Page 145 of Changing Rules

“I didn’t know how to tell you, and I wasn’t sure what would happen between us. I should have said something sooner. I’m sorry.”

Shit. I don’t know how the fuck to respond. My life is here, in Boston. My parents, my friends, my team are allhere, dammit! I bought this house because I wanted to settle down, to build a life here. And now she’s leaving?

“Xander, look at me,” she says quietly, and I meet her gaze. “I’m leaving in April.”

“Is this your way of telling me we can…” I shake my head, my eyes pinched shut. “I don’t know, date for six months, and then you’ll be moving to California?”

“It sounds terrible, I know.” Brow creased, she scans the room. “I have so many good memories here, but just as many bad ones. I found myself in New York, and that city will always hold a special place in my heart, but at the same time…it’s too close. I want to experience life somewhere else. Is that such a bad thing?”

A pit opens up in my stomach. If this is what she wants, then where does it leave me?

“It’s not a bad thing.” I force a smile, taking her chin between my thumb and index finger. “I lived it up in Kansas. Being in a new place was exhilarating. All the new places, people, even some habits. I get it.”

She nods, though the sorrow in her expression makes my heart crack. “Yeah…that’s why moving in with you probably isn’t a good idea.”

I inhale deeply and let the air out slowly through my nose. “Can I tell you what I think?”

“Of course.”

I cup the back of her head, making sure she’s really paying attention. “My family is here, and my parents need me more than they ever have before. I’m at the top of my game, and if the team continues like this, the Super Bowl will be ours again. But when you’re not with me, I’m miserable. I don’t want to be without you again. I don’t live without you; I just exist.”

Her lips tremble, her eyes welling with tears.

“I’d love to spend as much time with you as I can before you leave in April. Let’s take these next six months to figure out how to make it work long distance. Because, baby, you and me? It’s a forever type of thing. No fucking way I’m gonna stay away from you.”

“You really think we can do long distance?”

“I think you and I are capable of anything as long as we’re together.”

With a watery smile, she presses her forehead to mine.

“And my contract with the Warriors ends after this season. If I happen to get an offer from a team in, say, California, I’ll rethink things.”

“But what about your parents? You said they need you?—”

I press my finger to her lips, silencing her. “We have six months to figure everything out, okay?”

“Yeah.”

“I’d go anywhere with you. Really. As long as you want me.”

“I’ll always want you,” she whispers, her lips hovering over mine.

Her hot breath caresses my skin, and my dick grows hard in my boxers.

“Move in with me,” I urge, staring at her intently.

“Okay.” Her lips quirk up.

Then she smashes them to mine and grinds her sweet pussy over my hard-on, locking her legs behind my back.

“I have some news,”Marco whispers, leaning across the bench.

Between the morning I had and the intense practice we just finished, I’m lightheaded. I chugged a protein shake on the way to the stadium, but I burned off those calories a couple of hours ago. Now, I’m dreaming about a chicken breast with rice. It’ll have to wait, though. First, I’m helping Bella move in with me.

“What is it?” I ask, drying my hair with my towel.

“I’m going to be a dad.”

---