He's The Goal

by Faith M Troyer

  I whisper the last part, and Max breaks out into a full-on laugh.

  I love watching the corners of his blue eyes crinkle a little when something is amusing. I clasp my hand over my mouth and let out a small snort.

  “Sorry, I shouldn’t be talking about her.”

  Max’s face straightens into a severe frown, and he leans his forehead against mine.

  Shit. Now I feel dumb. Here I am bitching about how much I hate Bianca, then I go and bring her up while we’re both naked and lying in bed. Well done, Vada. Well done. Running a hand through his thick dark hair, I plant a sweet kiss on either side of Max’s chiseled jaw, reveling in the feeling of his hands roaming down to my backside.

  “You are the only woman that I want in my bed for the rest of my life, Vada. My bed and my heart. I love you.”

  I smile warmly, cupping his chin in my hands. I love this man more than he’ll ever know.

  Maxwell was the most unlikely person that I’d ever think to end up with, but over these past few months, he’s torn down all of my walls and has proven me wrong.

  I let a small gasp escape as Max gently pushes me onto my back, and I feel a kaleidoscope of butterflies explode in my belly as our eyes meet. He takes my hands and slowly raises them above my head, nudging my thigh open and to the side with his knee, which only makes the butterfly feeling more intense— Max bucks his hips against mine, and oh my god. I clench the sheets between my fists and push my head into the pillow. Max grunts a pleasured moan in my ear as his hips move faster, giving me what I need most.

  “Don’t stop, Max. Oh god, please don’t stop,” I cry softly into his neck, feeling his soft, naked skin pebble with goosebumps against my own.

  Then I come. Fuck, do I come.

  My whimpers for more shatter into loud moans as I call out his name. Max did not hold back his rapture, his muscular frame shaking as a deep moan escapes from his lips, and he crashes into my open embrace, breathless, and satisfied. I wake up an hour later. We both fell asleep shortly after our passionate sex. Max always holds me close while we sleep, and it’s the only place I’d ever want to be. I look over my shoulder to see that he’s spooning me, and I smile. His big arms wrapped around my waist, and I pay special attention to his long eyelashes that rest against high cheekbones.

  Max is gorgeous. If hockey didn’t work out for him, modeling would have been a decent choice. I see Chester, fast asleep on the chair in the corner from the corner of my eye.

  I slip his arm from my hip discreetly, as not to wake him and tiptoe to the bathroom. I’ve never been a jealous person, so when Max’s phone buzzes wildly, I don’t give it a second thought as I lunge forward to silence it, so he doesn't wake up. That’s when I see an unknown Florida number flash across the screen.

  786- 555-7854

  Maxwell, please call me back. Why did you hang up on me?

  Please talk to me. You say you love Vada, but I know you’re lying. Please give me a chance to show you how much you truly mean to me and what you said about putting a restraining order against me; I know you didn’t mean it.

  Incoming texts barrel across the screen, and My throat tightens when I realize they’re from Bianca. What the hell is with this wacko? She’s the definition of obsessive. Restraining order? This is serious!

  786- 555-7854

  Why aren’t you answering me?! Are you fucking her? You are, aren’t you?!

  How fucking dare you, Maxwell! We were perfect before her fat ass came along and ruined everything! Please pick up the fucking phone, Max, and talk to me!

  We can make this work. Vada doesn't have to know a thing.

  My fingers itch to push the green phone icon on the screen, and call this bitch up and tell her to fuck all the way off; Max is mine and to stay away. Then I look over at him and see he has one eye open, staring at me.

  Fuck. My cheeks flush hot with embarrassment. Now I appear as a textbook, jealous girlfriend, caught red-handed with my boyfriend’s phone. Handing the phone to him, I sheepishly take what feels like the longest walk to the bathroom ever, even though it’s just down the hall.

  “Psycho bitch,” I hear Max angrily curse.

  Closing the door behind me, I start the shower, watching the bathroom mirror fill with steam, and step inside. I clench my jaw so tightly with unmatched anger for Bianca that I realize my teeth ache from grinding so hard when standing under the hot water.

  “Vada, baby. Can I come in?”

  I’m in the middle of shampooing my hair when I hear Max knocking on the door and the soft creaking it makes as he opens it slightly. My throat grows tight as I think about how much shit he’s been through just recently, with losing his poor mother and not getting to say goodbye. Now, I feel like Max is in the middle of a war with Bianca and me.

  He knocks again, and I snap out of my daze.

  “Yeah, please come in,” I say and roll my eyes at my own words.

  Please come in? What is he? My neighbor asking for a cup of sugar?

  I pause for a second as I hear the bathroom door click shut behind him. The white plastic shower curtain slides open, and Max steps one toned leg inside, then the other before taking me into his arms. The hot water beats down on both of us as I lean my head against Max’s chest, hearing his heart beating wildly.

  I know Max loves me, and he is more than serious about putting a stop to Bianca, once and for all, though my stomach twists with anxious thoughts. My body tenses against his, and that’s when I feel a pair of soft lips graze my neck.

  “What is it beautiful? You can tell me.”

  I want to cry, not wanting to spill my guts to the man I’m in love with, allowing him to know just how terrified I am that this is all too much of a hassle for him, and the possibility of him bailing if things don’t get better.

  “I’m worried that by us being together might be too much for you, with everything that has happened to you recently,” I slowly begin to tell me. “We didn’t start things off on the best of terms, and this Bianca-ordeal is becoming a mess. If you felt like tapping out, I could hardly blame you.”

  What the hell am I saying? Feeling my breath hitch in my throat, I want to slap the shit out of myself for even going there.

  Max inhales a deep breath, not saying a word, and grabs my bottle of strawberry mint body wash, my eyes watching the thick, steady stream of pink liquid as it collects in his large palm. His beautiful blue eyes find mine as he directs me with a finger to turn around and face the wall. I do so without hesitation and exhale with relief, feeling the thick heels of Max’s palms and long fingers massaging the soap into my skin.

  “Vada, when I said I wanted you and only you, I meant it.”

  Masculine hands reach around to cup each one of my breasts, gently pinching my nipples. I release a low moan and let my head fall forward.

  “Bianca isn’t in the spotlight, and she’ll have to learn the hard way to cope,” Max reassures me. “Her number appeared as unknown because I blocked her earlier.”

  He continues to work on my body.

  “I called her this afternoon, after I found out what happened with you two at the grocery store, and threatened her with a restraining order if she didn’t stay the hell away from you. I’m going to the cell phone store tonight before they close and change my number. I didn’t want to drag you into it because you’ve already had a shitty day. I wanted you to discover the surprise I left for you and forget all about what happened back there. You deserve to be happy, baby.”

  At one point, I hated it when Maxwell would call me “baby.”

  I swore I’d never become his baby. I’m glad things don’t always work out in my favor.

  “I’m never going to leave your side for anything. I’m in this thing for the long haul, Vada. Whatever you need, want, or desire, just tell me, and I’ll do my damndest to give it to you.”

  Max’s hands rest sweetly at my tummy, feeling his lips kiss my racing pulse point at my neck.

  Max

  November 1
6th

  It’s the next morning, and I’m waiting for my beautiful girlfriend to get her sexy ass in gear. It’s 5 a.m., and our plane schedule is at 6:30 a.m. We still have to drive to the airport and go through security.

  I’m leaning up against the wall, fighting my eyelids as they try their best to close. Vada’s never been on a plane before, and I know she’s nervous, even though she won’t admit it. The times she went to see her grandmother was by car, so the thought of being on a commercial airliner isn’t making her want to jump up and down in excitement.

  The loud humming of a blow dryer comes from down the hallway, and I yawn a few more times before the door finally opens, and Vada emerges. I glimpse toward her, and my heart squeezes. God, she is beautiful. A long thick braid hangs over one shoulder. Her long lashes are bare of any mascara, and those high cheekbones are their natural rosy tone.

  “Are you sure we won’t crash?” she hesitantly asks.

  Now I feel bad. Yesterday, Vada was so excited about going and couldn’t wait to ride on a plane for the first time. Though, this morning when we woke up, she began acting odd and not like her funny, sassy self. Vada was quiet, withdrawn, and didn’t talk much before she went to take a shower. It wouldn’t be a considerable loss of time if we didn’t fly and just decided to drive.

  Before I can even speak, she disappears into the bedroom to find the luggage. The last thing I want for the woman I love is to have crippling anxiety about something that is supposed to be fun. I follow Vada into the bedroom and see that she’s biting her nails, almost down to the fucking quick. I take the two airline tickets out of my back pocket and rip them up, making Vada’s hazel eyes cross with confusion.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  “The tickets were a gift from the Airlines of Miami. Everyone on the team was given two tickets to any national destination they chose, and I thought Key West was perfect for us. But that’s before I knew how nervous you were to fly.”

  Her eyes still look confused, and now it seems as though she might cry.

  Fuck, I’m an asshole. It wasn’t my intention to tear the tickets and make Vada think we’re not going now because she’s too scared to fly. I sigh and collect her by the shoulders.

  “I’m sorry, I have a hard time getting to the point.” She scoffs, and I smile.

  “What I’m saying is, screw the plane. We’ll just drive there. Key West is only four hours away, and we’ll stop by Marathon on the way to have lunch.”

  Vada’s eyes widen, and a smile touches her lips.

  I won’t lie. I’d instead fly because it’s honestly the safest mode of travel. Still, seeing Vada cheer up and the nervousness fall from her shoulders makes it all worth it. I remember my first time on a plane; it was scary as hell. So I don’t blame her for having jitters the first time.

  She sighs sweetly and wraps her arms around my waist, looking up at me.

  “You don’t think I’m a scaredy-cat?”

  I shrug indifferently, looking away, but catch a glimpse and see her jaw hanging open in mock disbelief.

  “Just for that, you don’t get any dessert tonight, mister.”

  “I don’t know about that. You always let me lick the bowl,” I say, leaning down to kiss Vada’s neck.

  She giggles and slaps my chest playfully.

  “We’ll see.”

  Before we hit the road, I look up directions on the internet to the Airbnb in The Keys, and Vada puts Chester into his travel carrier. Monica agreed to take care of him for the days that we’re gone. After downloading step by step directions on my phone, I round the corner to see that the woman I love is kissing and hugging the damn cat as if he is her child. Though I guess, in a way, he is.

  I fight a smile and wrap my arms over my chest and think about Vada one day becoming a mother and knowing she’d be a damn good one. She’s so sweet, attentive, and fiercely loyal.

  “Say bye-bye to daddy,” Vada says, bringing Chester up to me, catching herself saying, daddy. She blushes and slowly looks into my eyes.

  I’m not going to lie. I like the sound of that.

  “Daddy?” I say musingly, giving the sweetest cat on the planet a loving pat on his head and a bonus chin scratch.

  The sound of Chester’s famously loud purr fills the room. Her hazel-eyed gaze falls onto mine, drifting down to my lips.

  “You’re not going to make me be a single parent for the rest of my life, are you?”

  I pull Vada close to me, Chester sandwiched in between us.

  “Not a chance.” I plant a kiss on her forehead before doing the same for Chester and setting him back down on the floor.

  The look in Vada’s eyes makes me want to drop to my knees right here, right now, and pop the question. She didn’t change who I was. She brought back the old Maxwell that I knew was in there somewhere, and I couldn’t be more thankful.

  As we packed up the car about ten minutes later, neither of us exchanged words but instead traded a few soft touches and caresses before getting into my vehicle. A few hours pass by after dropping Chester off with Monica. Vada fell asleep in the front seat about an hour ago, and the GPS says we’re about fifteen minutes away from Marathon. I see a small gas station up the road, thinking I can just pull in and fill up the rest of the way before finding a place for lunch. Finding an available pump, I pull up, coming to a slow, gentle stop to avoid waking Vada.

  Last night, I had to change the phone number that I’ve had for the previous eight years, out of necessity. I knew it would make Vada feel better too, and it was just one more way of getting Bianca out of our lives forever. Vada suggested sending a group text to everyone in my contacts before making the switch, and Jack wasn’t surprised after he received the message.

  I look over to Vada and smile. It warms my heart to see her so content and happy, all cuddled up in the front seat. Leaning over, I kiss her lips softly before exiting the car.

  After paying for the gallon of gas, and a small bag of sunflower seeds, Vada’s favorite, I head back out to the car. Though the windows are tinted, I’m sure she’s still fast asleep and left the doors locked, just in case. My phone begins to ring from my back pocket, thinking it’s Jack, I slip it from my pant’s pocket and answer, walking to the car.

  “So Bianca isn’t getting the memo that she’s old news, man. I would be careful from now on. Maybe even think about getting a restraining order in order if she doesn't stop this shit.”

  I arch an eyebrow at Jack’s words, stopping in my tracks.

  “Did she seriously call you? How did she get your number?”

  “She called my work cell, which is on my photography website, so it’s public information. She was legitimately crying, Max, telling me that this isn’t fair, you’re hurting her feelings on purpose to get back at her, and that you need to “rethink” your decision about being with Vada. She’s crazy, man.”

  I let out a long, drown out-breath through my nose, closing my eyes. When I first met B, I thought she was a stunningly beautiful woman with a devastating smile and killer body. Though, that was all I could see in her. Bianca isn’t a nice person. She gets very jealous of other women and is highly territorial and controlling.

  I lean my head back, looking to the sky, and pray for some patience.

  “Look, if she calls again, just tell her that she’s on thin ice. I’ve already talked to her last night, giving her a chance to back the hell off. I changed my number and am seriously considering a restraining order if she doesn't stop. Vada is uncomfortable, clearly but doesn't want to push the issue because she’s afraid it will cause too much strain on our relationship. I’ll do anything to make your sister happy, Jack.”

  The sounds of a camera’s shutter repeatedly snapping, intermingling with the sounds of muttered voices bubble up from the background. Jack must be at a shoot with a client. He’s quiet for a second, the sound of a door opening and clicking shut, then my phone lights up with a picture of him and me from a few years ago. I smile, seeing he’s
requesting a video chat.

  “Hey ugly,” I say, cupping my left hand just around my eyes to be able to see him better.

  It’s nice to see him again finally. When Jack and I talk, it’s usually been through text or a quick phone call, so getting to see him in real-time is a nice change.

  Jack runs a hand through his dark hair, fighting a smile. He and Vada have the same hazel eyes and full lips. He leans up against the wall, a hint of a black camera strap slung around his neck.

  “I know you love my sister, bro. I wouldn’t want her with any other guy. Though, this Bianca drama has to end one way or another. Let me know if you need help, and I’ll do whatever I can. If she keeps texting my work cell, I’ll keep all of them for evidence. The cops will want something that they can pin on her before they take action.”

  I roll my neck from side to side, trying to get a grip on reality, but I’m honestly just over it and all of this psycho’s bullshit.

  “Okay. Well, here’s hoping Bianca just stops all of this and just leave Vada and I the hell alone,” I say, but knowing it will not be that easy.

  “Speaking of my sister, how is she? I called yesterday, but she didn’t pick up.”

  I continue my short twenty paces to the car, opening the door, and see Vada is awake, but just barely. Smiling, I can’t help but chuckle as she stretches like a cat, her shoulders shooting straight up as she yawns. Sliding inside of the driver’s seat, I hand the phone over to Sleeping Beauty, who eyes me with groggy eyes.

  “Vada!” Jack calls from the screen, which catches her attention automatically.

  Her eyes light up, and she and her brother begin chatting.

  As I drive, I decide not to tell Vada about Bianca’s inappropriate and unnecessary texts to Jack, trying to probe him for information. This weekend is for fun and all about us; no need to bring up psycho bitch right now if I don’t have to.

  Her sweet giggles fill the car as we get closer to a restaurant that an employee at the gas station suggested we go check out.