Must Love Pogs

by Xavier Neal

  Reaching for one of the tots, I scoff, “I have not!”

  “Oh, from the day we gave you one,” he laughs at the same time he grabs his fork.

  Dad shifts the conversation away from the topic I’ve spent two days crying over and onto more fond memories of me growing up. However, the inspirational message from before isn’t lost in the endless anarchy of my mind. It plunges into the cracks of spirit and mollifies the pain.

  “Highland is losing,” Dad grumbles from our floor seats. “ Again .”

  “It’s just a rough start to the season,” I try to reassure, watching Milo Davis sink a three pointer.

  “It’s more than a rough start, Little L. We’re already out a point guard and MacMiller is quickly proving why he spends more time on the bench than he ever does in a game.”

  I lift my phone to take a recording of Milo. He steals the ball from the Mustang player, passes it, gets it passed back and makes another flawless three pointer. His speed, precision, and focus not only ignites the fire inside of me I always feel when watching athletes put their passion into it, it reminds me of watching my father play in his early years.

  “You should make Milo an alternate.”

  He darts his attention to me.

  “He’s really good, Dad. Make him an alternate this year and recruit him next.”

  “I agree,” Oliver’s voice surprisingly states from beside me. “As long as you keep the clause in his contract about not trying to date the boss’ daughter.”

  Shock at his presence sends my jaw to the floor.

  He offers my father one of the beers in his hand. “Otherwise you’ll be out another player next season too.”

  The chuckle they share simply spreads the awe further.

  Oliver holds out a plastic cup for me to take. “Sunshine.”

  Unsure of what to say, where to start, or how to fathom his presence, I simply take the drink.

  “This is really good,” Dad hums. “Is this your brother’s beer?”

  “Yes sir.”

  “This should be sold at the Highland games…” He stands to his feet and gives me a pointed look. “And Milo should be an alternate. If you two will excuse me. I have a few phone calls to make.”

  My father strolls down the side of the court for the private exit.

  Oliver doesn’t waste a moment apologizing, “I’m sorry, Sunshine.”

  The nickname makes me whimper.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t go after you when you left on Saturday. I’m sorry I let my stupid insecurities force me to pick that fight.” He lets his pinky hook around mine. “I’m sorry I made you feel like I wanted you to be someone you’re not.” Our eyes lock as the halftime buzzer booms. “I love you just the way you are, London. And I don’t just want you. I need you in my life. You are the light that keeps me from dying in the dark. This is me having the guts to go after what it is I really want. You .”

  Another swoon slips out.

  “We can take this relationship whatever direction you want at whatever pace you want-”

  “ We want.” The correction receives a smirk. “We’re not just two souls co-existing, Oliver. We’re one and…we gotta get better at acting like it.”

  His eyes light up at the same time he nods his agreement.

  “We’ll work on finding our flow . For now…what do you say we watch this game, go back to our apartment, and have sex on the balcony?”

  The crimson coat his cheeks take alleviates any lingering agony. “You wanna light up the night again, Sunshine?”

  Leaning into his embrace, I look up and confess, “I just want us to disappear for a while and forget the rest of the world exists.”

  He tightens his hold, plants a kiss on my forehead, and whispers, “You are my world, London.”

  Adrenaline thrums through my veins and I let the truth I was too afraid to admit before fall freely. “I’m ready for you to be mine too….”

  8 months later….

  Oliver’s sunscreen filled hands land firmly on my shoulders. “It doesn’t matter if you’re half black, Sunshine. You can still get sunburned.”

  I roll my eyes at his nagging.

  “The last thing I need is a wife who is already cranky from her hormones, cranky from being sunburned too.”

  “I’m not hormonal.”

  “You threw a tater tot at our waiter.”

  “He asked me when I was due!”

  “You’re pregnant , Sunshine. He was making polite conversation.”

  “I do not look pregnant.”

  His hands finish rubbing the lotion in before he turns me to face him. Lovingly, he tips my chin up. “I love you as constant as the sun rises and sets, London.” The moment I smile he adds, “But you, without a doubt, look pregnant.”

  I frown and lower my eyes to the sight of my round stomach in my strapless neon orange maternity swim suit. It was a gift from Wyatt and his wife when they heard the news. She recently expanded her lingerie business for full figured women to include a line of maternity swimwear and lingerie for women of all sizes. I absolutely love her and also love the fact that Oliver and Wyatt get along. We actually ran into them about a week after we returned home from our anniversary trip to Australia where we watched Liam surf. The four of us unexpectedly had lunch together and then they were the witnesses for our impromptu wedding. It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t even on our minds when the two of us met for sushi that day. We ate, shared some of our favorite moments from our trip, and then randomly looked at each other like an unspoken joint proposal. Wyatt, wild and spontaneous like me, egged us on. We bought mood rings from one of the thrift shops and went to the court house. They’re still our bands all these months later. I never wanted anything else. While neither of our parents were shocked by our surprise decision, both were thrilled at the idea of throwing us a reception. Problem was deciding who got to throw it and where . We ended up compromising, something we have finally mastered the art of. The reception was at his parent’s place in the country, but my parents paid for all the catering and decorations. His family and my friends from all around the globe came to partake in the mash up. My sisters were not invited. Oliver put his foot down about inviting such negative energy on our sacred day. I didn’t object. We had exotic foods with the main theme being potatoes. There was a wild array of music which ranged from classical to country to K-Pop. We had candles lit by Neptune goddesses and danced in circles around them with our parents. We also had traditions his parents engaged in when they got married, like the final dance in cowboy boots. The weekend following the reception we found out I was pregnant, and I will admit it has been a helluva thing to balance. I don’t know how Azura did it with so much grace. Oliver pleaded with me to travel less and to look for more local talent at least while pregnant, which would allow him to be close by in case I needed him. I agreed, but in return, requested he find a way to work remotely when I need to leave the state, like for today’s surfing competition in Hawaii. Turns out, Oliver loves to travel almost as much as I do. Gives me hope he’ll be alright with taking our little girl around the world with us. Unlike my father though, I plan to give her a more stable home life than living out of a hotel room all the time. I’ve actually come to enjoy the mundaneness of a more laid-back life style. Our downtown apartment always offers a feeling of warmth even when there are no candles lit and dinners out at our favorite local spots with friends allow for the small guard, being a sports celebrity requires you to have, to come down. Even the little things like trying to tidy up the apartment have a way of helping balance the chaos of never having a tidy schedule.

  “Sunshine, you’re still beautiful five months pregnant with my child.” His eyes drink in my plump tits. “Very sexy with all the additional curves.”

  The feeling of his hands groping my ass makes me giggle. “You do know people can see where your hands are.”

  “You do know you’ve done an amazing job teaching me not to care .”

  He doesn’t. He’s definit
ely not the same man I met over a year ago. He’s more relaxed. More comfortable with his quirks and more appreciative of mine. While he used to hate the way we weren’t on the “5 Year Plan” his friends seemed to be on, he’s learned to embrace the differences, and I’ve learned to adopt the important ones. We always make time for what one another declares important and deal with displeasure when it hits. He still doesn’t love the fact that I spend so much time around other men, but he’s made his peace with it, and even learned to trust some of them. Like Milo and Liam. OH! And Guy Klinger who he met when he accompanied me to the Dog Sled Races the week before we went to Ollie and Ford’s wedding.

  The announcer commands for everyone’s attention, yet my eyes cut to the left where Liam is shaking out his limbs. He catches me staring and offers a small wave.

  Oliver’s hands slide around my waist and onto my stomach. His head drops to my shoulder. “You know he’s gonna win, right?”

  I give him a smirk. “What makes you say that?”

  “Aside from watching him surf in Australia?”

  “He lost there.”

  “Barely. Besides, we both know he’s increased his practice and pushed himself. You’ve seen it and blogged about it firsthand. I have read those posts and seen the footage. He’s gonna win because you knew he was a winner the minute you saw him.”

  A loving look glosses my face. “You bet your ass I did.”

  My husband lightly chuckles when he realizes I was speaking in reference to him.

  Our mouths slip together, and the rest of the world fades away as it always does.

  There’s no program manual or guide book to winning love or life. Sometimes you get passed on during the draft so the team you really belong on has a chance to accept you. To love you. Life is meant to be lived, and loving someone with everything you have is one of the wildest, most extreme, life changing things you can do. This is our sport. Our collector’s edition POG. Our legendary adventure in progress. Our soul driven, spirit tied exploration of our joint existence. We both found the balls to go for true love, and I believe when it comes to loving each other we always will.

  Did you enjoy reading this story?

  Please consider leaving a review sharing your love for it!

  Want to hear some good news?

  Turn to the next page!

  Next book in the series:

  “Must Love Logs”, featuring Eddie Shaw!

  Have you met Ford and Ollie?

  They have their own standalone novel.

  “Must Love Hogs”

  Thirty.

  Single.

  And apparently a pig parent in a custody battle...

  Olivia "Ollie" Steele isn't expecting to take care of the pet pig her ex-boyfriend randomly leaves behind, but when a handsome, green eyed stranger comes by demanding custody, she absolutely refuses to let go of her new pink pal. Never mind that she lives in a downtown city apartment or that she's not sure if pigs are on the approved pet list. Her stubbornness causes the two of them to start an unusual friendship. Before either has a chance to overthink the many, many reasons why they shouldn't fall in love, they do.

  Can these two opposites make it work or will Ollie end up exactly where she started?

  Thirty.

  Single.

  And a pig parent in a custody battle.

  Wondering about the woman who managed to rope Blake’s heart? They have their own standalone novel as well.

  “Must Love Jogs.”

  Thirty.

  Single.

  And apparently the most boring person on the planet.

  Mable "Abby" Atkins does very little outside of rehearsing, but when a handsome, brown eyed stranger insists they get to know each other better she has a hard time resisting. However, she shouldn't be riding mechanical bulls or tagging along on his runs, and he shouldn't be captivated by her cello playing or appreciation for cappuccinos. Most importantly, they shouldn't be falling in love without even realizing it.

  Is there space for fun to permanently reside or will she end up exactly where she started?

  Thirty.

  Single.

  And the most boring woman on the planet.

  Interested in learning more about Azura McCoy?

  Check out her and Destin’s story today!

  Error (Adrenaline Series #5)

  Destin McCoy has a flawless reputation behind the keyboard and in the sheets. However, when he is put to the test by the Drug Lord who is responsible for his brother's deaths, he has a choice to make. Save the girl who has helped him heal or take the vengeance he deserves. Will Destin make the right choice, or will this just become an error?

  Curious about the man who runs Wilcox Whiskey? Check out Private today!

  Private (Private Series #1):

  Mogul or Monster?

  Billionaire Weston Wilcox hasn't been seen by the outside world in almost a decade. No face to face meetings. No interviews. No social media accounts. Despite his ghost demeanor he continues to financially flourish and make his fellow investors richer with every decision. Throughout the years many have sought to discover the man inside the mogul while others have spread legends painting him as a heartless monster consumed by greed. None of it matters to him. Weston's true identity is secured away in his estate of solitude, which consists of the only people in the entire world he believes he can trust. That is until he's asked to allow a guest access to the property under extreme circumstances. One he knows he shouldn't. It doesn't take long before his world is turned upside down, unexpected threats arise, and Weston's forced to ask himself what really should be kept private?

  Interested in the Prince and Princess Wyatt cooked dinner for?

  Check out the COMPLETE Duched Series today!

  Brie Sanders' entire life is on the brink of change. Her college graduation is just a few months away, she has no idea what to do with her life when the degree is in her hands, and is most likely going to be kicked out of her apartment when her best friend's boyfriend moves in.

  Enter One Nightstand King, Kellan Kenningston, who also happens to be a real-life prince as well as a duke.

  From the first blinding white smile, Kellan becomes a royal pain in the butt who keeps her laughing and Brie becomes the breath of fresh air he desperately needs.

  Unfortunately, for both of them, this isn't a fairy tale with an immediate happily ever after. The media is a monster that can barely be tamed. Balls are not beautiful and bright. And more often than not, true evil is found in surprising forms.

  Still a tad bit curious about Preston Wyatt? Meet his brother and catch another appearance of him in this standalone novel!

  Already Written: A Hollywood Exchange Novel

  When clumsy romance writer, Minka Knight, is asked out on a date by Pierce Wyatt, famous T.V. star, she finds herself in the all too familiar story line where opposites attract. Between their different lifestyles, crazy schedules, and unpredictable meddling friends, being together doesn't seem like the right option. However, as the weeks go by the two discover reality really is stranger than fiction and no love story is already written.

  Thank Yous!

  I don’t want to forget anyone or have someone feel they went unappreciated, so let me deliver this beautiful statement to every reader, every author, every blogger, street teamer, PA, family member and stranger who has offered me support. Thank you! You make each long keyboard stretch beyond worth it. You give so much love and support into what I do it makes the entire process that much more beautiful. While I may not be the same level of hippie as London, I do believe in synced energies and feeding passions. THANK YOU for feeding mine.

  Until next time….

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