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“Troy, please, your…sex drive is… inhuman. Haven’t…ah… you had…right enou—right there, right fucking there!”

Thirty minutes later…

His voice rumbles at my neck. “Baby, you can’t fake sleep, you’re ticklish.”

“S-s-s-stahp. That better be your elbow. Oh, God. How? How, how, how are you hard again? How?”

One week later…

“To announce the New York Giants’ selection, two-time bowl winner Roy Hall.”

Parker and I sit on the couch, our hearts beating in our throats as the old-timer walks toward the stage.

“Thank you. For the sixty-ninth selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, The New York Giants select Troy Jenner, wide receiver, Texas Grand University.”

Parker and I jump from the couch, screaming bloody murder as the camera pans in on Troy, who’s already hugging Pamela, tears shining in both their eyes while Dante jumps at their sides, his fists held high in the air. Troy whispers to Pam, who’s bawling, before he scoops Dante up in his arms. I hated that I couldn’t attend, but I have a school year to finish. I also have a house to pack and very little time to do it. Not to mention Parker is leaving tomorrow for two months. I need to get in as much time with her as I can because we’re family and both our lives are about to change, drastically.

Troy whispers into Dante’s ear, and I can see him mouth, “Love you, Mommy!” When Troy winks at the camera and taps his watch, I know it’s for me. He’s telling me it’s time for us. Once we’ve fulfilled our obligations in Texas, our future begins. It’s amazing what can happen in a year, in a day, in a moment. And this moment helped to map our future.

We had plans either way, because…I’m a planner. And no matter what happened with the draft, we had backup. But as long as we were together, it didn’t matter which plan we followed because I stayed confident knowing we would be fine either way. Troy gave me that. That peace of mind. It’s a gift that I don’t think he’ll ever fully understand.

All our plans consisted of starting our family, it was the where that was up in the air. And the family addition negotiations are still ongoing. Nightly.

Parker is still blubbering as the draft coverage goes to commercial. “God, that was awesome.”

“Yeah,” I run my fingers underneath my eyes and nod. “He did it.”

“He so did it,” she beams.

I toss a couch pillow at her. “Lady, from the minute you met him you were team Troy, even when you tried to pull that tough guy bullshit.”

“Fine, I admit I love him, now. He gives me hope.” She sighs. “And I can’t believe you’re moving to New York. Shit,” her voice cracks and then she’s crying again as I pull her to me.

“How often do you fly through La Guardia?”

“Like every three weeks.”

“So, I’ll see you every month.”

“Yes.” She nods into my shoulder.

“And I’ll have your room ready.”

“Okay.”

“No more crying. I, for one, am done crying in 2019.”

“Okay.”

“Damn it, Parker, stop it,” I say, getting misty-eyed as the doorbell rings.

It’s UPS, and I can’t for the life of me meet the eyes of the delivery man. I sign for the package, opening it to pull out a Giant’s jersey. I hold it up and inhale. Troy’s doused it with his cologne.

“Oh, my God,” Parker says, her eyes tearing up. “He had that delivered at the exact right moment.”

“Well, to quote my son, ‘duh.’ He is their employee. Sweet, isn’t it?”

Parker nods, tears still running down her face as I sniff the jersey.


Tags: Kate Stewart The Underdogs Romance