Page 46 of Friends Rucked Up

“Yes. I’m too fickle to stick around in one place for too long.” Harlan laughs.

What they both don’t know is that I’ve already started planning a trip for us to visit while we’re in the off season. The trip will be hard going as we’ll only have three weeks. Gordon’s been helping me coordinate Saylor’s schedule and the nursing home have been very accommodating.

The crowd cheer as the players jog onto the field. They get into their starting position and the match begins. It’s obvious both teams are hungry for the win. Reading manages to gain the ball first, but Leeds wins a penalty after Ben Styles pushes Robbie Hail as he went for the ball. I find myself getting invested in Reading even through their luck is slowly slipping from their grasp. The crowd stays positive, and the chants are electric.

Saylor snuggles into my side, and I put my arm around her. “Are you enjoying the match from the cheap seats?”

“I prefer watching my man out there. He looks best in those figure-hugging shorts.”

She squeezes my ass, and I lean in for a kiss. “Your eyes should only look at my ass.”

“They do.” She winks at me, and I pull her in for another kiss.

The game ends eighteen to twenty-two, crowning Leeds Leopards this year’s winners. They’ve had a great season and deserve the win.

We follow the crown out of the grounds, and I drive to Harlan’s hotel near Leeds Bradford airport.

***

Saylor

“I don’t want you to go,” I say, pouting at my brother.

All day I’ve been in denial about Harlan’s departure. First, we were having breakfast, then going to the park followed by the rugby. It seemed like we had ages before this moment and now it’s here. Grabbing hold of him, I pull him tightly toward me.

“Hey, I need in on this action,” Alfie says, throwing his arms around us both.

“You better call me more,” I say.

“I’ll try,” Harlan says, giving me a squeeze.

“You’ll do more than try,” Saylor says.

“Thursday night check-ins,” Alfie says.

“Okay. I can do that. I’m going to miss you guys, too. You better look after each other.” He tries not to be affected by his words, but I see him tearing up.

“We will,” Alfie and I say at the same time.

“Okay. You guys better go.” We break apart and he rubs his eye with his sleeve. “Right, I’m going.”

He grabs his bag hiking it up onto his shoulder before turning and going into the hotel. He has an early flight. This way, he can check-in tonight at the airport after he’s got cleaned up.

Alfie still has the raccoon makeup on, and I’m amused at his expression every time he looks both ways to pull out of a junction. A few people take a double glance at him which is also funny. The hour home seems to take no time at all. He pulls up outside his apartment and we climb out.

“Where to?” I ask because I’m not ready to say goodbye.

He meets me on the pavement taking a hold of my hands. “Move in with me?” His smile is shy as he whispers the words.

My stomach erupts with a swarm of butterflies. I’m speechless for a minute. Is this really happening? We’ve only been dating a few weeks and living together should feel too fast, but it doesn’t. The nights we’ve spent apart aren’t as fun. I literally daydream about him all day long.

“How would that work. We’d have two of everything?”

“We’ll donate one of everything to charity.”

“What if we split up?”

“Not going to happen,” he says with certainty, making my stomach flip again.

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