Fair Game: A Football Romance (18 page)

“Hey, you’re not leaving.”

“No, but I’m not wearing damp jeans and a sweater to bed, and I’d like to brush my teeth if you think you can stand being parted from me for five minutes.”

“Yeah, okay, but if you try to sneak onto the couch, I’ll crawl out there with you, you know I will.”

“I’ll be right back. Since when were you so dramatic?”

“Since I realized you’re mine again.”

Her body stills and our eyes lock, and I realize this beauty that I’ve loved since the sixth grade is mine again and I can’t ever risk losing her again.

“I can’t kneel down for a couple of months but Amethyst Lynn Amero, will you please do me the honor of being my wife?”

Her hand flies to her mouth and her eyes widen with surprise and I wait, and wait, and wait for an answer. She stands frozen in place, shocked into silence, or at least that’s what I hope is the reason for her lack of response.

I dip my chin and look at her like I’m looking over a pair of imaginary glasses. “Well? Are you going to keep me guessing as torture or is this your way of saying no?”

“Oh my God.”

Well, that’s something, it’s not yes but it’s not no either.

“Oh my God.”

Again with the “Oh my God.
”
Maybe she’s referring to me as god? No, that’s not her style, she’s speechless or semi-speechless, and she can only say the words “Oh my God.”

“Um, babe, you’re freaking me out a little here, is that “Oh my God yes” or “Oh my God no” or “Oh my God what the hell?”

She drops her trembling hand, and finally she speaks the words I’m dying to hear.

“Oh my God yes!” she squeals, and I feel Harper sit up in bed.

“Yes what, Daddy?” she asks, rubbing her eyes with her fists.

I reach out and take Amethyst’s hand. “Amethyst said she would marry me, isn’t that great news?” She blinks several times and smiles a sweet sleepy smile before laying her head back down on the pillow. I’m not sure she’ll even remember this tomorrow, but I know one person who will.

“Are you serious? You want to get married, like so the whole world knows you’re taken?”

I chuckle, “Yes, like so the whole world knows that
we
are taken.” I love it when she randomly throws a ‘like’ into a sentence. It reminds me of the way my sisters talked valley girl when we were little. Three of us were born at the tail end of that decade, but we tried like hell to bring it back when we were preteens.

She flings herself into my arms and squeezes me so tight it’s hard to breathe, and that’s pretty impressive. I’ve walked away from a thousand-pound pile up without having the wind knocked out of me, but this little woman is literally taking my breath away.

“Whoa there baby, you can’t marry me if you kill me,” I say, peeling her arms from my neck.

“I can’t believe you just did that. Do you realize you just asked me to marry you? That’s like, forever, no getting out of it, total commitment.”

“Yes, I realize that. Do you realize my proposal is four to six years late?”

She’s holding onto my shoulders, looking down at me with her hair veiling our faces, protecting us from the dangers of our world for a few seconds of stress-free bliss. Her sweet breath on my face feels like a warm summer breeze and the love in her eyes shimmers like the surface of water on a bright sunny day. I wish we could stay just like this forever. Together, with Harper, alone and safe in a protected cocoon where we could stare into each other’s eyes instead of facing the tangled problems of our lives.

“It’s not late, you’re right on time. Remember my mom was always saying everything happens for a reason? I believe in that, you know? Maybe all this had to happen to help someone else going through the same thing, or maybe worse. And you wouldn’t have Harper if life had taken you in a different direction. I know it’s not how we planned it, but it is what it is. I’m happy, no, make that ecstatic, that things came full circle and we found our love again.”

“Me too.”

“I never dreamed I would love you again. I hated you for not saying goodbye and even more for not telling me why you left. I thought it was me, I thought I wasn’t enough. When I saw the tabloids, I figured I had been holding you back, keeping you from what you really wanted in life.”

I cover her lips with my finger, blissful moment over. She blamed herself for this. I want to kill my father. He has no idea the shit storm he unleashed on our lives when he fucked us over with his addiction. And the worst part is, he never learned his lesson, he’s probably sitting at a black jack table right now giving his paycheck to a dealer while my mother worries if he’ll even come home alive.

“None of this was your fault. I’m so sorry you ever thought that. I wish I were a magician so I could make it all disappear.”

“I love you. I should have tried harder to talk to you, I should have flown out here and sat in front of your hotel waiting until you came out to confront you, but I let my hurt and my pride keep me from you.”

I sit up to reinforce my next words and wince when a lightning bolt of pain shoots up my leg into my ass and up my spine. “Fuck.”

“You’re taking some Percocet or I’m not marrying you, Mr. Stubborn.”

“Okay, I’ll take the damn pills. You’re right, it’s killing me.” She starts to get up but I grab her wrist.

“They would have killed you if you had come to find me. I thank God every day you didn’t.”

She cups my cheek with her hand and I release her wrist. We both made mistakes and like she said, it is what it is. No sense rehashing the past anymore, it’s time to make our future.

Chapter Twenty-One

Amethyst

I am marrying Adam Silver. Amethyst Lynn Silver. ALS. Okay, those aren’t the best initials, but who cares? I’m getting married!

I can’t sleep. I’m sandwiched between my hunky fiancé and his little mini me. I’m excited and sweaty and worried about what tomorrow will bring.

Adam is sleeping like a baby after I loaded him up with Percocet and Ibuprofen. I can’t believe he let his pain get so out of control, and all so he could stay alert in a damn safe house. Men. He was breaking out in a sweat, clenching his fists so tight his knuckles were white when he finally took the medicine. If I have to crush them and slip them in his food like a mom slipping green beans under mashed potatoes, I’ll do it from now on. It’s unethical as a nurse but I’m about to be his wife, and I’m sure I can figure out a way to make it a justifiable wifely obligation. To have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in sickness and pain-free health. Yep. Works for me.

I want to tell Brea that Adam and I are back together. She’s going to flip her shit and she’s also going to give me so much shit. She always knew that deep down I still loved him, even when I insisted I didn’t. She harassed me every time I shushed her during his ESPN interviews, and she insulted the Redkings just to get a rise out of me.

I left my phone in my purse on the dresser. I can probably slide down to the end of the bed and take it in the living room. Carefully, I lift the sheet and slip my legs out from under it. I shed the comforter an hour ago when I started roasting.

I peek at Adam. He hasn’t moved a muscle, and Harper’s breathing is slow and easy. They’re both out cold. I scoot down the bed and pad across the room to where my purse is open on the dresser with my phone right on top.

In the living room, I sit with one foot tucked under me on the end of the couch to text her the news.

Me –
Guess what!

There is a pause before she answers, because she’s probably sleeping. I know she never shuts off her phone though, so I wait.

Brea –
It’s two in the morning, but what?

Me –
I’m getting married!

Another pause, this one is longer. I imagine her turning on the light and smacking herself to be sure she’s not dreaming. And then it comes.

Brea –
What the fuck? Are you drunk? Did you go to Vegas instead of Virginia or Florida? Did someone kidnap you? Is this a coded message for help?

I cover my mouth and laugh. That’s Brea, keepin’ it real. The coded message remark is funny. Only she would think of something like that.

Me –
Not drinking. Still in Virginia. Haven’t been kidnapped yet. And no, this is not written in code. Adam asked me to marry him.

Brea –
No fucking way! And what do you mean you haven’t been kidnapped YET?

Me –
He told me what really happened, it’s a long story, but he never meant to leave me, he was forced. We talked, and well … lots of stuff, but he asked me tonight and I said yes.

Brea –
Ha, told you! I knew you still loved him. Where are you? When are you coming home? When’s the wedding? Where will you guys live? How’s that going to work with both of you traveling? Is his leg going to heal? That was a pretty bad sack. I saw it on the news. Don’t leave me in St. Louis all alone. God, you’re getting married, I can’t believe it!

Shit, I should probably just call her, but I don’t want to wake anybody up. This cracker box apartment isn’t set up for privacy.

Me –
I’m not sure how to answer a few of those questions, but we will talk about it all soon. I can’t call right now. Adam’s sleeping.

Brea –
Kidnapping? Answer me or I call and wake him up.

I should have never made that offhand comment about kidnapping. I can’t tell her I’m in a safe house without telling her the whole story.

Me –
Long ass story, can I explain tomorrow on the phone?

Brea –
I don’t like this, sounds like code for “call the police I need help.”

Me –
I swear, it’s not code, I’m fine, see …

I click a picture of me sticking out my tongue and send it to her.

Brea –
Hmm, okay, call me before noon or I’m calling for backup.

Me –
I will. Love ya.

Brea –
You better, and love you too Mrs. Silver ooo la la

Me –
heart emoji, friends holding hands emoji, kiss emoji

Brea –
Smiley face sticking out its tongue emoji

That’s her favorite. If she ever had to signal me in code, she would send the smiley face that’s crying, because she hates that one.

I rest my phone against my chest, and the room is pitch black without the glow of the screen. It’s kind of creepy so I tilt it up and stare at the home screen. Maybe I’ll check out Facebook or Instagram for a while.

The phone vibrates and I drop it in my lap when I jump. What the hell, Brea? I reach down and pull it from between the cushions, cursing her for startling me, but when I look at the screen, it’s not her.

ASS – What are you wearing?

It’s Adam; I programmed his initials into my phone under his name when he gave me the number. I guess now that we are engaged, I should assign him a nicer name and remove the angry face emojis and the middle finger emoji from his name on my contact list.

What’s he doing awake? And are we really going to sext twenty feet away from each other?

Me – Why are you awake?

Adam – Because you are. Who are you texting?

Me – Nunya

Adam – Oh, but you’re wrong. You agreed to be my wife, so everything is my business.

Me – I don’t see a ring on my finger yet, and since when does the husband title give you the right to know who I’m texting?

Adam – You will have a rock so big you won’t be able to lift your arm on that finger later today. And I want to know you’re safe, no rights involved. I love you, that’s all.

Now I feel shitty. My knee-jerk sassiness is an old habit I use to protect myself. It’s going to take some time to adjust to being in love instead of hate.

Me – Sorry about the sass, I love you too. And don’t make the ring too big, I’d like to keep my finger attached to my hand.

I read a story recently about a woman who had her finger cut off in a crowd to steal her ten-carat ring. I couldn’t believe it; she said she would have gladly handed it over if the thief had asked for it. How horrible.

Adam – You’ve been reading travel magazines, haven’t you?

Me – Yes! How’d you know?

Adam – Lucky guess. Come here before I crawl out there.

Me – I can’t sleep, it’s too hot between you two.

Adam – If I didn’t have this brace on, and if my five-year-old daughter wasn’t sleeping in the bed next to me, do you know what I’d be doing?

Oh God, here we go.

Me – No, tell me.

Adam – We would be at home and I would undress you so slowly you’d be panting by the time you were bare.

Me – And what about you? Would you already be naked or do I get to undress you too?

Adam – I’m already naked and hard as a rock, you have your greedy hands around my cock sliding them up and down while I take the pins from your hair.

Me – Mmm, that sounds nice, what happens next?

Adam – I remove the last pin, and you shake out your silky black waves and slip your sexy red lips around the head of my cock and tease it with short sucks while you play with my balls.

My eyes roll back into my head and I hold the phone against my chest while I form that visual in my mind, but it buzzes impatiently twice in succession.

Adam – Don’t leave me hanging here, baby

Adam – I can see you in the mirror.

I look toward the entrance that leads to the bedroom and see Adam’s reflection in the mirrored closet doors. His phone lights up his face, and I’m sure that’s all he can see of me as well.

Me – So you can. I’m imagining your cock in my mouth, how about you continue sexting me?

Adam – Gladly, but I want you to do more than visualize.

Me – You want me to touch myself?

Adam – Yes, slide your hand into those sexy, fuck-me, red lace panties.

Only for Adam. I’ve never masturbated in front of anyone but him. I drop my knee against the couch and move my panties aside to slip my finger between my wet folds.

Me – Okay

Adam – Are you wet?

Me – Yes, soaked

Adam – Look at me

I look up and see his smoldering eyes in the mirror, that look alone could probably make me come, but this is fun, and I want it to last.

Me – Your fuck me eyes are going to make me come

Adam – That’s the goal here, baby

Me – Make it last, what am I doing now?

Adam – I fucking love you.

Me – I love you too, keep talking.

Adam – I slide out of your mouth and carry you to the shower.

Me – The ridiculously large shower in your bathroom?

Adam – That’s the one. If we were in my shower, I’d stand you under the rain showerhead and stand back and watch the water run down between your gorgeous breasts and down your legs to those adorable feet of yours. I’d circle you like a predator stroking my cock while you squirm under my gaze.

Me – You’ve done this before, haven’t you? That’s hot, don’t stop.

Adam – Then I’d drag the bench under the water so you’d have a place to brace yourself when I bend you over.

Me – I’m bent over, ass up? Whatever will you do next?

Adam – Are you still touching yourself?

Actually I’ve stopped, the reel of images he’s providing distracted me.

Me – Yes, a little distracted, but I’m still there.

Adam – Keep moving, slide your fingers around your clit, I want to watch you enjoy yourself.

I glance up and see his eyes locked on me.

Me – Okay, but I can’t text much one handed.

Adam – You don’t need to, just lay back and relax.

Me – Okay.

Adam – I slide my fingers along your spine until I reach your soft ass. I use both hands to spread you apart and massage your pretty little rosebud. I’m on my knees behind you now with my tongue on your pussy, your legs shake when I lick you along your slit and end on the pucker of your ass. Do you like that, baby?

Me – Uh huh

Adam – Good girl, I don’t want you to come yet though so I’m standing up. I’m running my cock along your slit between your cheeks and back down over and over until you beg.

Me – Please, don’t tease.

Adam – I’m sliding inside your hot pussy, sinking deep inside of you, holding onto your hips. You make the sexiest noises, baby. I love that.

I’m not sure if he’s insinuating or if he can actually hear me whimper, but I do. Imagining him taking me from behind with my hand roaming over my hot button is going to get me off sooner than later.

Adam – I’m sliding in and out of you, rubbing my thumb against your pretty pink rosebud. I could slide a finger in. Do you want that, baby?

I can’t even reply anymore, I know he’s watching me so I just nod up and down.

Adam – I knew you’d like that, do you feel the pressure, is it good? I’m picking up the pace now, you feel so good, I can’t hold on much longer. You look so fucking sexy with your ass in the air and the water running up your back onto your long pretty neck. Are you close yet?

I nod again because I am so close, the erotic image he has flashing in my mind paired with my busy fingers is the perfect recipe for a killer orgasm.

Adam – Let go. I want to see you come, Ame, come for me now.

One last pass over that bundle of nerves and I gasp, dropping my head back on the arm of the couch while I come silently. Sparks fly behind my tightly closed eyelids and I thrust my hips forward, pulsing around my own fingers.

When it’s over, I slowly lift my head and look into the bedroom where Adam’s eyes are watching me full of lust and desire. I feel guilty that he did all the work and I’m the one having the fun but when he smiles, I know it doesn’t matter. He loved that as much as I did, and I’m sure he knows I’ll pay him back as soon as we are alone again.

Adam – Nice job champ. I love watching you come.

Me – I’ll repay the favor soon.

Adam – Oh, I know you will, I’m collecting on that debt asap.

The mention of collecting debt leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Adam realizes his bad choice of words right away.

Adam – Sorry, didn’t mean to kill the mood like that.

I get up and go to the kitchen to wash my hands and return to bed with my sexting partner.

I don’t care how hot it is or that I can’t sleep, I need to feel him next to me, forever.