Page 4 of Falling for the Quarterback
“And,” he fishes.
“I’m getting older by the league's standards, you know how it is.”
“Forget that nonsense, man. This is our time, and our generation is proving to stay in the business for longer than the past has.”
“Yeah, I agree with you. I’m just trying to figure out if it’s worth it getting out when I’m still mostly intact and have a lot left in me to concentrate elsewhere, or if I stay in the game and ride it out until I’m leaving on a stretcher. I’m not gonna lie, the stretcher idea I used to preach about no longer holds the same appeal the way it used to.”
He chuckles. “Those twenty-year-old knees and shoulders are a hell of a lot different than the thirty-five-year-old knees and shoulders, for sure. Pain hits a little differently now than when it used to,” he agrees.
I rub my hand over my face, the reality that much clearer with this call. Each day that passes seems to bring the probability of this being my last year up. “What about you? Given it any thought to retire, stay home with the wife and kids?”
He’s been married to Kadence since we were all in college together, and they have a houseful of kids. I wish I had the love he does in his family. Don’t get me wrong, I have my mom and other family members, but a wife who can handle the lifestyle? It’s anentirely different level, one many of us in professional sports never seem to attain successfully. If I had someone waiting for me at home each night, and being my biggest supporter, I may look at retiring a little differently because my success wouldn’t only be about me, but for her as well.
“I’m thinking five more years,” he admits, and I let loose a low whistle, making him laugh. “I know, I know. I have several college tuitions to think about, though, and when I retire, I don’t want to have to worry about taking other jobs. Commercials, social media influencing, reality TV presence, I want all of it gone. I’m going to pack my family up, build another big house out on the ranch in Alabama, and bring us all home-home. I want all the other noise to go away so I can live my retirement out in peace, surrounded by the people I love.”
“Damn, man. You have me over here feeling foolish with no long-term plan in mind. After hearing that, I need to seriously dive deep and figure out what I want in my life after football.”
“A woman?”
I’m nodding even though he can’t see me. “Yeah, definitely a woman. A wife. I want the forever kind of love you got lucky with.”
“I am lucky, bro. You will be too. Women have always loved your ass.”
“Yeah,” I agree, but I’m not really feeling it. Sure, women think I’m hot and want to fuck me, but none have wanted to settle down with me. At least not for the right reasons. It’s hard to figure out who to trust when you have money in the bank and your face is splashed everywhere. “How are things with Kadence and the kids?”
“Great. My kids are assholes, but at the same time, they are the best thing in my life. They’re always testing boundaries and making me proud in the same breath. Having kids is weird, especially when they get older and become their own person. Kadence is busy runningher bookstore. It’s been doing so well that she opened up two more locations. Still as beautiful as ever, drives me wild for her.”
He's always been that way about her, all the way from the moment they met. I wonder if that’s how true love happens? It hits you, and it just sticks out of nowhere? If so…Well, the only woman who has had any sort of lasting effect on me is my angry hardware store woman. I’ve got the tape now; the store manager came through and gave it to me when I spouted off about violating my privacy rights. I could find her, maybe. Or at least figure out her name.
Hopefully.
“Hey, Owens, I’ll call you back. I have something to take care of.”
“Does it have to do with a woman?”
“Don’t important things always involve a woman?”
His laugh is low, but I still catch it. “Hell yes. Go get your woman, and good luck.”
Chapter Three
Kinsley
I’mleavingthebigorange lumber store again, walking toward my car, when I notice something strange on my vehicle. There are white tags or something of the sort connected to each of the door handles. I stare, momentarily attempting to figure it out and why in the hell anyone would do such an asshole-ish thing to someone else’s property. I’m already fuming as I clutch my plastic bag with my purchases harder, my wristlet hanging off the same wrist. The shopping bag only has a few things in it, so I keep it with me, rather than putting it in my trunk, and get any closer to my vehicle. I’m not sure what to do, go back inside and buy a box cutter to get this shit off my car?
Suddenly, a huge, warm body is next to mine, blocking the sunlight from blaring down on me. I instantly stiffen up, my muscles locking tighter than they were moments before when my anger was crawling up my spine at someone touching my personal property. My gaze shoots to the man at my side, ready to rip him a new asshole, only to find it’s the guy from before…
The same dude who reminded me of a mountain man with killer dimples. The guy who made me swoon in the middle of the aisle like some classic movie when the heroine meets her hero and he’s there to save the day.
What is he doing?
And what could he possibly want with me after I flipped him off? I thought I was loud and clear about my response in the way I left that day.
I meet his stare, finding it tinged with concern and care. Of course, I’m left speechless, once more. How does he do it? Looking good enough he causes my brain to shut off and not allow me to overthink everything like I typically do.
“I’m going to put my arm around you and lead you away from your vehicle. Please don’t freak out.” With his instruction, his muscular arm wraps around my back. His hand rests on my bicep as he directs us to keep walking toward a truck that’s parked almost across from mine, and like two spaces over.
Of course, I’m going to do the opposite and freak out inside. Has this guy met a woman before? It’s basically what we do when you tell us not to do something that makes no sense at the time.
