by T. Smith
“Shut up asshole and get out of my house. If your not here to help then scoot.” She says as she waves me off with her hand.
I can’t help but laugh at her ridiculousness.
I walk out the door and shoot off a message to Cole to come home baring a gift for his angry hormonal wife.
“Fucking lovely, I’ll bring chocolate, lately that fixes everything.” he says back.
I continue laughing to myself as I walk over to my truck and jump in.
My sisters hormonal, my best friend is doomed, Carter’s back in the part where he belongs and Ali …. Ali is worth it.
Alexis
When I arrive at Sams I half expect Marcus to be there, after all he was the one who messaged me about a crib crisis but when I drove up to the house in my little red coop he wasn’t here. I won’t lie, I was looking forward to seeing him. It feels like an eternity and I’ve been trying to find ways to repair us. Ask for forgiveness for my lapse in judgment and thank him for being compassionate and kind through it all.
I walk up to the house and Sammi opens the door with tears streaming down her face.
“Uh oh, what happened?” I ask her.
“Nothing, absolutely nothing. That’s the problem. I burst into tears for no reason then I started crying harder because I was crying for no reason. It’s a vicious cycle and this sucks.” She says opening her arms.
I try to hold in my laugh, normally Sammi groans at me for the hugs I always give her but today she is seeking them. I step into her and hug her tightly, I’m here to cheer you up, I hear there is a crib with my name on it.
Sam steps back and blinks back her tears in shock.
“That’s why you're here? He sent you?” She says.
I shrug my shoulder and walk into her house.
“He’s seen me put together a few pieces of furniture, I’m sure he just wanted it not to fall apart.” I joke.
“Yah I did think of that watching him try to put it together.” She jokes.
“I put dots on the bottom of the ones he built at his house.” I joke back, “couldn’t pay me to sit in them.”
Sam smiles at me.
“So you guys have talked them?” She asks.
“Way to dive right into it.” I say as I turn and head towards the baby room down the hall.
“I’m your friend I don’t need to beat around the bush.” She says to me, “so how did it go?”
“We didn’t talk.” I tell her as she trails behind me. I walk into the room and see the disorganized chaos. “This is a mess,” I tell her.
“Tell me about it, you guys both look like someone ran over your dog and your both too stubborn to talk to one another.” My jaw drops and I turn towards her.
“What?” Sam says.
“I was talking about the crib.” I tell her.
Sam looks down to the floor and turns slightly pink, shrugging her shoulders and saying, “Well it’s true still.”
I shake my head and sit down on the tiny piece of floor that is void of stuff. Screws, Allen keys and pieces of crib are all over the place. No wonder they couldn’t figure out how to put this thing together, the manufacturer would probably even have issues with this mess. I start organizing the pieces and gathering all the different screws into sections. It takes me longer than I thought but forty minutes later the crib is together and probably sturdy enough for Marcus to sleep in. Sam sat in the rocking chair and finally changed the subject after I didn’t answer her for the first five minutes about him. She talked about babies, what she can and can’t eat and al the things she needs. It was a lot of information and shows her level of excitement about being a mom.
Truthfully it only made me feel more alone.
After giving the crib a final check I unwrap the mattress and put inside. Sam walks over and gushes over it, praising me.
“Thank goodness for you, I thought Marcus was going to chuck the thing out the window when he attempted.” She laughs.
I can’t help but feel an ache in my chest whenever his name is mentioned. I don’t know how to make this right all I know is I want too.
Sam must sense the change in my mood as I feel her rest her hand on my shoulder.
“He cares for you, just be patient with him.” She says to me.
I look at her and nod.
“I care for him too, I just… don’t know if this is repairable.” I say.
I take a moment then push away from the crib heading for the door out of the nursery. Sam follows close behind. I walk straight for the door, slipping on my shoes and gathering my things.
“You don’t need to leave yet.” Sam says to me. “You can stay for dinner.”
I turn and look at her. “It’s ok Sam, I have lots of work left to do today I need to get going.” I turn and open the door and leave before she can say anything more.
Once in the car I pull out my phone and against my better judgment I open the message from Marcus and text him back.
“Cribs built and sturdy, just thought you should know.”
Then I wait for a reply that never comes.
Chapter 30
Marcus
I didn’t know what to say to Ali when she messaged me but it gave me the motivation to continue to pursue her. I went home and was able to enjoy my house again. Seeing my furniture and walls no longer brought me sadness or anger. I looked around and saw possibilities and happiness. I got ready to go to another game and I felt optimistic about this one. My head was in the game, I gathered my things and left the house.
We fiercely ran drills to warm up and prepare ourselves so when it was time for the big game I was already hopped up on adrenaline. Bouncing up and down from foot to foot, excitement coursing through my veins.
The sports announcer starter his speech as we waited for the light to come on which would indicate it was time to run out on the field. All the guys were grunting and groaning, we fed off one another’s energy. The light flicked on and we all started running out towards the field waving to the fans and heading over to the sidelines where our coach was.
The game was amazing. We dodged hit after hit and we caught every single ball that was thrown. During half time we talked strategy. The guys were on fire and for the first time in a long time I didn’t feel like I was letting them down. I could focus again. I could breath.
When we ran back out on to the field it was like everyone was even more hyped. The crowd was pumped about our lead in the game. I looked out to the stands and stopped running. I stopped completely while the rest of the team continues to jog off into position. My sister and my best friend have season tickets. They always stand in the same place. Our golden rule is every game after half time when I run out I would wave to them but today was different. When I ran out and looked at their seats Ali stood there with Sammi and she was wearing my Jersey. She shouted, waved and jumped up in the air. I couldn’t believe it, she was actually here at my game, wearing my jersey. I started walking off towards the stands as my teammates yelled at me. I was halfway to her when one of the guys came and slapped the back of my Jersey.
“You leave this field right now and coach will chop off your nuts and side line you for the rest of the game. Come on man.” I groaned and looked back up at her. She no longer hopped up and down but smiled at me. She waved and I knew she would be there when I was done. I knew this was her declaration, this was her making her choice. The obviously right choice.
I waved back to her and turned around running back into the field to where I was supposed to be.
We kicked ass. We won.
Chapter 31
Alexis
After I left Sams house I went home and cleaned. I cleaned the house until it was spotless. I channeled my energy into something I couldn’t honestly couldn’t remember last doing. The time escaped me so when my phone rang at six that evening and it was Sammi whom I had just left earlier today I answered the phone.
“Hey Sam, everything ok?” I asked
her.
“Yup. Everything's fine but… I promised Marcus I would go to his game tonight and Cole can’t go. He has to do an emergency consult with a lacrosse or hockey or well, I don't know a different team he said. Is there anyway you can go with me? I absolutely hate going going by myself.” She says. “The people there are absolute animals.”
I sit there and ponder it for mere seconds before deciding I would be going.
“Yes of course I will be there.” I tell her. “And Sam…”
“Yup?” She sys.
“Can you bring me one of his Jerseys?” I ask her.
“Oh my goodness, of course.” She says, I can practically hear her gears grinding and the excitement she oozes through the phone.
“I’ll be there at seven.” She says, be ready.
“I’ll be ready.” I tell her hanging up the phone and looking again at the time and then my outfit.
Shit. I think to myself. So much to do and so little time.
I drop everything literally all at once stripping off my clothes and running for the shower.
Thirty minutes later my hair is blown out and I’ve chosen an all black outfit. I’m working on my make up when the door buzzer goes off. I groan as Sam is always early.
I run over to the front door and see sam looking beautiful and flawless.
“I envy you and your ability to look so perfect.” I tell her turning around and rushing back to the bathroom to finish getting ready. I hear Sam laughing as she enters the house behind me, following me into the bathroom.
“Ali you taught me everything I know about getting ready, if it wasn’t for you helping me before those college parties I would have no idea still how to do my hair.” She jokes.
I giggle as I continue. She walks in and shakes her head at me. I turn towards her.
“What?” I ask her looking down at my outfit. “Do I look ridiculous?” I say.
“Ali, quite the opposite. Look I know my brother can be a big brute and rough around the edges but man oh man. He is lucky if he lands you. Any man you look at will be lucky tonight.” She says teasingly.
I can feel myself blushing at her ridiculousness and also proud of myself for being brave enough to throw myself out there this much.
I put the last finishing touch on my make up and turn to Sammi.
“You bring the jersey?” I ask her.
“Yes of course I did.” She says reaching into her purse and pulling out the jersey. I look into the mirror and throw it over my head. Gleaming with excitement and ready to knock his socks off.
Another hour later and we're in the stands watching Marcus I can’t believe how amazing he is. His team is so fast and apparently they're winning. I know absolutely nothing when it comes to sports. Sammi has been pointing out things as the game goes, explaining the yards and lines, explaining the points system. The gist I'm getting is they're good and they're winning.
When half time comes and they run off the field I feel upset that he hasn’t noticed us up in the stands yet, like maybe I put into much effort into something that was so small. I’m standing with hundreds to thousands of other people and it was pretty stupid to think he would notice me in a sea of woman and men wearing his jersey.
After a really long time they come running back out and I see him looking right at me. It least I think he is looking right at me. I stand jumping up in the air to make sure he notices me and wave my arm around like a lunatic. I think it works as he completely stops and starts walking towards me. I can barely see his face under the helmet but I can sense what he is feeling because its the same thing I’m feeling.
This is it.
We're finally going to go all in.
Marcus
I jump, weave and run faster than I ever have in a game before.
The woman that I love is in those stands watching me and waiting for me to be finished. I feel things right now that I have never ever felt before. I want this game to be over because in my mind the biggest win of my life will never be on this field. It's in those stands. I catch the ball and wind up throwing it with as much momentum as I can towards the quarterback who continues to run down the field. Even if he doesn’t catch this we win the game, but if he catches this we win fan adoration, we beat statistics. I watch the ball glide through the air, twisting until it lands in his arms and he runs, until he crosses that line and wins up the final touchdown of the game.
The crowd literally jumps up and screams. I reach up and rip my helmet off running back towards Ali. Running towards my win. I get to the stairs and take them two at a time, I can feel the blood pumping, my heart thumping against my chest wall. I can feel so many emotions rippling through my body and when I get to their row everyone stands instantly and moves away. It's like the whole world knows, everyone knows. I look into her eyes as I step closer and closer towards her. My heart not slowing down like the rest of me. Ali walks towards me. She looks like the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
When she’s within ear shot I can’t help it.
“You came, you came in my Jersey.” I say.
Everyone around us is so loud that I can’t hear her. We're so close now, only a couple chairs between us, then one. Soon we're within arms reach and I don't care who is watching or what has happened between us. I pull her into me and I taste her lips. Our mouths clash in a heated frenzy and we don't stop until we literally pull away to gasp for air.
“You’re here.” I say again.
“I’m here.” She says back to me. “And if you think you could handle it I would like to stay.” She says. I bend down resting my forehead on hers fighting back the manly tears of happiness that I’m feeling…. Or it least I’ll tell everyone they were manly… and say back.
“Are you kidding me Ali, I’ve wanted you to stay since the first time you turned me down.” I lift my head and smile at her and she’s smiling back at me.
She leans up and whispers into my ear.
“Did you hear me earlier?”
“No, why what did you say?”
“I said I haven’t came in this jersey yet.” She snickers.
“Ali… what am I going to do with you.” I say to her lifting her up and throwing her over my shoulder. She squeals and punches my back.
“Marcus you’re sweaty and gross. You need to shower don’t you.” She says.
“Ali, I need you within arms reach you can wait for me in the tunnels.” I tell her. “Your officially mine baby, and you better get used to it.” I can hear Ali giggling. I turn and see Sam walking behind us snickering and obviously passing along some friend humour behind me but I don't care.
I got the girl. I got my girl.
That night I took Ali back to my house. I couldn’t resist her and we barely made it in the door. We literally ran to the door of the house and stripped off out clothes as we did. Pulling and pinching, sucking and biting. When we walked in the door that was it, I didn’t care where I had too have her. I ripped off her panties and bought her down to the cold cement floor, she shimmied and screamed from the cold. I brought my lips down onto her tender mound and sunk my teeth in, sending a shiver and moan out of her lips. I looked up at her, the most sexy woman I have ever seen, sweat beading her skin and we’ve only just begun.
I pulled back and asked her.
“What do you want Ali. You want to be teased or do you want me to fuck.. you.. hard.”
Ali lifted her head and looked at me with her pupils blown, with a glow that made me want to blow right now in my pants.
“Marcus you have a lifetime to tease me. You better fuck me hard.”
Epilogue
Alexis, thirty.
It’s three o’clock in the morning and I’m looking out the window towards the ocean. The waves crash along the shore with the moonlight glistening the tips of each wave. The sound pours through the window and the breeze wraps around me like a cocoon of peace and tranquility. I look down at the baby in my arms, our baby. Our little
Nellie, beautiful baby girl with blonde hair and brown eyes. Something you rarely see but so much of both of us in this baby.
Marcus walks into the doorway.
“Are you ok hun? Do you want me to take a turn with her.” He says.
I look at my gorgeous husband. His career continues to be legendary and he constantly amazes me with his talent and perseverance. His body remains picturesque and I often stare for longer than I realize. Like I’m doing at this very moment.
Marcus smirks at me, the same smirk that always gives me instant butterflies and I smile back at him.
“She’s asleep.” I tell him as I stand and walk her over to her crib. The crib I put together, as well as ninety percent of the rest of the furniture. I lay her down and stand back up. Marcus walks over and stands behind me wrapping his arms around me.
“She is so beautiful.” He says, “Just like his mom.”
I lean back into his arms and pull his arms around me tighter, content in his embrace.
Marcus proposed to me a few months after the game where he carried me out of the stands. For weeks that picture circulated through the tabloids. My name was everywhere and my phone lit up with a frenzy of calls. I had to hire more people to keep up with the increased workload. I promote Tony and he know helps manage the store. It was the right thing to do since he assisted so much and picked up my slack repeatedly.
Marcus proposed in front of everyone and I mean everyone. During halftime in the stands. He ran up, he got down on one knee and he solidified that as our spot. He carried me off and vowed I would be his and then he proposed and kept that vow. A few years later we were in a new house on the ocean as Marcus felt I needed a project to work on while starting my maternity leave. Sam comes over a few times a week with their little boy West. Sam is currently pregnant with their second child and can’t wait for our kids to grow up together.
As I walk back to our room with Marcus I can’t help but think how wrong I was.
Fairytales are real, and a beast is my kind of prince.
