Chapter Thirty-Five

 

Jordan

HAPPILY EVER AFTER depends on many factors in the lives of professional football players. A winning season is one of those factors. I wish I could report the Pronghorns won the Super Bowl but I can’t. We did make it to the first round of the playoffs, where we lost to Killian’s team. The Scorpions took out their revenge on the season-opening loss to us. They stomped us. It wasn’t a nice way to end the season but after the mental defeat wore off, we accepted our winning record for the year determined to make the following year even better. When you’re winning, the fans love you and for the first time we took our team to the playoffs, so we rode high on public support.

Coaches, players, and fans took my relationship with Aiden like champs. Poor Lane, no matter how many times we denied it, he remained the jilted other man. He didn’t mind and he told me it did wonders for him with the ladies.

I moved in with Aiden and we navigated the waters of living together. Between public appearances, endorsements, staying in shape, charity events, and off-season practice we’re always busy.

A few weeks into off-season, Aiden became unusually quiet and I knew something was bothering him. Contract negotiations are always hell and Aiden’s contract is on the board now that he’s a free agent. Of course he wants more money and he’s earned it with this year’s stats. I never doubted the Pronghorns would come around and meet his demands. The waiting is hell, though.

On a rare shopping day with Candice and Steph, the three of us end up at a sports bar for lunch so we can catch up on family gossip, mostly about Steph’s new man, and see a few sports highlights.

The new man in question is an attorney and Steph blushes whenever Candice brings him up. “She gets those mushy ‘I want you’ eyes like my brother does with you,” she tells me to tease Steph.

“I do not,” Steph says on a strangled laugh.

The three of us are laughing when Aiden’s picture flashes across the screen and my not-so-favorite sportscaster cuts in. Mike Goodwyn is in rare form.

“The Pronghorns’ favorite little kicker won’t be happy that her boyfriend is moving to Arizona and taking the recently retired Killian MacGregor’s spot as starting quarterback.”

I literally gasp when he says it. Candice’s hand comes down on mine. “It’s not true. No way would my brother leave you.”

I dig my out phone, which has been on silent, from my pocket and see that I’ve missed several calls and texts from Aiden. I read one of the texts asking me to call him. The last text asks me to meet him back at the apartment.

My heart is beating a hundred miles an hour because I absolutely know what Mike Goodwyn said is true. It’s also the reason Aiden has been moody lately and the ass didn’t tell me. I’m caught between anger, shock, and profound sadness.

Candice and Steph want to come with me to face their brother, but I tell them no. I walk through the front door of our apartment ready for a fight. The look on Aiden’s face stops me.

He’s only wearing a pair of brown board shorts. My eyes wander down his body from his head to the tips of his bare feet and then travel back up. It’s his expression that makes my heart go cold. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t say anything. Someone leaked it to the press this morning and as soon as I heard, I tried calling you.”

All the fight goes out of me. Aiden is miserable. “You’re going,” I say because there would be no worry about any of this if he weren’t.

His eyes gut me. “I wanted to talk to you about it first.”

He spreads his arms and I walk into them knowing he just answered my question. The man I love is moving to another state to play for another team. He doesn’t need to tell me all the reasons. Money, a front line that kicks ass, and the chance to win that coveted Super Bowl ring. I get it.

I’m also dying inside.

***

Aiden

When my agent called two weeks ago with a possible offer from the Scorpions, I couldn’t believe it. He told me about a signing bonus bigger than my current yearly income and I almost dropped the phone. I’m sure every player who faces the option of moving to a new team feels like I do. The Pronghorns are my extended family. They’re part of me and I’m part of them. The difference between me and those other players is they don’t have a woman they love staying behind because she’s a Pronghorn.

The secrecy of the negotiations has made my life hell for two weeks. My mom and Ty upended their lives once to follow me and I know without asking that they won’t do it again. Candice is too involved in her travel and school teams to readily make the move even if they could convince her. They’ve made a life here. So had I.

I love Jordan with my entire being.

She understands dreams, though. When mine comes true, a huge part of me will stay behind with her. I hold her in my arms and try to find the words to explain why I’m taking the offer. Money and fame seem like poor excuses.

“I’m sorry,” I say again because I. Am. So. Damn. Sorry.

Her tears wet my shirt and my heart breaks a little more. I’ve seen Jordan in almost every situation, including physical pain, and she never cries. It makes her sadness much more real. “Don’t say anything right now, just hold me,” she whispers.

Eventually, we make our way to the couch. “Do your parents know?” she asks softly.

“I called Mom and left her a message after I tried to call you. She hasn’t called back. She had something planned today with Ty and I’m not sure when they’re expected home.” I rub Jordan’s arm and smooth her hair off her face. “It killed me not to tell you about this. I argued until I was blue in the face.” She shrugs slightly and I try to think of something more to say that will make this right. It’s a lost cause because I knew this would be impossible.

Jordan takes a deep shuddering breath. I’m worried she’ll begin crying again but she squirms around and straddles my lap. Her swollen, watery eyes will haunt me forever. She cups my face and brings her lips almost to mine. “I love you and I want you happy. You’ll be playing for the best team in the league and your career will take off. You’re so good and the Pronghorns only hold you back.” She kisses me with those amazing pouty lips that attracted me the first time we met.

I place my forehead against hers. “I love you. We can make this work.” It’s a plea. She hasn’t had time to think about the ins and outs of us living in two states much less playing for different teams. We’ll prove love conquers all.

Her lips tremble with a brave smile. “Tell me about the deal.”

It’s such a relief to spill the details. As much as I try, I can’t hold back my excitement. Jordan listens to everything I say before resting her head against my chest and squeezing me around the waist.

“You’ll be an awesome Scorpion and better than Killian MacGregor ever was.”

It helps to laugh. “Not by a long shot, but after I get my feet wet, the record books better watch out.” I hug her back tightly even more aware of what a gem she is.

“When do you leave?” she asks.

“I’m expected in Phoenix on Monday to look through the contract and see if there are any last minute changes that need to be made before I sign.”

“Two days,” she whispers.

“We have so many things we need to discuss. Rick Dove is working overtime and issuing a press release tomorrow. I originally planned to sit down with you tomorrow.”

“I don’t want to waste our time. Make love to me, please.” She leans back and wiggles her lipstick out of her back pocket. I smile as she liberally smears it across her lips before she leans in and kisses me.

I don’t care if I can’t walk to get on the airplane Monday morning. As long as Jordan can’t walk either, I’ll be a happy man.