“Dr. Jackson isn’t concerned about the memories. Most of them returned and the rest will follow. And my brain is fine. I’m even working with a company to create helmets that will keep players safer when they get hit.”
When Sunday comes, I’m calm as I sit in one of the suites and watch the game. Maverick is on the sidelines with his teammates. The game isn’t even close; the back-up, Tommy Garavito, has one of his best performances of the season.
After the game ends, I meet Maverick near the player’s entrance, and he approaches me with a grin. “The curse is broken,” he exclaims. “We won in your presence!!”
I place my hands on my hips. “That does nothing to assuage my fears about you starting next week’s game.”
“Stop using big words and let’s go home. We won today which means tonight we celebrate.”
“There’s a problem with that.” The smile drops from his lips and I’m afraid to tell him the next part. “You keep making me overbake or burn the brownies.”
Ten
Maverick
Everything about today is deliberate.
My suit is carefully laid out on the bed, waiting for me like a first line of defense. It’s not armor but it sets the tone for the rest of the day. Mia chose a burgundy suit with a black shirt. No tie. Gold cufflinks and a vintage gold Rolex. My black dress shoes are polished to a high sheen I can almost see my reflection.
This morning, Mia woke me up with her mouth wrapped around my cock, but it wasn’t enough to calm the riot of nerves in my belly. I hauled her up from between my legs and plunged deep into her pussy, fucking her relentlessly until we both climaxed in a matter of minutes. It wasn’t my finest performance, but I’ll make it up to her later.
I hear the water in the shower stop and the creak of the shower door. Time is ticking away.
“You’re not dressed yet?” Mia’s voice is soft. I glance over my shoulder to find her standing in the doorway, working her bottom lip through her teeth. Her fingers play with the knotted towel between her breasts.
“What’s wrong?”
She exhales, her lip trembling. “It’s been a rough few weeks and this feels like an end to… something.”
She’s right, today is definitely an ending, as well as a beginning. We can finally move on and start our lives as husband and wife, instead of waiting for memories to return. And I’ll finally give Casey the payback he deserves for trying to sabotage my relationship with Mia.
“Why don’t you come over here and help me,” I tell her with a tilt of my head.
She exchanges her towel for a purple silk robe before heading toward where I stand at the end of the bed. She picks up the black shirt, removing it from the hanger before holding it out to me. My arms slip inside the sleeves, and I shrug the rest of the garment over my shoulders. When she steps in front of me to button it, she places soft kisses along my chest, until her hands reach the top.
“No tie?”
She shakes her head, a smile teasing her lips. “No. I like seeing the hint of hair on your chest.”
She starts to reach for my pants, but I snatch them from the bed. “I can do this part.”
When I’m done buckling the black leather belt, I hold out my arms and ask her to fix my cuffs. She slides the cufflinks through the slits at the end of each sleeve before fastening the watch around my wrist.
“I’ll finish getting dressed. You need to get ready.” I reach out, grasp the belt of her robe and tug her against me. My head dips until our lips connect in a fierce kiss.
In the living room, the television is silent even though it’s on. I want to watch any highlights from early games, but I don’t want to hear the commentary, especially when Casey’s face appears on the screen. Hard pass. His smug smile and dimpled chin make me want to punch him right in the face, and I have, more than once. It never gets old.
I head into the kitchen where there’s a white paper bag waiting on the counter. Other than Mia, the glazed doughnut inside is the sweetest pregame ritual in which I indulge. I pluck it out of the bag with two fingers and take a bite, my eyes rolling back as I moan once the sugar hits my tongue.
“Ready to go?” Mia appears in the doorway of the kitchen looking like a gorgeous football goddess. She’s wearing a custom jersey, completely bedazzled with hundreds if not thousands of glittering crystals.
“Nice shirt,” I tell her.
“Thanks. I’ve been saving it for a special occasion and today feels pretty extraordinary.”
“It will be, I promise.”
Most home games, I drive myself to the stadium but today, a black SUV pulls up in front of our building. I ask the driver not to turn on the radio because I want silence. Mia slides into the back first and I follow her. When we’re settled, I grab her hand and hold it the entire time. I sit back, close my eyes, and let the memories of every game I’ve played against Casey flood my thoughts like a movie. He’s good but almost predictable. After years of not only being his opponent but also his teammate, I’ve learned his weaknesses and I plan to exploit them.
