Cole: And you love it. What are you wearing?
Dove: Nothing. About to shower.
The image of her standing naked with her cell in her hand fills my mind. I can’t help reaching down and palming my cock over my pants.
Cole: I knew I should have snuck back in. My hand isn’t going to c
ut it. Picture?
I smile to myself. I’m joking, I think. I don’t actually expect her to send me anything, but when the next message comes, I almost drop my cell to the floor.
“Fuck me,” I grit out.
Cole: You fucking slay me, Dove. Friday night can’t come soon enough.
Dove: Do not touch yourself. Save it for me ;)
“Fuuuuuuck.” I immediately lift my hand from myself, doing as I’m told.
Cole: Oh Little Dove, do you have any idea what you’ve just started?
Dove: I have a clue. You’re welcome xo
Laughing to myself, I drop my cell to the bed and fall back.
How many hours away is Friday night, exactly?
I keep my promise, as hard as it was. Pun intended.
By the time Friday night’s game comes around, I’m damn near desperate to get my hands on my girl. I know she’s feeling the same, I see it in her eyes every time I’ve looked in them, felt her desperation in her kisses in the few moments we’ve stolen together since the other night.
The crowd roars as we take to the field for tonight’s game. The division is coming to an end, and although we might be sitting in second position, there’s still a lot to play for. Especially tonight, as West Bank currently holds the top spot. If we beat them, we’re one step closer to the playoffs. The playoffs that I haven’t been interested in until my chance at a future began to turn into a reality. Suddenly, I want to win, I want to taste that victory so I can join the Colts—or another team, if that doesn’t work out—and know that I really am bringing something to the team. That I was good enough to be a part of a winning team, and I’ll be good enough to join them.
My chest puffs a little, knowing that while I’ve been drowning in life and expelling my frustrations in the field, someone has been watching, picturing me as part of a bigger team, thinking of my future when I’ve been unable to.
I scan the crowd. I know she’s here with Remi, Ace and Conner, but although I can’t see her, I can feel her. I know she’s watching me right now, and I can’t help but smile to myself.
In just over an hour, the two of us are going to be in the car and heading toward the hotel James booked for us.
Only a few weeks ago, I never would have thought I’d have asked him for anything. But I know I don’t have the resources to give Hadley what she deserves, so I forced myself to do the one thing I swore I wouldn’t. I went to him for help.
He’s booked us into a hotel that I never would have been able to afford myself and ensured that Hadley has the best weekend away. The weekend that she deserves, after all the bullshit I’ve caused her.
I can still picture the look in his eyes as he turned to me after agreeing to my plan and told me that he was proud of me.
I hate to admit it, and I probably won’t ever out loud, but I got a little choked up.
Maybe Ace and Conner weren’t wrong to accept this new life as easily as they did.
Maybe the Bay and James aren’t all that bad.
Right before the whistle blows, I find her in the crowd, her eyes trained on me as if she was waiting for me.
“I love you,” she mouths. All I can do is shake my head in disbelief as the whistle blows and I turn my attention to the game. Just over an hour, then my entire focus can be on my girl.
Chapter Seventeen
Hadley