Chapter 20
Josh
* * *
It was a great season and the Gladiators came out on top as the winners of Super Bowl 50, championing another year. I was happy that I was able to take part and hoped to do so for a few more years. The excitement and euphoria of playing was still in me, the same as it always had been and from as far back as I could remember.
I’d had a fantastic time with my team throughout the season, but I was glad to see the end of it. It was the first year that I’d ever had something greater to look forward to.
Or rather, someone.
The minute the last game ended I had Amy on a plane to the Caribbean. I planned a cruise around the islands where I would have her all to myself. No distractions at all, no game, no work, nothing. Just us.
We were away for a whole month, and when we got back I took her away again, to Europe this time. While there, we stopped in Italy for a few weeks so I could introduce her to my grandparents, and had the added bonus of attending Gage’s wedding in Italy.
I still had a lot planned. She was scheduled to start at Dior in June so I wanted to make the most out of the time I had with her. I’d be busy in June, too, preparing for the next season.
I felt like I had everything when I was with her. We had fun together and I was unimaginably happy, but there was still something inside me lurking within the anxiety of my mind that made me fear her leaving one day.
I had done everything I could in my power to show her how important she was to me, but I knew she still didn’t trust me. It made me crazy and I didn’t know what I could do to make her see that she didn’t have to worry about me feeling any other way than how I did.
I loved her.
I loved everything about her and loved everything she was.
I wanted to tell her, but wanted to find the right time. It was a big deal for me and I wanted to find that special moment she’d always remember.
Planning to tell her was all that filled my thoughts during our travels, and the Saturday after we came back from Europe I spent the day in the kitchen flicking through brochures. I thought I’d arrange another getaway to somewhere like Hawaii. Amy had gone shopping with Hilda and Gabriella early in the morning so it was perfect timing for me.
The doorbell rang and I rushed to answer it, thinking it was Amy. She had a habit of buying too much and attempting to carry all her bags inside the house in one go. Then she’d get stuck when she approached the door while she tried to find her keys.
I was ready to make a wisecrack about her shopping habits, but my face fell when I opened the door and saw Allegra standing before me. Immediately, I cursed myself for not looking through the peep hole first.
When last I’d heard, Victoria’s Secret had signed her. Not that I’d been keeping tabs. It was just that I never anticipated running into her again.
“Hello stranger,” She cooed, coming in, walking straight past me and into the house. I followed her into the living room where she twirled around and zoned in on a picture of Amy and I taken on the beach in the Bahamas.
“Well I’ll be damned.” She shook her head at the picture and looked back at me.
“Allegra, I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” I really didn’t want to be rude, but would be if I had to.
“Why’s that? I’m in town and I thought I’d swing by for some fun.”
“No. We don’t do that anymore.” I shook my head at her. “I’m in a serious relationship.”
“With your little assistant?Really?”She narrowed her eyes at me and gave a wicked laugh. “You’re kidding, right?”
“No. You have to leave now.”
Amy had been gone for hours and it was likely that she’d be back anytime soon. The last thing I wanted was for her to come home and catch Allegra here.
“Remember the games we used to play?” She smiled, coming over to me. She rested her finger on my chest. “We used to have such wild sex and you always wanted more.”
“Get out, now.” Anxiety was making me nasty. If she were a guy I would have pushed her out the door.
Instead of listening to me she started undoing the buttons on her shirt.
“What are you doing?” I hissed. “Allegra, get out. I’m serious. Leave.”