us will be together like this. This is the end of college life for Troy and me. We are moving on to the real world.

My mom has us move to the front table. Mason holds my dad’s hand and walks toward us. After Mason is in his high chair, Troy and I sit on either side of him. A huge cake is brought out, candles are lit, and the crowd begins to sing happy birthday. Mason enjoys being the center of attention. Soon a small cake is brought out as well. Troy and I help Mason blow out his candle and then the small cake is placed in front of him. It is an instant mess. I laugh until I cry watching Mason play in that little cake. It is a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life.

I look out across the room and see all the smiling faces of friends that I have met in school and can’t help but feel a little sad that another chapter of my life is ending. I am no longer Destiny Williams, college girl. I am now Destiny Daniels, wife and mother. I am an adult. It hits me hard at this moment. I am not sure when it happened, but somewhere in the last two years, I have gone from teenager to adult without realizing it. While there is some sadness in recognizing this, there is also joy and so much more. I am eager to see what life in Vegas will be like for Troy and me. I can’t wait for the new chapter to begin.

I look at Mason who has been cleaned up and changed for the second half of his party and I smile. My hand goes to my belly in the protective gesture that every expectant mother does at one time or another. I can’t believe I have another life growing in me. I felt so complete when Mason was born, but now that I am expecting again, it feels like I am truly complete.

My heart soars with love as I look at Troy talking to some guys on the football team. I can tell he is enjoying this time. I see David talking to some other guys from the team and it makes me think of all the times Troy and David have picked on me. Sometimes, I can’t believe they are the same two punks from my childhood. This brings a smile to my face. All the memories that we share include Amy, who is talking to my mom, and I know the four of us have been placed in each other’s lives for a reason. The four of us have a bond that no one can ever break. We know one another inside and out. We will always be there for each other.

The next two weeks are spent packing up our home to move to Vegas. Troy and I are excited, and Mason doesn’t care one-way or the other because he is just a baby. The movers have loaded everything into the truck and I am walking around the house for the last time. Tears pool in my eyes. This is the first house Troy and I lived in as husband and wife. The home where we brought Mason home from the hospital. The memories in this house are precious. That is why I made Troy promise that we will not sell this house. He has agreed with me even though he does not fully understand my reasons, but he will do anything to make me happy. We have contacted a realtor who will be in charge of renting it out for us. I just ask one thing from her. To make sure it is rented to a new couple just starting out so they can make memories like Troy and I did. Yes, I am a hopeless romantic. I admit it.

Troy comes back in the house and finds me in what was our bedroom. He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls my back into his chest.

“Princess, we will make new memories in Vegas. Home is wherever we are together.”

I know he is right.

I turn toward his face and give him a quick kiss. “I know, Troy.”

My parent's drive David, Troy, Mason, and me to the airport. We stand there in the airport looking at one another, no one wanting to say goodbye. But it really isn’t goodbye, just a see you later. My dad has already been looking for a coaching job in Vegas because my mom says she can’t be away from her babies and grandbabies. She is so funny. Amy has come to see us off. She is taking care of packing up the old house we all shared my freshman year. Then she will fly out a week later to join us in Vegas for a while. I really hope she will stay with us. I can’t imagine life without her right there beside me.

We hug and kiss with tears mixed in. The four of us board the plane. The team has paid for us to fly first class. As I lean my head back against the seat and close my eyes, I know that the detour my life took two years ago is the best thing that ever happened to me. I know that my destiny has been fulfilled. Life is an adventure and I am waiting for the next detour.