by Aja Cole
She’s saying something else but I don’t notice because a long, glowing leg descends from the car, followed by sheer black fabric and my eyes trail up the rest of her as she steps out completely.
She walks towards me and I meet her, my gaze rolling over every part of her it can reach.
“Breathtaking.” I run a finger down her cheek lightly, and her red lips tip up in a familiar smirk.
“But you clearly have breath to speak.”
“If you thought I was interested before, I don’t think you know what you’ve gotten yourself into now.” I take her hand and we walk to Alena and Chris.
“I guess there are worse things.” She squeezes my hand and I glance at her sharply.
“Does that mean you’re giving me a chance? A real chance?”
“Your sister had some pretty good advice. I took it to heart.”
“And?” I turn her to face me, cupping her cheeks in my hands and searching her eyes. I want to make sure I don’t miss a single word, or meaning.
“If we’re going to give this a go, we might as well do it genuinely. I’m giving us a chance, Jaxon Blake, and you better not fuck it up.” With that, she pecks me lightly on the lips and settles back on her heels, taking my hand from her face and twining our fingers together. “Now, let’s go make our debut as a couple, playboy.”
“Jax.” Sienna whispers, softly rubbing my skin where my open collar is.
“Yes?” I meet Chris’s eyes over her head and we both laugh silently, because she and Alena have had one too many glasses of champagne tonight. The game’s tomorrow, so we’re calling it an early night, but Alena and Sienna have decided to have a sleepover.
We’re dropping them both off at Sienna’s place.
“Do you still think I’m uptight?”
“No baby, I don’t think you’re uptight. Not really.” I run a thumb over her collarbone lightly, and she rests her cheek against my chest.
“Do you think I’m a cold woman who’s going to end up alone?” She sighs, and I stiffen.
“Who told you that?”
“Winston. I rejected him at your game, and he was noootttt very happy.”
“He’s just pissed that he didn’t have a shot with you.”
“You have a shot with me.” She peers up at me, hazel eyes heavy-lidded. Someone doesn’t drink much.
“I do? What a surprise.” The elevator doors open and I loop an arm around her waist, holding her to my side. She fumbles for her keys from the small clutch purse she has and I open the door for her.
“I’ll get her into pajamas in the bedroom, you can settle Alena in there when I come out. I’m sure they’ll both pass out pretty quickly.”
“Sounds good.”
I herd my tipsy tiger into the bedroom and get her into her pajamas as efficiently as I can, and we make it through with minimal distraction.
It’s the first time I’ve had my hands on this much of her body, and I’m not a saint. I had to breathe deep more than a few times.
After she’s brushed her teeth with minimal wobbling, she comes back into the bedroom yawning and holding a bit of fabric.
“Can you tie this for me? I don’t think my fingers want to cooperate.” She hiccups.
“Tie?” I take the fabric and it unravels. It’s actually a square shape.
“Mhm, just fold it in half and then put it on my head and tie it at the front. Like a…banana? No..Bandana. Like a bandana.” She plops on the bench and I stare at the fabric then back to her.
Okay…
While I try to fold it in half correctly, she’s gathering her hair and twisting it around itself. I think I’ve folded it right, and I drape it over her head, then tie it like she said.
When I’m finished, all the hair is covered, so I guess I didn’t do it too badly.
“In you go,” I pull the sheets back and she crawls under, nuzzling her head onto the pillow with the bright red and gold patterned scarf. “Goodnight, Tiger. Travel safe tomorrow.”
“Travel?” She blinks open her eyes. “I’m going to watch your game tomorrow.”
“Really?” I thought the plan was still for her to not be there, because she wanted space.
“Wouldn’t miss it.” She says softly, relaxing, and I sit there for a little bit just gazing down at her and stroking her cheek gently.
“Goodnight, Sienna.” I press a lingering kiss to her forehead and turn off the switch, leaving her room after I make sure her dress is hung up and her heels aren’t somewhere she’ll trip on them tomorrow morning.
“She sleep?” Chris asks, holding Alena in his lap.
“Headed there, I think.”
“Cool,” he puts Alena in there and comes back out, closing the door behind him gently. We leave together, making sure the door is locked.
“I think she’s a good fit for you.” Chris says quietly, hands in his pockets as we wait for the elevator.
“Yeah?” I glance at him. “You’re not going to give me shit for pussyfooting and stressing out?”
“Of course I’m still going to give you shit, you gave me the same shit asshole.”
I incline my head and step into the elevator. “Touché. It’s going to be an uphill battle though, I can feel it. Is it worth it?”
“That’s something you have to answer for yourself. Would you rather fight for whatever you do have, or not go through the hoops?”
“I gave up on football once, and I’ve never regretted going back to it. Is this the same? Is real love the same?”
“I think so. Someone told me once that love is two people who don’t give up on each other.” He leans against the elevator wall, sighing. “Hell, maybe your sister said it actually.”
“That sounds like Alena.” I agree, pushing off the wall and walking with him through the lobby. “Well then, I guess I have my answer.”
“Great, now let’s get some sleep because we’ve got asses to kick tomorrow. This finger is going to look damned good with another championship ring.”
Sienna
“Sure you don’t want to read what they’re saying? It’s all very complimentary.” Alena pops a chip into her mouth from where she’s sitting across from me at F2O, finger scrolling on her phone. We decided to grab food before we head over to Mercedes-Benz stadium.
“Nope.”
“Don’t want to hear about what an attractive couple you are? How classy you looked? How smitten he looked?” She peeks over her phone innocently, and I roll my eyes.
“Well, I’ve heard it now. But I won’t be looking it up myself, I’ll stay in a little media-free bubble whenever I can.”
“I’ll tell you the important things, don’t worry.” She puts down the phone and leans forward, her hair still in pretty good shape after last night. She looks like a tousled, dark haired Tinker-Bell. “I think you could make my brother very happy, Sienna, but I also think you could break his heart. Please don’t do that.”
“I’ll…try?” I break off a piece of chocolate chip cookie. “Up until now, I’ve more of less stayed away from relationships. They haven’t been my focus, my career has. I don’t know what the rules are here.”
“The rules are that there are no rules, aside from staying honest and faithful, unless you two agree otherwise. You just work on it together until it stops working, and you don’t give up. Imagine the two of you in a bubble, and then everyone else in the outside bubble. Especially with so many rumors and stereotypes, you and he have to be each other’s first point of contact. Keep each other first, and no one can ever make you feel like you’re second.”
“You really should write greeting cards or something.”
“Maybe I can give them to places I volunteer, little motivational quotes and things like “Please stop trying to get drunk with alcohol soaked tampons.”
My mouth drops. “That’s a thing?”
“Everything is a thing. Everything. Oh, I should tell you that you get to meet the family today.” I feel my blood pressure rising and she puts o
ut a hand, her face stern. “Don’t you dare freak out, it’ll be fine. Our family is very casual, laid-back. All you have to do is cheer Jax on, and they’ll automatically love you.”
“That sounds deceptively easy.”
“Sometimes, the best things are”
“GO JAX GO OH MY GOD, GO BABY GO!!” I’ve been screaming so hard during this game that I’m almost certain my voice is going to be gone by later tonight.
Around me, the crowd is going crazy and chanting and yelling for the Falcons. Jax just caught the ball on a long pass and is yards away from a touchdown. He’s flying down the field, barreling through guys left and right. Never has time seemed so long.
There’s only a minute left in this game and it’s been tight the entire time. If we’ve had a good run with the ball, NE returns with one. It’s been tit for tat, never a lead larger than 8 points since the first quarter.
This is it. I’m praying for him not to trip, stumble, do anything that he’ll be too hard on himself for. When he vaults over a body as they dive for him and his feet touch that end zone, the head rush is so much that I’m stunned into silence.
But only for a second though.
I turn to his mom, Jacinda, incredulous. We stare at each other for a second before she throws her arms around me and we start screaming and jumping up and down. Alena joins in on the group hug, and then it’s hugs all around and tears of joy.
I hug his little brothers and they high-five me, wide smiles on their faces. The clock runs out and the stadium is showered with red, black and silver confetti.
“Come on!” Alena tugs me and we move through people and stairs and towards the field. There are so many people down here now, so many people celebrating. By the time Alena finds Chris and I find Jax, I’ve got a champions hat and shirt on and lots of confetti in my shirt.
I lock eyes with him and he beams, pushing towards me. It feels like every moment girls have ever dreamed of in movies. If this were a teen rom-com, it would start raining and we magically wouldn’t catch pneumonia. It’s so loud that I feel like we’re almost yelling in each other’s faces.
“We won.” He says, giddiness in his voice. He’s practically vibrating with happiness and it fills me up too.
“I saw, I saw it all.”
“I’m glad you came.” He brushes confetti off my shoulders, and I fist my hands in his shirt, pulling him closer to me.
“Me too.” I rise up and meet his lips, wrapping my arms around his neck tight and wrapping my legs around his hips. I put all of my nervousness, happiness, and courage into this kiss and I hope he feels it all.
When I pull back, he looks stunned. “Apparently I need to win more championship games.” He teases, and off to the side, I see a flash but I don’t let it bother me. I want to see this moment later, anyway.
“Ahem.” We hear near us and we both turn, seeing the rest of his family there, with his dad trying to hide a smile. I hastily unwrap my legs and stand by his side while he hugs his family and then he slides an arm around my waist, keeping me near.
“Proud of you, son. I always am, but I’m always even more proud when you win me money.” His dad says, and his mom nudges him with her hip.
“Adrian.” She scolds.
“Hey, this is a family win.” He slings an arm around her shoulder, kissing her on top of the head. It’s nice to see them so affectionate after so many years.
My parents weren’t like that even when they were married, and there was definitely no love lost once they were divorced.
“Can’t wait for you to kiss me like that again In private.” Jax murmurs in my ear and I go warm, shivering a little.
I can’t wait either.
I think there’s champagne in my hair from all the bottles that have been popped, but I’m not 100% certain.
I haven’t drank a lot tonight because I had a little bit of a headache when I woke up this morning and I’m not eager to repeat that.
It was all the sugar in that damned bubbly.
It’s still fun celebrating regardless. First we were at the official afterparty, and now we’re at a mansion. Jax hasn’t left my side once aside from when the team did press and all of that type of stuff.
I’ve met some of the other players and the women they’re with, some I met at the Honors and some I didn’t. Everyone’s been friendly and I’ve felt comfortable.
I feel a little bad about my assumptions that it’d all be drama and unfaithful guys, really. The ones that Jax seems closest too seem to be a little settled down. It’s comforting.
Even if they weren’t though, I’m realizing that Alena speaks truth and I just need to worry about Jax and not freak out over stuff that hasn’t even happened yet.
For once in my life, I’m not going to worry about what my mom will say or what papers will say…I’m going to think of what I want.
And what I want right now, is Jaxon Blake.
“Dance with me.” He plays with my fingers, drinking from his glass. He’s been pacing himself too. I’m fairly certain he had water at the last thing, and this is one of the players houses.
Who has a dance floor in their basement? Apparently, these guys. It looks like a full out club and not someone’s home. Lights, a well-stocked bar, food, booth seating, people everywhere and great music.
This is how you celebrate a championship win.
“I’m not much of a dancer.” I rest my chin on his shoulder, watching his lips.
“All you have to do is let me hold you, we’ll figure out the rest.” He stands and pulls me up from the large couch and we step over people and down off the raised area.
When I go out with the women from work, we’ll usually go to a bar or two, but I hang back when it comes to dancing. I’ve just never been uninhibited enough to not feel awkward around people.
Tonight isn’t any different.
I stand there, unsure of what to really do.
“Loosen up.” Jax laughs and turns me around so that my back is facing him. Stepping up behind me, he puts his hands on my hips and I cover mine with his automatically because it seems like a natural stance to work with.
Wild Thoughts starts playing, and he starts moving my hips gently, starting a rhythm. “It’s just you and me. No one’s going to take a picture of you or post anything, it’s just family here.” He drops a kiss to my shoulder, crossing his arms around me tighter.
Eventually, I relax against him and press my body back against his, following the beat. It’s hot, it’s sweaty and it feels electric.
One song turns into two, and two turns into three. By the end of the third, my arms are wrapped back around his neck and I’m having a lot more fun.
Too much fun, probably.
“Not bad for someone who isn’t much of a dancer.”
“I have good rhythm, I just haven’t used it in awhile.” I steal a quick kiss and move softly against him, heady from the feeling of freedom, the fun.
He strokes a hand over the skin on the small of my back, above the waistband of my jeans. His eyes are bright and happy, and I love the way he’s looking at me.
With tenderness.
“Stay the night with me.” He says. “Nothing has to happen, but I don’t want tonight to end. You’re too unpredictable so if you give me an inch, I’m gonna run for the mile.”
“I might be able to arrange that?”
“Yeah?” He lowers his head.
“Yeah.” I whisper, raising my lips to his in a soft kiss. We kiss like that for a long moment, swaying softly with the music, and breathing each other in.
It ends too soon.
Jaxon
“Jaxon?” I hear a voice behind me and mentally, I groan, because it’s one I recognize.
From a situation I didn’t exactly handle the right way that I’m very much hoping won’t blow up in my face.
I turn around, but keep an arm around Sienna. When Nikki sees Sienna and that I’m keeping her close, her smile drops a bit and she swings her eyes to me.
“Is it?” She says tightly, holding two drinks in her hands. “I thought we could talk things over, but you seem like you’re already occupied for the night.”
“For more than just the night.” I say quietly.
“Sienna Davis.” Sienna stops leaning against me, introducing herself and standing straight.
That’s her professional voice, no doubt about it.
“I’d shake your hand, but,” Nikki holds the drinks up in explanation. “Nikki Rhodes.” She turns her gaze to me again. “I didn’t realize you were seeing someone. How long?”
“Nikki…” I hedge.
“How. Long.” She asks again.
“The last two weeks.”
“So while you were ignoring my calls and messages.” She laughs humorlessly. “Wonderful. Thank you for being so upfront with me.” She turns to Sienna, and drains one of the drinks in her hands. “Hopefully when he decides he’s finished with you, he gives you a little bit more courtesy. Congrats on the win, I’m sure we’ll speak again soon.” She turns on a sharp heel and stalks away, and I face Sienna, expecting her to walk away right now.
“Well…” She starts. “You’re apparently not very good at ending things on good terms.”
“It’s not an excuse, but I just didn’t want to entertain anyone else after we met. I should’ve been honest with her, but it was just a short fling.” I wince, because that sounds bad. “I mean, it was—.”
“Chill.” She puts up a hand. “No sense getting riled up over the past I’m certain you have. But if you decide you’re finished with me and you don’t give me the respect of saying it to my face - I’ll end you. Got it?” Her eyes flash with warning and I put a hand on my heart.
“I swear.”
“Good. Now, take me home and maybe I’ll let you get a first down.”
“I have to get up, playboy.”
“Not yet.” I drag her back against me, pressing kisses up the column of her neck.
“Listen, some people have careers that involve more than stepping onto a field.” She says the words but she relaxes into me, then turns around so she’s facing me.
I could look at her all day and never get tired of seeing her face. You ever just wanted to be around someone all the time? I usually don’t want that, or I’ve never felt it to this degree before.
