Page 37 of Rocking Player
“And for you to tell me what you think.”
We both ate a few minutes. As we finished, I helped pick up the plates and said, “To be honest, my dad was intense.”
She helped me but then refilled our coffee cups and said, “My dad was the heart of the family. Losing him meant we lost who checked up on us, who took us to the doctor and came to school to get us.”
I washed the dishes. In my family, that was absolutely my mom. “Your mom didn’t even keep doctor appointments for you?”
She joined me to dry the dishes and said, “My mom was good but she…she survived tragedy in her younger years. Abuse, and sometimes she just ghosted on us when we had a crisis.”
“The exact opposite of my childhood. My mother was the one that kissed all my bruises and took me to school while Dad worked.” I couldn’t imagine life without her near her when I was young. I squeezed Georgie’s hand and said, “That’s hard.”
She shrugged. “In her way, she tried, but she honestly didn’t know how to live without my father.”
I pivoted closer to her. “You’ll never be like that.”
She sucked in her lower lip, as I'd noticed was her habit, then let it out as she asked, “How are you sure?”
“Because it’s not about loving someone.” I guided her toward the coffee she’d poured and took one as I said, “It’s about loving and trusting yourself, which you seem to do, Georgie.”
She held the cup closer to her face. “I tend to isolate myself, which is very much like my mother.”
That wasn’t quite true. Georgie took a moment to analyze, but I didn’t think she’d want to argue right now. I motioned toward our chairs to have our second cup as I said, “Not telling someone your business is not the same thing.”
“I hope you’re right.” She sipped when she sat.
She seemed quiet, but she just made me more sure that she was perfect for me. I winked and joked, “The marriage will work out better if you think I’m always right, Georgie.”
We both drank our coffees though she said, “Your house here in Tulsa is much bigger than my house.”
Good. The conversation was where I needed it. I put my cup down and laid my hands on the table as I said, “And the schools are excellent, if I stay with the Sooners.”
She sipped her coffee again and then once she finished said, “Having your address in chaos has to be hard.”
This conversation was important. I nodded. “Even if the Pirates come through on some amazing last-minute offer, I’d want to take Jeremy to whatever the best schools are and the nicest area to live.”
“I’m open to change.” She put her cup down. “I want what’s best for Jeremy.”
“That we’ll do.” I finished my own cup and then asked, “Even if we end up getting anything from Boston to LA or any city with a major league?”
She reached out and held my wrists as she said, “I said yes to our marriage, and if my sister Stephanie can pick up and live in London, I can be open as long as we keep Jeremy’s life and education stable.”
I stood and held out my hands for her as I said, “Good, now let’s celebrate naked before my parents get back with Jeremy.”
Her face grew warmer as she joined me, leaving our cups as they were. This time, I held her as we walked upstairs as I could pretend to be a gentleman with her. On the steps, she asked, “Michael?”
“Yeah?” I asked and hoped she didn’t change anything now.
She bumped into me and said, “I’m happy with you.”
Life was exactly right, then. We made it to the top step and I said, “Good because I’m happy I get to have you, forever, now.”
As we neared the bedroom door, I kissed her. I didn’t want this to ever end. Georgie here gave me everything I'd ever wanted in life.
Chapter 11
Georgie
Michaeland I had a perfect plan. If we stayed as we were and never fell in love, then I wasn’t in danger. I’d figure out how to bring peace back in my life. We worked as a team, where we talked about our wants and desires and figured out how to support each other.
