Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 105815 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105815 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
I glance around at the bar. I miss this place, the Sundays when I’d hang out with my brothers and watch Anastasia. We arrived yesterday, and I went to the Kappa house. I mean, I didn’t know any of the new guys, but my photos are still on the wall. They knew who I was. A good president. A footballer. Not a king or a god, but a regular guy who cared about his brothers.
After I left Braxton, I was drafted by the New York Pythons. Houston went with the wide receiver from Alabama, leaving the door open for New York, and they scooped me up in the second round. It’s a familiar franchise, and several of the staff knew my father. It feels like home, and my jersey number is number three. For Dad.
I didn’t get a big payday like a first-round pick does, but in the past few years, I’ve worked my way up to first string and adjusted my contract.
Wearing a red mini dress and tall boots, Anastasia walks into the bar, my mom next to her. Their heads are tilted close to each other as they laugh about something.
My heart stutters as I take them in. Damn. I’m a lucky man.
Mom’s clinical trial and new treatment put a pause on her cancer. She’s in remission, takes smaller doses of her medication, and gets regular checkups. Her last scans were clear. She’s still here, with us, experiencing my life with Anastasia.
Anastasia smiles, one of her soft ones, and I smile back even though she doesn’t see us yet.
She’s…
I sigh.
Gorgeous.
Breathtaking.
Kind.
Mine.
Anastasia moved in with us four years ago and the transition was seamless, as if she’d always been part of the family. She helped take care of Mom while I went to training camp after the draft. That fall she picked out an apartment for us in Brooklyn, one close to Brooklyn Law and the stadium. The way things worked out, she didn’t have to take a gap year, and I insisted on paying for her tuition. Yeah. That was some good angry sex. I smile to myself.
Mom refused to move with us. Thankfully, by then she was feeling better. We’re about five hours from her, and we see her as much as we can, or she comes to stay with us. Her favorite thing is to fly to the away games with Anastasia.
My girl brushes lavender hair out of her face, and I catch the gleam of the amethyst and diamond engagement ring I gave her six months after she moved in. It was summer, right before training camp, and that ring had been burning a hole in my pocket. I was nervous, wondering if she’d think it was too soon. I knew, oh, I knew I wanted her forever. A love like ours only comes around once. It’s soulful, consuming, and meant to last.
The plan for the proposal was to go for a walk under the stars at Mom’s then get down on one knee, but my ADHD kicked in, and I ended up blurting it out during dinner in front of Mom, Rae, Jagger, and Callie.
I know this is fast, okay, it is, but my mom and dad did it fast. When you know, you know, and I get that with us. You have a dream, you’re gonna be a kickass lawyer, and I’m gonna play pro, and it’s gonna be hard work, but we can do it. We’re gold, baby girl, and we’re gonna watch all the sunrises and sunsets. I love you and can’t go another day without knowing you’ll always be mine.
She set down her fork, smiled tremulously, and said yes. Mom cried, Rae giggled, and Callie jumped up and danced. Right there at the table, I got down on one knee and slipped the ring on her finger.
We got married at Mom’s a month later. Mom and Rae wanted to do a big shindig, but Anastasia just laughed. She doesn’t want fancy things. It was simple, just us and our families. Her parents flew in, and I paid for Carl to come. June wasn’t ready for an airplane.
She wore a simple white dress; I wore a suit. Callie was our flower girl. We honeymooned at a bed and breakfast a few hours away, then I left for summer camp.
“She’s coming…one, two, three…” Carl whispers as we huddle around the corner of the bar. “And…go!”
“Happy birthday!” we shout as we step into view.
Mom laughs at Anastasia’s shocked face. “Surprise, dear. The alien museum was a ruse—although I did enjoy it.”
Anastasia looks around, her eyes misting as she takes in the whole crew. Her chest rises, her lashes fluttering. Technically, we celebrated her birthday yesterday at Carl’s with Mom and June, so seeing Lila and Colette and Benji is a total surprise.
She runs for me and I catch her in my arms, burying my face in her hair.